The Detroit Lions have taken a Moneyball approach this offseason

Smart Recruiting

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Laken Tomlinson (Duke) is selected as the number twenty-eight overall pick to the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

While the NFL Draft doesn’t bring large contracts anymore. What it does bring is talent at an initially cheap cost.The Lions decided to take a pass on all the popular names this year and take guys like Lake Tomlinson and Ameer Abdullah.

What the Lions get is day 1 contributors out of at least 6 of their picks. In a time where the Lions have a coaching staff that excels in mentoring and teaching the game, this is exactly what they needed to do. With needs all across the board coming into the NFL Draft last Thursday, Martin Mayhew was like a wizard with all the moves he made.

The Lions left the draft with all positions of need filled by starting caliber players that don’t have all-star names and Nike or Speed Stick endorsements. This bodes well for the team because they have young high character guys that are willing to have their minds molded by Jim Caldwell and his staff. No disrespect to the kids with endorsements already but the NFL Draft is a whole different animal these days.

More often than not, mid to late round guys are becoming stars in the NFL lately. Look at Richard Sherman, drafted in the 5th round of the 2011 NFL Draft and is now easily one of the best in the league at his position. There is a reason the Seahawks, Packers, and Patriots are always good. It’s because they never take the big name players. They take the moldable ones that work for the team.

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