More rambling on the upcoming draft – Stafford

The Lions aren’t expected to draft anyone that they can’t sign before the draft starts.

“The Lions are not going to draft anybody who they can’t sign first,” Kowalski told Ryan Terpstra on WGHN-AM Grand Haven. “So anyone who thinks that the Lions have made their selection and it’s a done deal, they’re off their rocker — they have not because the contract is going to come into play.”

They definitely don’t want another JaMarcus Russell episode where the player doesn’t sign until too late to be of any value to the team.  If the Lions can get Stafford  (who would be stupid NOT to sign immediately) signed before the draft there are two schools of thought on what should happen next.

One of the options, and the one I favor the most, would be to cut Daunte Culpepper the day after Stafford signs and let him take his lumps the first year and get some experience under his belt.  Everyone says, and it would probably happen, he’ll spend a lot of the first season staring at the ceiling of Ford field without proper protection up front.  The Lions can, and should, take an offensive tackle at 1-20 IF they take Stafford at 1-1.  Michael Oher might fall that far, so might Andre Smith.  Other options there would be William Beatty or Eben Britton leaving them to take defense for the rest of the draft.  They can look at Hood, Laurinaitis, Mack, Perry (he probably won’t fall that far), Sintim, Smith, Brace or Delmas at 2-1.

The second option would be to have Stafford hold the clipboard until Culpepper screws up or gets hurt.  I figure that’ll happen before week 9, if not sooner.  Then the Lions can look at Perry, Davis, Brown (he probably won’t fall that far either), Maualuga, Jackson or the best available defender that will help the Lions right away.

If Stafford won’t sign they’ll take either an OT (J Smith, Monroe) or Aaron Curry.  Then they need to think hard about what to do next.  Trade up and take Sanchez?  they have too many needs to spend draft picks to get him.  It would have been better to take Stafford at 1-1.  Hope Freeman falls to 1-20?  I don’t think Freeman will be a franchise guy.  Too many intangibles.  The next option for a quarterback is to trade for one (unlikely) or wait until next season when Tebow, Bradford, McCoy and Snead are available.  This could work or all the players could drop and not be worth the pick.

It’s going to be a tough decision.  I’ve been a Curry guy since day one and would still like to see him in Honolulu Blue but I’m coming to the realization that the Lions do need a quarterback soon, no later than next year, to compete.  It’s going to be an interesting draft and I can’t wait until the 25th.

What are your thoughts on this matter?  Let everyone know!