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The Detroit Lions draft day conundrum

By Robert Jones

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 1: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions drops back to pass the ball in the first half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on October 1, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 1: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions drops back to pass the ball in the first half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on October 1, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Which brings us to the draft.

Should the Lions go defensive line? Running back? Or even trade down to get more picks?

This is the draft day conundrum that the Lions face. Sure it’s possible the Lions could trade down before the draft even arrives on Thursday or they may just stay put because they want to make sure they get one of the small handful of players they are interested in at pick number 20.

But the key point is that whoever they select with the first pick is not going to put them over the top. Regardless of position or player. Even if it was Saquon Barkley who is considered the best player in the draft, it wouldn’t make the Lions champions.

The problem is that the team needs exceed the number of picks they have and the majority of the players they signed in free agency will be depth.

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Yes, barring getting Washington’s Vita Vea in the draft or being aggressive and signing free agent Johnathan Hankins, Sylvester Williams will start at nose-tackle and it seems to be a certainty that linebackers Devon Kennard and Christian Jones will also be in the starting lineup.

But there are still question marks in the trenches on both sides of the ball and despite signing LeGarrette Blount, there isn’t another proven ball-carrier on the Lions roster.

When you look at it like that you may say, ‘that’s only a few positions that need help’, but the truth is that it goes further.

This is the NFL, which stands for something that means players get injured.

Sorry, I just couldn’t come up an acronym, but if any of you do, please put it in the comment section in case I need it down the road. Yes, I will give you credit for it as well.

Anyways, the point is, it’s not just fielding a starting lineup that is good enough to compete for a championship, but it’s about losing your star running back for the season, but having a talented backup that can move the chains. It’s about losing your middle linebacker and having a tacking machine on the bench that keeps the defense effective.

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