NFC North: Eugene Monroe
Team needs: Many after 0-16. But here's one stab at the top three: Quarterback, offensive tackle, middle linebacker.
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| Tom Hauck/Getty Images | |
| Is Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford too risky for the No. 1 pick? |
Plan B: Assuming they can't trade down, the safest pick is probably Curry. He is a top playmaker and would step in right away at middle linebacker. But Curry played on the outside in college and would need to make an adjustment. Smith, or possibly Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, might offer the best long-term fit for the Lions. Jeff Backus would move to left guard and the Lions would have accomplished the important goal of upgrading their offensive line. Stafford could ultimately be their choice, but only if they are convinced that his accuracy and consistency issues in college are correctable.
Scouts Inc. take: "It's hard for me to see them taking Aaron Curry after they traded for Julian Peterson to play on the strong side. I know Curry could play middle linebacker, but I don't see him being the best player in the draft as a middle linebacker. That's what you have to weigh. If I were Detroit, I'd figure out a way to draft Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji. [Lions coach] Jim Schwartz could make Raji into the next Albert Haynesworth in his defense. You don't take Raji at No. 1, but maybe they can maneuver things somehow. That would be huge for them." -- Jeremy Green, Scouts Inc.
Who has final say: Martin Mayhew is entering his first draft as the Lions' general manager after eight years as an assistant in the Lions' front office. Mayhew is taking guidance from senior personnel executive James "Shack" Harris but has responsibility for all draft-day decisions.
Previous On the Clock: The St. Louis Rams. The team-by-team series.
Stafford and the latest McShay mock draft
The most interesting thing about Matthew Stafford's chat with SportsNation on Thursday was the matter-of-fact way he discussed playing for Detroit. The Lions, of course, have offered no public indication that they plan to draft Stafford -- only that they want to have their eventual pick signed before the draft.
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| NFL.com Video | |
| An inside look at quarterback Matthew Stafford from Georgia. |
But Stafford offered few caveats when asked about playing for the Lions. Does he know something we don't? Or did the format just lend itself to the answers below? Check them out:
Jon (Atlanta, GA): How are you going to adjust from an environment of 80+ degree weather and 15,000+ coeds dressed in sundresses to Detroit?
Matthew Stafford: (3:31 PM ET ) Well, Detroit has a dome, so it shouldn't be too cold, hopefully.
Alex(Detroit, MI): Matthew, Will it be weird to be throwing to a Yellow Jacket if you get drafted by Detroit? How fun will it be to throw to Calvin Johnson?
Barron Detroit MI: With Detroit Allowing a league High 55 sacks. Do you think you will be able to get the necessary time to complete the passes needed.
Bob (Detroit): Hey Matt give the people some encouragement tell us why you would save our franchise!
Daniel (Atlanta Ga): how disappointed would you be if you were not drafted first overall.
As noted earlier, Stafford is Detroit's likely choice in the estimation of ESPN analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay.
McShay has been critical of Stafford's aptitude at No. 1 overall but believes the Lions are moving in that direction. We'll know soon enough. While we're at it, let's look at McShay's latest choices -- released Thursday -- for the rest of the NFC North who currently own first-round picks. (You need an Insider subscription to view the entire draft.)
DETROIT LIONS
No. 1 overall: Stafford
No. 20 overall: Mississippi offensive tackle Michael Oher
My take: The Lions won't know for sure if Oher will be available if they bypass Baylor's Jason Smith and Virginia's Eugene Monroe to take Stafford. But ultimately, the chance to have a great quarterback could prove more tempting than the likelihood of having a 10-year starter at left tackle.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
No. 9 overall: Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji
My take: This is a serious possibility considering the proven willingness of Packers general manager Ted Thompson to take the best available player. Raji is the best defensive tackle in the draft.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
No. 22 overall: Florida receiver Percy Harvin
My take: Harvin's status seems to have slipped amid recent reports about his character and alleged drug use. From a football standpoint he's an excellent value at this spot. Minnesota vice president Rick Spielman recently went out of his way to note the Vikings have eliminated 78 players from their draft board for various red flags. Does this mean the Vikings won't draft Harvin? Or that they want people to think they won't?
Black and Blue all over: Childress speaks
Minnesota never appeared to join the intense bidding last week for quarterback Jay Cutler, who landed with an NFC North rival in Chicago. We left open the possibility that there was some under-the-radar involvement, but coach Brad Childress slammed the door on that idea in this interview with Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
Childress didn't provide a direct reason for the Vikings' lack of interest but noted the challenge of fitting a new quarterback into an established scheme.
Childress: "He's a good player, and obviously I don't question his physical skills. But obviously it will be what he can do in relationship to the team to help the team. ... Are they going to be able to match their offense up to what he can do offensively? I think there's kind of a ferreting-out period."
Childress acknowledged the steep price the Bears were forced to pay -- three high draft choices plus quarterback Kyle Orton -- and added: "You always have to give something to get something. Time will tell whether the give was better or the get was better."
Reasonable people can debate whether, as Childress said, the "get" will be better than the "give." But the Vikings' decision to sit out the trade talks entirely represents one of two things: Either a stunning lack of ambition at the game's most important position, or simply a deep confidence in the combination of current quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.
Catching up on the weekend from around the NFC North:
- The Vikings and cornerback Antoine Winfield are in intense negotiations for a contract extension, according to Zulgad.
- But it's not clear when the sides will strike a deal, writes Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
- The Vikings open their offseason strength and conditioning program Monday, two weeks later than in previous years, Zulgad notes.
- Cutler is not afraid of confrontation, writes David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune. Haugh: "In three years in the league, that has become as obvious about Cutler as his rocket right arm."
- Carol Slezak of the Chicago Sun-Times takes the pulse of Cutler's hometown in Indiana.
- Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean compares Cutler's path to that of another Vanderbilt quarterback, Bill Wade, who was traded to the Bears and led them to the 1963 NFL championship.
- Virginia offensive lineman Eugene Monroe visited Detroit on Friday, according to David Birkett of the Oakland Press.
- Free agent Ephraim Salaam visited Detroit, writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press. Salaam could be a short-term fix at left tackle if the Lions move Jeff Backus to left guard.
Team needs: Right tackle, receiver, quarterback
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| Matthew Sharpe/Getty Images | |
| Michael Oher, if he falls to No. 22, would be an immediate starter at tackle for the Vikings. |
Plan B: If the draft shakes out the way it's currently projected, the Vikings might need to shift gears to receiver. They already attempted to upgrade the situation, but free agent T.J. Houshmandzadeh signed with Seattle instead. It's likely that several, if not all, of the draft's top receivers will be available at No. 22 overall. The Vikings will likely have their pick of two of the following three players: Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey, Florida's Percy Harvin and North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks.
Scouts Inc. take: I think Hakeem Nicks makes a lot of sense in the first round. He's a guy that is versatile and you can even play him out of the backfield. You pair him with Adrian Peterson and you have to really big, versatile threats. The Vikings' quarterback situation concerns me and that's something they need to address. But I do think that giving another option to a guy like Sage Rosenfels or even Tarvaris Jackson, who I think is still trying to learn the system. Having a guy that runs routes where the quarterbacks can get the ball out of his hands quickly is a good thing. -- Jeremy Green, Scouts Inc.
Who has final say: Rick Spielman enters his third draft as the Vikings' vice president of player personnel. Spielman works alongside coach Brad Childress but has authority over draft-day decisions. Ten of his 13 draft choices remain on the roster.
Now on the clock: Philadelphia Eagles, March 26.
Previous On the Clock: New England Patriots. The team-by-team series.
DANA POINT, Calif. -- A pair of Detroit-area writers caught up with Lions president Tom Lewand a few hours ago here at the NFL owners' meeting. Lewand offered this nugget: The team has initiated preliminary contract negotiations with the agents for several candidates to be the No. 1 overall pick in next month's draft.
Here are the reports from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press and Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com. Here's the key quote:
"We have to have robust dialogue with the agents representing the players that we're interested in. We've started that process. We have to have that. We've made it very clear to all of them that we have to have that as this month draws to a close and we get into April."
This is pretty standard fare for most teams that have the first pick of the draft. It doesn't mean an agreement is imminent; in fact, it's unlikely the Lions have even decided who they want to draft. But one of the advantages of having the first pick is the ability to find out what type of deal agents are looking for prior to selection.
True, NFL rookie contracts are slotted based on draft position, but the No. 1 pick often sets the market for the rest of the draft. That gives agents a bit more leeway to make demands because the only standard available is what the No. 1 overall pick received the year before.
There are also other possible complications. Quarterbacks typically receive more money than players of other positions. How much more? That's what the Lions are finding out from Tom Condon, the agent for Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford. Condon's answer will at least play a role in the Lions' final decision.
The larger questions are how many players have been approached and who they are. The Lions have hosted five players on visits to their practice facility, including: Stafford, Baylor offensive lineman Jason Smith, Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji and Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew. It's safe to assume at least the first three players on that list have been approached.
The one prominent name missing from that list is Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, who has been projected as high as the No. 2 overall pick. There's no way to know for sure why Monroe has been omitted: Do the Lions simply prefer Smith over him? Or are they trying to keep their true interest hidden?
Because they have the top pick, you wouldn't think the Lions would have to hide any draft secrets. But that information could prove crucial if they want to trade out of the slot.
Say the Lions ultimately want to draft Monroe and know he'll be available lower in the first round. The way to garner maximum value in that scenario is for other teams to believe there is a real possibility they would be happy to pick another player at No. 1 overall. Theoretically, that play-action would inject urgency into a team interested in trading up for, say, Stafford.
This is just one example of the mind-game that is the NFL draft. Thanks for joining us.
Double Coverage: Advice at top of the draft
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando and Kevin Seifert
The Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks combined for six victories last season. That included two Seahawks victories over the Rams.
The draft won't fix these wayward teams overnight -- unless, of course, they follow the advice of NFC West blogger Mike Sando and NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert.
Kevin Seifert: Well, Mike, first off I'd like to thank the Seahawks and Lions for making our jobs a bit easier for the next six weeks. Before last weekend's trade that sent defensive tackle Cory Redding to Seattle for linebacker Julian Peterson, we were weighing the candidacies of too many players for the No. 1 overall pick in the April 25-26 draft.
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| AP Photo/Darron Cummings | |
| Baylor tackle Jason Smith would help solidify the Lions' offensive line. |
Would the Lions take Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford? Would they capitalize on the strong tackle class and swoop up Baylor's Jason Smith? Or would they make a compromise selection and take the player considered the safest pick in the draft, Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry?
Seems to me this trade has eliminated Curry from the Lions' mix. Don't you agree? I mean, would you draft Curry after giving up a promising defensive tackle (and also a fifth-round pick) for someone who plays the same position? I don't think I would. They say Curry could project as a middle linebacker in the NFL, but it would be awfully hard to justify drafting a middle linebacker with the No. 1 overall pick.
So that pretty much settles it, right? Wouldn't you agree that Curry is much more likely to wind up with one of your NFC West teams, whether it's St. Louis at No. 2 or Seattle at No. 4? If it were up to me, the Lions would take the best left tackle in the draft, and that would be Smith.
Mike Sando: I tend to see Curry landing with Kansas City in that third slot. The Rams could use him, sure, but they pretty much have to emerge from this draft with a starting offensive tackle. Can they find one after the first round? Probably, but 'probably' might not be good enough for a team that has invested so much in Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson. Upgrading the offensive line was the No. 1 priority this offseason. Signing Jason Brown solved the problem at center, but Alex Barron is the starting left tackle now that Orlando Pace is out. They're talking about having Jacob Bell move from left guard to right tackle. That doesn't sound promising.
As much as Steve Spagnuolo wants to build that defense, I'm not sure the Rams can resist taking a tackle. Once Curry makes it past the Rams, the Chiefs would seemingly be a good fit -- which would put Seattle in an interesting position. They've got Matt Hasselbeck, but should they consider Stafford under our scenario?
Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith took what is believed to be Detroit's first visit by a draft-eligible prospect this spring. Smith is among a handful of candidates to be the No. 1 overall pick, but I wouldn't read too much into the timing of his invitation.
Typically, top prospects focus on preparations for their Pro Day -- the draft season's final physical evaluation -- before scheduling personal visits. Smith's Pro Day was last Tuesday. The other candidates for the No. 1 overall pick are more than a week away from their Pro Days. (See below for those dates.) So it make sense that Smith was first.
Ultimately, Smith could represent a compromise choice for the Lions if they decide that quarterback Matthew Stafford isn't worthy of the top pick. Most teams left last month's scouting combine convinced that Smith is ready to step into an NFL lineup immediately at one of the game' most difficult positions, left tackle. (He also was pretty chatty in an interview published here on the Lions' Web site.)
Detroit general manager Martin Mayhew has said he hopes to commence contract negotiations with multiple candidates for the No. 1 overall pick in the weeks leading up to the draft. Unless Smith bombed Monday's meetings, I would expect him to be one of those players. There is no telling what will happen after that.
Here are the Pro Day schedules for the other likely candidates, in order of date:
- Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford: March 19
- Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe: March 19
- Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry: March 23
On the clock: Kiper's updated Big Board
You know it's starting to be draft season when Mel Kiper Jr. starts adjusting the Big Board. You can view Kiper's updated ranking of the top 32 players here, but for your convenience -- and especially for those with interest in Detroit (No. 1 overall) and Green Bay (No. 9) -- here is Kiper's 10 best players in the draft as of Thursday night:
Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry
- Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree
- Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford
- Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith
- USC quarterback Mark Sanchez
- Texas defensive end/linebacker Brian Orakpo
- Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe
- Missouri receiver Jeremy Maclin
- Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji
- Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith
A few thoughts:
- This is not a mock draft that predicts who will draft whom. It's simply Kiper's ranking of the best players.
- Like many observers after the combine, Kiper now considers Curry the draft's best player. There have only been two linebackers taken No. 1 overall since the 1970 merger. Will Detroit make Curry the third?
- Kiper now ranks Stafford ahead of Sanchez but is giving the latter more love than a lot of analysts. Sanchez didn't have a scintillating combine and his experience remains a question mark.
- Andre Smith now ranks as Mel's 10th-best player, but the bigger question is how many teams will be scared away by his character questions.
INDIANAPOLIS -- We warned you last week. If you're looking for guesses about specific teams drafting particular players, you're reading the wrong NFC North blog on the ESPN blog network. But with Detroit positioned at the No. 1 overall in the April draft, it's only fair that we take a look at what we learned about the top of the draft this week at the annual scouting combine.
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| AP Photo/Darron Cummings | |
| Matthew Stafford did not throw during his workout at the combine. |
(Just for kicks, we'll bring you three questions with a player often associated with the Green Bay Packers' slot at No. 9. But don't get used to it. I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA -- yet -- if the Packers want to draft Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins.)
With that said, let's try to handicap the Lions' possibilities at the end of this important week -- while knowing there are many more important weeks yet to come before the draft. I compiled the list below in order of the most to the least likely target, an order we'll revisit and update regularly as the draft approaches:
1. Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford
Why he's the guy: The Lions paid an awful lot of attention to him at the combine, more than any other individual prospect. Nothing happened to suggest he has fallen from the perch as the top quarterback available, which always makes a player a top candidate for the No. 1 overall pick. And you can't deny the karma: Stafford attended the same high school (Highland Park in Dallas) as former Lions quarterback Bobby Layne.
Why he isn't: Stafford's decision not to throw at the combine means the Lions' evaluation of him can't be complete. It also means NFL teams haven't had a chance to evaluate his accuracy after a college career in which he completed 57.1 percent of his passes.
2. Baylor offensive lineman Jason Smith
Why he's the guy: Smith put up the best combine numbers of the top left tackles in the draft. His 33 repetitions on the bench press and 5.22 time in the 40-yard dash both ranked in the top 10 of all offensive linemen. It seems clear he could step in as an immediate starter at one of the game's most important positions.
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| NFL.com Video | |
| Get to know Baylor tackle Jason Smith. |
Why he isn't: The tackle position in this draft is said to be exceptionally deep, and it's possible the Lions could get an immediate starter either with the No. 20 or No. 33 overall pick. Smith might well emerge as the top tackle in the draft, but is he a player worthy of the No. 1 pick overall? That hasn't been determined.
3. Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry
Why he's the guy: Nothing injects life into a moribund defense more than a big-time playmaker, and Curry has the capacity to step in right away at a key position of need: Strongside linebacker. Coach Jim Schwartz has noted the Lions have a deeper personnel deficit on defense than offense, and spoke glowingly of Curry at the combine.
Why he isn't: Curry is built like a middle linebacker but has never played there, and it's difficult to imagine the Lions would move Ernie Sims out of the weakside position. The linebacker position isn't often considered crucial enough to merit a No. 1 overall pick, especially for a 4-3 team.
4. Virginia offensive lineman Eugene Monroe
Why he's the guy: The Lions indicated a heavy level of interest prior to the combine. He is probably more athletic than Smith and has more room to grow. Like Smith, there are no character flaws.
Why he isn't: We downgraded Monroe a bit after a less-impressive combine performance that included 22 repetitions on the bench press. At the moment, Smith is stronger and better prepared to step in right away. This comparison, of course, could change over the next few months.
Lions can't be impressed with Andre Smith
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| Scott Cunningham/Getty Images | |
| The Lions are unlikely to take Alabama tackle Andre Smith. |
INDIANAPOLIS -- If you're keeping a running short list of the possibilities for Detroit's No. 1 overall pick, you're probably safe crossing off Alabama tackle Andre Smith's name.
Smith's combine experience started with concern about his weight -- which he said was 332 pounds, down from 345 -- and his decision not to work out. It continued Saturday when he was reported to have left Indianapolis altogether among conflicting reports about his plans.
Even players that skip the actual workouts typically stay in town to conduct individual interviews and meetings with the teams. Combined with his suspension for the Sugar Bowl last month year, and Smith is accumulating a few too many red flags for the No. 1 overall pick.
Lions officials have had dinner with Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and lunch with USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. And if the Lions decide to look toward the tackle position, you would have to think that Baylor's Jason Smith, Virginia's Eugene Monroe and possibly even Mississippi's Michael Oher have all leapfrogged Andre Smith in Indianapolis.
As we wrap up combine coverage Sunday, we'll endeavor to bring you a more detailed breakdown of the top of the draft.
Black and Blue all over: Stafford, Lions meet
INDIANAPOLIS -- Take this for all that it's worth: On the first full day of the 2009 scouting combine, five of Detroit's key decision-makers went to dinner with Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford. The two-hour affair at a local steakhouse included:
- General manager Martin Mayhew
- President Tom Lewand
- Senior personnel executive James "Shack" Harris
- Coach Jim Schwartz
- Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan
Check out reports from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press, John Niyo of the Detroit News and David Birkett of the Oakland Press.
Stafford entered the combine as the consensus top pick of the draft, and the Lions are evaluating whether to take him, go the safer route with an offensive tackle or trade out of the position.
Stafford is scheduled to speak with reporters here at the combine on Friday. We'll bring you his thoughts as soon as we can.
For now, let's take a romp through the rest of the division:
- Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com reports the Lions will release or trade quarterback Jon Kitna before he is due a $1 million roster bonus next month. Schwartz was vague on the issue Thursday.
- Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times notes that it's possible the Bears could draft an offensive lineman with left tackle traits to play on the right side.
- Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald looks at the top tackles in the draft: Alabama's Andre Smith, Baylor's Jason Smith, Ole Miss' Michael Oher and Virginia's Eugene Monroe.
- Schwartz and Pittsburgh director of football operations Kevin Colbert both noted the difficulty of making the kind of switch to a 3-4 defense that Green Bay is planning. Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal has details.
- Minnesota owner Zygi Wilf loves to spend money in free agency, but there might not be enough targets available for his cash, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
- Former Vikings fullback Thomas Tapeh is likely to work out with Seattle next month, according to Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Kevin Seifert
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and children.
