Peter King released his latest MMQB including a top 10 mock draft for this coming May. Up top he has QB Blake Bortles out of UCF going No. 1 to Houston with Auburn T Greg Robinson and South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney going to St. Louis and Jackson respectively.
But making your way down to No. 10 King gives Lions fans somewhat of a surprise in who he has them taking (which could be good or bad depending on which side of the coin you find yourself on when it comes to the U-M/MSU rivalry).
With the 10th overall pick King has the Lions selecting Michigan OT Taylor Lewan.
- Houston: Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida.
- St. Louis: Greg Robinson, T, Auburn.
- Jacksonville: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina.
- Cleveland: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville.
- Oakland: Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M.
- Atlanta: Jake Matthews, T, Texas A&M.
- Tampa Bay: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo.
- Minnesota: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA.
- Buffalo: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson.
- Detroit: Taylor Lewan, T, Michigan.
Again obviously this is going to make some scream at their computer screen while having others applaud Martin Mayhew (or Brian Xanders) for the selection.
If the Lions are set on taking an offensive tackle with this pick then King has them going with the best option at the position behind Robinson and Jake Matthews out of Texas A&M. In all fairness as well Lewan ranks at No. 9 when it comes to the best overall players in this year’s draft which again may play into Mayhew’s history of taking the best player available a strategy that has obviously suited them well over the years.
Still though is this what the Lions really need? Sure they need help on the offensive side of the ball, but not on the offensive line. At least not enough to justify them using their 10th overall pick on Lewan.
Sure Clemson WR Sammy Watkins is off the board having being taken at 9 by the Bills but with Louis Delmas essentially gone and the secondary being what seems to be an after thought year-in and year-out wouldn’t it be counter productive not to take Darqueze Dennard with this pick? Or what about Mike Evans out of Texas A&M to offset the loss of Nate Burleson and potentially Brandon Pettigrew? Yeah I know it’s taking another wide receiver but at least you offer a little more in your return investment for Matthew Stafford.
And I know what you’re thinking, wouldn’t Taylor Lewan be a return investment for Matthew Stafford considering he’s an offensive lineman? Yes you offer up more protection for Stafford but you also need to consider the protection for Calvin Johnson on the other side of the field unless you’re happy with Kris Durham or Joe Fauria who may have a hard time blocking a five-year old. Or that increasingly large black hole in the secondary.
Not that Lewan isn’t a bad player. He’s a very good player (despite his struggles in 2013). He’s just not what the Lions need at the top.
