MVN - Most Valuable Network

Lions First Round Options

I have already given my opinion on what the Lions needs are for the 2008 draft.  Today I will take a look at what players the Lions should target with the first round pick.  Some of these players might not be on the board when the Lions pick at #15.  Who knows?  Maybe none of them will still be on the board.  At any rate, here are the players I think the Lions should be targeting with the 15th selection in the first round.

As Mick has already mentioned, DE Derrick Harvey and LB Jerod Mayo would be worthy selections.  Harvey would bring his pass rushing skills to the defensive end rotation.  Mayo is the perfect fit for the Tampa Two defense and would be a big upgrade from Paris Lenon at MLB.  If either of them are available at #15, they would be solid selections.

However, there is one player in particular I would love to see the Lions select when they are on the clock.  At the close of the 2007 season he was at the top of my list of players who might be available at #15.  I feel he is going to be an outstanding professional and in my opinion, he will fill a huge need.  In the eyes of some, his stock has dropped since he finished his college season.  In my eyes it hasn’t and he would be a wonderful addition to the team.

That player is … RB Jonathan Stewart from Oregon.

In my opinion, Stewart is the total package at running back.  He has it all … size, speed, toughness, power and vision.  He has great hands and can block.  Stewart is going to be a fantastic pro and he would be a huge upgrade over the backs currently on the roster.  He recently had toe surgery which has many fans concerned.  I am not one of them.  He played through the injury at Oregon and racked up huge numbers in spite of the toe problem.  He should be ready to go for training camp, which will give him plenty of time to get in shape for the start of the regular season.  In my opinion, Stewart is the second best RB in the 2008 draft, he fills a huge need and would be a great pick at #15.

There has been great debate out there in Lionsland regarding the merit of choosing a RB at #15.  It seems to me that most fans are dead set against it.  Those that aren’t against it appear to favor Mendenhall over Stewart.  I have thought Stewart would be a great pick since the college season ended and his recent surgery hasn’t changed my mind.

Those that are against using #15 for a RB do have valid arguments.  The 2008 draft will be deep at the position.  Chances are good the Lions would be able to get a starter in the second or third.  The drop off in talent from players like Harvey or Mayo is much greater than the drop off in talent from a Stewart/Mendenhall to the rest of the RBs.  These arguments make sense and I certainly understand them.

In my opinion Stewart is head and shoulders above every back not named Darren McFadden.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see Stewart turn out to be a better pro than McFadden.  While the Lions could wait and pick up a RB later on in the draft, that player won’t be nearly as good as Stewart will.  If Stewart is there at #15 he would be a great pick.  If Stewart is there at #15 … he should be the pick.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 at 1:26 pm and is filed under Detroit Lions, NFL, NFL Draft, Blogroll. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.