Here’s the situation, folks. I was taking part in Fan-Sided Blogs’ mock draft. The Lions are on the clock, and here’s how the draft had gone down to that point.

1. Miami - DE Chris Long, Virgina
2. St. Louis - OT Jake Long, Michigan
3. Atlanta - DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU
4. Oakland - DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio State
5. Kansas City - QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
6. New York Jets - HB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
7. New England (from San Francisco) - CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy
8. Baltimore - DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
9. Cincinnati - DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
10. New Orleans - LB Keith Rivers, USC
11. Buffalo - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tenn. St.
12. Denver - OT Ryan Clady, Boise St
13. Carolina - OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt
14. Chicago - OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh

Damn! There was a run on offensive tackles! Rivers is gone? Double damn! Harvey too? Christ! What to do?

Talk about a quandary. I found it quite interesting, and damn frustrating, that several players who would have fixed glaring needs for the Lions were drafted in the slots immediately preceding Detroit’s number 15 pick. In my mind, Harvey, Rivers, Clady, Williams and Otah would have been no-brainers, if available, but no such luck.

Jerod Mayo was a possibility, as the Lions have been interviewing LB’s (Including Mayo), but he’s a big reach at 15. Brenden Albert wasn’t contemplated for very long, as he’s more of a guard than tackle, and I’m not convinced he’s worthy of going so high. Cornerback was a need at one time, but with the Lions trading for Leigh Bodden, and signing Brian Kelly as a FA, a 1st round CB isn’t needed.

The Lions need a linebacker, offensive tackle, running back, defensive end and defensive tackle, probably in that order. With the way this particular draft has fallen, I realized I have little choice, and have take the best available player who fits a need.

Before I tell you who I drafted for the Lions, I have a couple of questions for you readers. What would you have done? Who would you have picked? Let me know in the comments.

As for my pick?

With the 15th pick of the 2008 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions pick: RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois

We Lions fans are so damn draft gun-shy after the flame outs of Joey Blue Skies and all the wide outs, we have a hard time justifying the drafting of any skill player, even if it’s the correct pick to make. Mendenhall was the best player left on the board, and you have to admit he does fill a big time need. The Lions backfield currently has nothing but suck, in Tatum Bell, Brian Calhoun, and Aveion Cason. When I look at it that way, I can live with taking a skill player such as Mendenhall.

Still, it was PAINFUL to do. I hope the actual draft doesn’t go down that way, with all the LB’s, DE’s and OT’s going right before Detroit’s pick. If so, Lions fans are going to be in a bad way…

Again, let me know who you would have drafted…