Now let’s fast forward to the present. To a nervous fan base that was concerned about the possibility of the Lions re-living their mistake. About re-creating the Frankenstein’s monster that hindered the Lions and also represented missing out on defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who would have been the all-world replacement for Ndamukong Suh who left the Lions after the 2014 season to pursue… money.
Current general manager Bob Quinn stepped up to the plate just one week ago and did what many fans feared. He had their runner pass a card to Roger Goodell which read ‘T.J. Hockenson’ on it. Another top 10 tight end pick.
And while the media and fans alike reacted in dismay, the Buffalo Bills happily stepped up to the podium next to announce their selection of Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver. Who some have compared to Aaron Donald.
There you go. The wound was barely in the healing process and suddenly the Lions had re-opened it with a vengeance. All that was left was to sit back and watch the media fuel the fan outrage with their own critique of this pick.
Which brings us to today. Which brings us to where this article started. The feeling many have of possibly reliving the nightmare that was the whole overall Ebron experience. Not just the angst of a player who couldn’t and never did live up to his draft status, but the pain of missing out on a future Hall of Fame player like Donald at a position of need who would have been a play-maker for the Lions defense.
A difference maker on a team that could certainly use one. Now here we go again.
Except there is one major difference. It’s not the same all over again. It’s a different draft with different players and what should ultimately be a very different outcome from what we all witnessed in 2014.