Quote:Thanks for the feedback D6, the Seahawks success in their secondary has got a lot of teams going that route. What position do you think your Lions will target?
My pleasure.
Before offering my 2 cents on the question you asked, in the 2012 Draft the Lions did select a smaller CB, Bill Bentley in the 3rd Round. However, the Lions basically view Bentley as a long term solution as a Nickel CB, not someone who can be an ideal solution on the outside. For the Lions to draft a CB in the 1st Round, unless the player is a dynamic return man in addition to a highly skilled CB, size and speed likely would both be key factors at the position.
While 2nd Round pick Darius Slay is going through major growing pains, I still believe he has displayed at times the type of upside ability that he can be a long term solution at the position. It's a realistic possibility the Lions would invest a 1st or 2nd Round pick in 2014 in another CB. Yet, it seems to me that a # 2 WR is the team's greatest need. Nate Burleson will be 33 next season and is better suited to be a slot receiver at this point of his career. Ryan Broyles can't stay healthy. Even if Broyles would have stayed healthy, he's also better suited to be a slot WR. The reality of the situation is the Lions need a Titus Young type of WR without the character baggage. Calvin Johnson is an elite WR but the overall position unit is a concern.
Otherwise, the Lions have to seriously think of drafting a DT in the top couple of rounds in 2014 or 2015. I'm not sure if the Lions will be able to keep both Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley long term. Especially with the money tied into Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. Of the two players, Suh is much more consistent. Fairley has been plagued with injuries and one never knows which Fairley will show up. On the same drive in Chicago last Sunday, he makes a boneheaded penalty. Then he saves the game on an attempted 2 point conversion.
S Louis Delmas has surprisingly been able to stay relatively healthy this season. As a result, Delmas' contract value in 2014 will be much higher based on the terms of the contract that agent Drew Rosenhaus worked out with the Lions back in March. If the Lions ask Delmas to restructure the contract and he elects to test the open market, the Lions might need a Safety to compliment Glover Quin.
Center is a position the team probably will need to address in the next year or two. Dominic Raiola is having his best season but he's an UFA in 2014, entering his 14th season.
Tight End is a position to keep an eye on as Brandon Pettigrew is scheduled to be an UFA in 2014. UDRFA Joseph Fauria has 5 TD's but is currently a liability as a blocker. Michael Williams ( Alabama ) was the team's 7th Round pick but is on IR. It remains to be seen if Williams can be more than an extension of the Offensive Line.
