Lions' GM Mayhew: "We have a lot more needs than people realize"

Lions

Lions’ GM Mayhew: “We have a lot more needs than people realize”

Adam Hernandez

April 22, 2011

The 2011 NFL Draft is now less than a week away and there has been plenty of speculation surrounding the Lions on who they will take with their 13th overall pick in the first round.

Judging from the various mock drafts that have been put the Lions will either go with an offensive tackle or a corner with that 13th overall pick.

However, the growing speculation comes directly from the source.

According to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News, Lions’ GM Martin Mayhew says that the team is drafting for the future and not necessarily next season. The further fuel to the speculative fire also comes from the following quotes…

“It’s always interesting when somebody says we’re not going to take an offensive player or we’re not going to take a defensive player,” Mayhew said. “I don’t even know who we are going to take, so I’m not sure how anybody else could know.

“We have a lot more needs than people realize,” he said. “There are a lot of places we can get better. Our philosophy is to take the best player and that’s not going to change.”

The offensive tackle position has been a popular topic in amongst Detroit Lions fans in recent years. The relatively unwarranted hate towards players like Jeff Backus and Dominic Raiola has left the fan base screaming for a OT to “help protect Matthew Stafford”. Most arguments against Jeff Backus weigh in on one play last year where one of if not thee best defensive end in Julius Peppers beat him sacking Stafford and injuring his shoulder. In reality, the Lions offensive line was actually one of the better lines in the league in pass protection. The downside to the offensive line was the false starts (which isn’t a skill factor) and the run protection (which is a skill factor).

The Lions NEED to address their defense specifically the secondary. If Prince Amukamara CB out of Nebraska or Jimmy Smith CB out of Colorado is available (one of them more than likely will be available at 13) the Lions need to jump at the opportunity and make that pick. Currently Louis Delmas is the Lions’ only quality player in the secondary and there is no guarantee that Chris Houston will be coming back next year.

There is also always the chance that DE Da’Quan Bowers out of Clemson falls to the Lions at 13. Many draft experts thought that Bowers could have been a top three pick if it wasn’t for the injury concerns surrounding him. Recently however teams have come out and said that there is no concern surrounding Bowers and that he will be ready to go next season. Now is this simply a smokescreen and part of the battle plan from other teams? Maybe but if Bowers is available at 13 the Lions may jump on that opportunity as well and possibly look to trade up into the first round later and try to nab Jimmy Smith at the end of the first round.

Either way Martin Mayhew should be given a break this year since he has garnered some credibility with his previous picks in earlier drafts.

Source: Detroit News