#13 Detroit Lions
What They Need: Wait a minute. The Lions aren’t picking in the top-5? What happened? What happened is the Lions are at long last trending in the right direction. If their ultra-talented quarterback Matthew Stafford can stay healthy next year, this team could make the playoffs, especially with the right pick here. Cleary then, quarterback is not a need. Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew, and Tony Scheffler provide a nice array of receiving targets for Stafford, though another wideout could certainly help. Jahvid Best is an explosive back but not an every down player. He’s best served getting fifteen touches per game split between handoffs, receptions, and the occasional kick return. To me, adding a feature running back could be a smart pick unless they think incumbent Kevin Smith can handle that load. The offensive line has been a work in progress for years now that finally showed small signs of improvement last year. They still should regard that unit as a major area of need, especially with the premium on keeping Stafford healthy. Defensively the Lions took enormous strides last year. Ndamukong Suh was one of the best defensive tackles in the league the moment he stepped on the field. Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril provide good pressure and solid play at the defensive ends, and Corey Williams is a talented player next to Suh on the interior. They need talent in the linebacking corps, but I don’t think they’ll address that position here. Corner should be at the forefront of the Lions’ minds here, and safety is a need too, though there won’t be a prospect at that position worthy of the 13th pick. With Louis Delmas at safety, and by drafting another playmaker for the back four, this group could start to hold its own.
Who They Might Pick: Combining needs and the crop of prospects available, I think the Lions will look at offensive line, cornerback, wide receiver, and maybe running back with this pick. Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus are a decent offensive tackle duo, but by drafting a guy like Tyron Smith, Anthony Costanzo, Gabe Carimi, or Nate Solder, Backus could slide to guard and bolster that position. Smith and Costanzo are the highest rated overall tackles. If Julio Jones somehow drops to this point in the draft, they’d have to consider taking him. Pairing Jones with Calvin Johnson would create perhaps the most physically gifted wide receiver duo in football. Other than Jones, taking a receiver at this spot would be a reach as the next tier of pass catching prospects are seen as second round talents. In terms of corner, Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara should be long gone. Jimmy Smith could easily still be on the board though I have him being picked by the Vikings at pick 12. If Smith is still available he would be a huge upgrade for this beleaguered secondary. Aaron Williams from Texas and Brandon Harris from Miami are cornerbacks seen as late first or early second round picks, but if the Lions loved either guy, I’d have no problem with them taking one. If the Lions are going for sex appeal with this pick or think they can address offensive line and secondary later on, they could target Mark Ingram here, the Heisman-winning running back from Alabama. Ingram should be available, has great character, and runs with tremendous balance and vision. He seems to be a guy that could come in and carry the load instantly.
My Advice: I’m enamored with the idea of adding Ingram to an already riveting group of young offensive players, but thinking long-term, offensive line has to be the way Detroit goes. If they can’t protect Stafford it won’t matter who runs the ball, because Shaun Hill isn’t taking anybody to the Promised Land. Detroit should take Anthony Costanzo, the offensive tackle from Boston College. He is 6’7” and came into college weighing just 220 pounds. He’s bulked up to 311 but retains the athleticism of a smaller man. Scouts say he has a passion for being the best at what he does, and he started fifty-three straight games at BC. An athletic, durable left tackle who’s a perfectionist sounds like a great way to improve Detroit’s offensive line.
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| At pick thirteen, the Detroit Lions select Anthony Costanzo, OT, Boston College. |
#14 St. Louis Rams
What They Need: Sam Bradford has completely turned around a franchise that had won six games over the three seasons before he arrived. So yeah, quarterback is not a need. Usually a team that’s been really bad that drafts a quarterback number one overall needs offensive line help, but the Rams don’t. Center Jason Browns is a beast, one of the most physically gifted players at his position. Last year’s second round pick Roger Saffold played awesomely at tackle last year, and he’s bookended by recent second overall pick Jason Smith who is getting better and better. Jacob Bell is an above average guard. Stephen Jackson is a monster at running back that can run through you, past you, and catch the ball like a wide receiver. He’s certainly got mileage on his legs, but he hasn’t declined yet. Starting wide receivers Donnie Avery and Mark Clayton are good players who missed most of last year with injuries. That made Bradford’s success all the more impressive. While Avery and Clayton are good players, both are smallish and lack the physicality to be great targets in the red zone or to move the chains as possession receivers. If the Rams could land a big-time wideout their offense really could click into gear. Defensively the Rams have some nice building blocks. Chris Long is steadily improving, and though he may have been a reach as the second overall pick a few years back, he is definitely one of the better players at his position league-wide. James Laurinitis is going to be a star at linebacker. After those two young players, the Rams defense is a collection of average players that are solid but unspectacular.
Who They Might Pick: If Julio Jones is here, it’s an open and shut case; they’ll pick him. At 6’4” and 220 pounds with a 4.34 40 yard dash, Jones is exactly the physical specimen the Rams need on the perimeter. The Rams could look at Florida center Mike Pouncey if they wanted to use him at guard and really make the offensive line an elite unit. However that just isn’t a big need. Defensively the Rams could look for a pass rusher opposite Long, the primary targets being Robert Quinn from UNC or Aldon Smith from Missouri. That’s not a huge need with James Hall netting 10.5 sacks last year, but he’s 34 years old and probably doesn’t have many double digit sack years left. Phil Taylor, Stephen Paea, Corey Liuget, JJ Watt, and Adrian Clayborn could all be options as defensive tackles. Jimmy Smith and Aaron Williams could be options if St. Louis looks to address corner.
My Advice: Easiest choice yet, take Julio Jones. He’s ready to play well right now. He’s going to be bigger, faster, and stronger than every corner he lines up against, and Bradford is as accurate a quarterback a rookie could ask for. Adding Jones would improve the Rams as much as any pick would improve any team in this year’s draft. With Jackson as a top-5 running back, Bradford a rising superstar, a good offensive line, and two receivers in Avery and Clayton to be secondary threats, Jones could make this offense scary.
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| With the fourteenth selection, the St. Louis Rams take Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. |
--from Adam
(first image from ncaagridirongab.com, second from zimbio.com)
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