Detroit Lions Draft Successes Since 2001, No. 7: Cory Redding

by Sean Yuille on Apr 21, 2011 10:00 PM EDT in Detroit Lions Opinion

Defensive end Cory Redding was picked 66th overall (third round) out of Texas by the Detroit Lions in the 2003 NFL Draft. His rookie season made him look like nothing more than a third-round pick, as he played in only nine games and had only seven tackles. Beginning in 2004, however, things changed drastically.

From 2004 to 2007, Redding started every single game that the Lions played. In 2008, he started the first 13 (he missed the final three games), meaning he had a streak of 77 consecutive starts going. Over the course of that streak Redding averaged 39 tackles and three sacks per season. He had a career high in tackles in 2006, recording 47. He also set a career high in sacks that year, recording eight total.

While Lions fans will likely remember Redding for being part of the trade that brought Julian Peterson to Detroit from Seattle, he gave this team five good years of football. Considering he was drafted 66th overall, I'd say that's pretty good. He was dependable as far as being in the starting lineup, and his numbers were pretty good.

As I have explained with the first three guys on this list, this is obviously subject to change in a few years. In all likelihood, one or all of the guys behind Redding on this list could pass him in due time. Right now, though, Redding's numbers with the Lions are set in stone, and what he did was pretty impressive for being the 66th overall pick in 2003.

Previously: No. 10 Sammie Hill, No. 9 Brandon Pettigrew, No. 8 Louis Delmas/DeAndre Levy

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Intresting pick I did not consider

Ahead of Louis Delmas in the 2nd round though?

"It’s always interesting to me, and funny, when I read that somebody says we’re not going to take an offensive player or we’re not going to take a certain player or whatever, because I don’t even know who we’re going to take right now, so I’m not sure how somebody else could know," - Martin Mayhew

PCP 4 LIFE

by The Profiler on Apr 21, 2011 11:05 PM EDT reply actions

sorry to say he was a bust one good season sea. then ravens I understaind the 10 list is hard but not him

by pwilhelm1 on Apr 21, 2011 11:06 PM EDT reply actions

the person before avirl the at DE that played for our lions for 10+ years is number 7 for the life of me i cant remember pro u know

by pwilhelm1 on Apr 21, 2011 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

Jared Devriers gave us everything

by pwilhelm1 on Apr 21, 2011 11:18 PM EDT reply actions

Umm, try to remember

that this list includes only players drafted since 2001. Jared DeVries was great, but he was drafted in 1999, so he is not eligible for this list.

by TuffLynx on Apr 22, 2011 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

devries

by pwilhelm1 on Apr 21, 2011 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

Redding is a solid player

I can’t discount the fact that he helped to bring us J. P. too. While Julian Peterson may not have worked out in the end, he did start here for a while. For a 66th pick, that was a hell of a lot of value.

Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!

by Evilsmurf on Apr 21, 2011 11:36 PM EDT reply actions

+1 Evil

Second round draft pick that was undersized and over matched here in Detroit= All-Pro LB and Redding has caught on and had a long run so far in the NFL. Not every guy plays great for the team that drafts him.

How many lumps you want Doc?

by davis0169 on Apr 22, 2011 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions

why is one his third team since we traded him if hes a solid player

by pwilhelm1 on Apr 21, 2011 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

Redding was only good

when Big Baby was lined up next to him in a contract year

"The right (draft) move sometimes might be to strengthen a strength. Filling holes in the 1st round leads to grabs and busts." - Steve_Chiefs.

by JazzyBBP on Apr 22, 2011 12:29 AM EDT reply actions

My thoughts exactly.

Redding was the perfect example of what was wrong with Detroit’s players during the Millen years.

The attitude of player before team. His move inside was good….. for one season, the last season for Big Baby.

He’s slow, undersized, and selfish.

Now he’s on the Ravens as a rotational guy turned starter. (shows how much the D of the ravens has gone down hill.)

Not impressed, never was, by Cory Redding.

Motown313-"spending a first rounder on the next Jared Devries doesn’t seem like a good gameplan."

by CLF on Apr 22, 2011 7:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Too add...

Giving Redding more value because Mayhew was able to make a good trade(which he’s earned a term for), is not acceptable… and slights Mayhew.

Motown313-"spending a first rounder on the next Jared Devries doesn’t seem like a good gameplan."

by CLF on Apr 22, 2011 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions

I am OK with this pick.

We have to consider that the number of starts that we got out of Redding were enough to put him on this list, even if we don’t feel he was very good overall. Most of the recent draft picks have not proven themselves enough to be on the list yet. They just do not have enough games played to make a valid judgment. Yet I suspect that we will see Stafford and Suh on the list above Redding anyway, despite their small body of work. Many of the picks during the Millen era were washouts, so they greatly reduce the pool of players that could be considered. Since the draft is limited to only players drafted since 2001 we were bound to see a pick or two like this.

by TuffLynx on Apr 22, 2011 12:39 AM EDT reply actions