Detroit Lions 2012 Draft Needs by Lauren Beasley
Detroit Lions overcame so much this past season. Lions were a
playoff team this past season and they need to keep building the team to keep it competitive with the elite NFC teams.
Lions first need to address the free agents and decide who to
resign and who to let go. Here is a list of the Lions key free agents:
Key Free Agents: Cliff Avril (DE), DeAndre Levy (LB), Stephen Tulloch (LB), Eric Wright (CB) Maurice Morris (RB), Kevin Smith (RB), Jeff Backus (LT), Andre Fluellen (DT), Sammie Lee Hill (DT)
The Lions have a number of different draft needs that need to be addressed.
Detroit Lions Draft Needs:
Secondary: The Lions are not deep at any spot in the secondary. An upgrade at corner and safety would do great things
for the Lions pass defense. Chris Houston and free agent Eric Wright are adequate NFL cornerbacks but after that the Lions don’t have too many good players to think about as far the cornerback position. My concern is with the safeties though. Louis Delmas is hard hitting safety who can come up and make a play in the open field, and is effective when he is healthy but I feel the Lions need to put somebody else back there with him. Amari Spivey was horrible and needs to be replaced, I am more for the Lions taking a safety in the first or second round more than a cornerback.
Linebacker: Stephen Tulloch had a good season as a Lion, but the Lions got torched all season by big runs. The Lions need to stabilize their linebacker group. A good start would be resigning but I’m pretty sure there will be a cost to sign him. Unfortunately it looks like Tulloch is a player the Lions can’t afford to lose because he is a big linebacker who stops the run. Justin Durant played mediocre when he was healthy.
DeAndre Levy was decent but I prefer to move him into a backup role. The Lions need to add speed to their linebacker group.
Left Tackle: Free agent Jeff Backus has been a steady, solid performer at left tackle for the Detroit Lions but he is an aging veteran who can get exposed by edge rushers with speed. I believe if the Lions continue to ignore this particular need any further, it could critical for them. Offensive tackle could be a first round need for the Lions.
Guard: The Lions struggle to run the ball, so they must get younger, bigger and more athletic. Rob Sims has solidified the left side. Particularly Lions have a hole at the right guard spot and they need to acquire someone that can anchor the interior of the offensive line and get some push to help the running game on the right side. The right guard spot that needs to be definitely needs to be addressed.
Center: Dominic Raiola is a smaller center who gets overpowered against bigger defensive tackles and he is an older veteran. There is only a matter of time before this position becomes a major need.
Defensive Line: The defensive end position is an area where the Lions do have some pieces in place but they are
more depth pieces. I anticipate defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill to get resigned as he is a productive run stopper. The Lions
face a huge decision on whether to resign Cliff Avril. They have to decide whether he is the benefactor interior player or dominant interior defensive player. If Lions chose not resign Avril, I definitely expect them to look to select a defensive end very early in the 2012 draft.
Running Back: The Lions have used a first round pick and a second round pick in back-to-back years on the running back position and it’s still unsettled chaos. Unfortunately as of now there are no answers regarding Jahvid Best or Mike Leshoure. Running back will be a need if Best or Leshoure can’t return.
Wide Receiver: Now this isn’t a definite need for the Detroit Lions, obviously Lions have the best Wide Receiver in the NFL in Calvin Johnson who they have to prepare to re-sign soon as well. Rookie Titus Young had a good year and showed his speed and great hands and will be a true asset to the Lions next season. However I felt Burleson was a little to inconsistent, I don’t feel the Lions should let him go but I think the Lions should consider adding another big target to their receiving crew. I believe some good receivers will drop to the 7th round and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a chance and draft one.
playoff team this past season and they need to keep building the team to keep it competitive with the elite NFC teams.
Lions first need to address the free agents and decide who to
resign and who to let go. Here is a list of the Lions key free agents:
Key Free Agents: Cliff Avril (DE), DeAndre Levy (LB), Stephen Tulloch (LB), Eric Wright (CB) Maurice Morris (RB), Kevin Smith (RB), Jeff Backus (LT), Andre Fluellen (DT), Sammie Lee Hill (DT)
The Lions have a number of different draft needs that need to be addressed.
Detroit Lions Draft Needs:
Secondary: The Lions are not deep at any spot in the secondary. An upgrade at corner and safety would do great things
for the Lions pass defense. Chris Houston and free agent Eric Wright are adequate NFL cornerbacks but after that the Lions don’t have too many good players to think about as far the cornerback position. My concern is with the safeties though. Louis Delmas is hard hitting safety who can come up and make a play in the open field, and is effective when he is healthy but I feel the Lions need to put somebody else back there with him. Amari Spivey was horrible and needs to be replaced, I am more for the Lions taking a safety in the first or second round more than a cornerback.
Linebacker: Stephen Tulloch had a good season as a Lion, but the Lions got torched all season by big runs. The Lions need to stabilize their linebacker group. A good start would be resigning but I’m pretty sure there will be a cost to sign him. Unfortunately it looks like Tulloch is a player the Lions can’t afford to lose because he is a big linebacker who stops the run. Justin Durant played mediocre when he was healthy.
DeAndre Levy was decent but I prefer to move him into a backup role. The Lions need to add speed to their linebacker group.
Left Tackle: Free agent Jeff Backus has been a steady, solid performer at left tackle for the Detroit Lions but he is an aging veteran who can get exposed by edge rushers with speed. I believe if the Lions continue to ignore this particular need any further, it could critical for them. Offensive tackle could be a first round need for the Lions.
Guard: The Lions struggle to run the ball, so they must get younger, bigger and more athletic. Rob Sims has solidified the left side. Particularly Lions have a hole at the right guard spot and they need to acquire someone that can anchor the interior of the offensive line and get some push to help the running game on the right side. The right guard spot that needs to be definitely needs to be addressed.
Center: Dominic Raiola is a smaller center who gets overpowered against bigger defensive tackles and he is an older veteran. There is only a matter of time before this position becomes a major need.
Defensive Line: The defensive end position is an area where the Lions do have some pieces in place but they are
more depth pieces. I anticipate defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill to get resigned as he is a productive run stopper. The Lions
face a huge decision on whether to resign Cliff Avril. They have to decide whether he is the benefactor interior player or dominant interior defensive player. If Lions chose not resign Avril, I definitely expect them to look to select a defensive end very early in the 2012 draft.
Running Back: The Lions have used a first round pick and a second round pick in back-to-back years on the running back position and it’s still unsettled chaos. Unfortunately as of now there are no answers regarding Jahvid Best or Mike Leshoure. Running back will be a need if Best or Leshoure can’t return.
Wide Receiver: Now this isn’t a definite need for the Detroit Lions, obviously Lions have the best Wide Receiver in the NFL in Calvin Johnson who they have to prepare to re-sign soon as well. Rookie Titus Young had a good year and showed his speed and great hands and will be a true asset to the Lions next season. However I felt Burleson was a little to inconsistent, I don’t feel the Lions should let him go but I think the Lions should consider adding another big target to their receiving crew. I believe some good receivers will drop to the 7th round and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a chance and draft one.