FanPost

If the Shoe Fits, Trade?


The Lions seem to be taking care of business this offseason, signing Golden Tate, Derryl Tapp and Vaughn Martin as of this writing. Also, a new starting safety, James Ihedigbo, looks to be signing tomorrow, and either Pettigrew or Chandler will be signed at tight end one would assume (please be Chandler). This takes care of almost all major needs the Lions had coming into this offseason. The only major need not addressed (I don't view corner as a need), is OLB. Ashlee Palmer wasn't a failure in the starting role, but he won't be in that spot again this year. Besides OLB, the lions simply need a kicker, back up QB and line depth, none of which figure to be major impact players or stars. So this leaves open the possibility of trading up in the trade from the 10th spot, seeing as Detroit will have more draft picks than needs. Detroit would be smart, in my opinion, to trade up for Khalil Mack from Buffalo. While some view him as more of a 3-4 pass rusher type, I believe with an offseason worth of work, he would be perfect in Detroit's defense. Levy is more of a coverage LB, with 6 ints on a borderline pro bowl season. Tulloch is the all around rock who's strength is run coverage with 135 tackles this season, and not one game missed in his 9 seasons in the NFL. Mack would fit in as the other run stopper and pass rusher LB. Mack has great ability to shed blocks and disrupt plays, which he showed through out college and in the senior bowl. With his great height and length, for his position (6'3 tall, 33.25 arms, 10.25 hands), even if he doesn't get to the passer, he can knock the ball away. He'd also fit Detroit's draft strategy of Best Player Available, as some analysts have heralded him as a better defensive prospect than Clowney. So trade out of that 10 spot, up to 6 or 7th overall. This would cost (according to the draft chart on walterfootball.com) a 3rd round pick as well as number 10 overall and possibly a day 3 selection. Trading away two solid players for one potential pro bowler is what teams in the Lions position should be doing. When all needs are addressed, get the best. Trading to the 6 or 7th slot may seem pointless to some, as the Viks, Falcons and Bills don't have pressing needs at OLB. While this is good logic, there is always a drought of such logic during the draft. Such as the Bills drafting C.J Spiller in the top ten, when they already had Fred Jackson. Or the Browns giving up picks to move up one spot. Or the Lions drafting Fairly when they had just drafted Suh. My point is, nothing goes as expected draft day, so plan for the unexpected. Trade up as high as possible so there are less idiots to worry about. Thanks for reading my pitch for Khalil, make it happen Mayhew.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride Of Detroit or its writers.