Value players remain a critical piece to the foundation of an NFL franchise. A plethora of said players throughout the NFL have come from the later rounds of the NFL draft. Thus far, Martin Mayhew and his staff have done a fairly solid job of accumulating talent in the mid to late rounds that have made an impact toward the resurgence of the organization.

Deandre Levy (3rd round), Sammie Lee Hill (4th round), Willie Young (7th round), and Aaron Berry (undrafted) each played key roles for the Lions this past season. There has, however, been those that have not worked out due to performance or injury. Aaron Brown (6th round), Derrick Williams (3rd round), and Jason Fox (4th round) immediately come to mind. While it may be argued that the jury is still out on Fox, his clock is ticking. Doug Hogue (5th round) remains a question mark as a developing linebacker.

Let's now re-examine the aforementioned sleeper players from my recent series. In order to continue creating depth the Lions will need to find a hidden gem or two in the upcoming NFL draft.

Offensive Lineman

C - Mike Brewster, C - Philip Blake, C - Mike Wedige, OG - Rishawn Johnson, OG - Ryan Miller, OG/OT - James Brown, OT - Nate Potter, OT - Jeff Adams, and OT - Mitchell Schwartz

Skill Position Players

RB - Cyrus Gray, RB - Marc Tyler, RB - Darrell Scott, RB - Edwin Baker, WR - Joe Adams, WR - Marvin McNutt, WR - Ryan Broyles, WR - Keshawn Martin, WR - Jordan White, and TE - Michael Egnew

Secondary

CB - Josh Norman, CB - Coryell Judie, CB - Casey Hayward, CB - Omar Bolden, S - Brandon Tyler, S - Darius Prelow

Linebackers

MLB - James-Michael Johnson, MLB - Max Gruder, MLB - Nigel Bradham, OLB - Terrell Manning, OLB - Emmanuel Acho, LB - Danny Trevathan

Defensive Lineman

DE - Billy WInn, DE - Cam Johnson, DE - Malik Jackson, DE - Donte Moss, DE - Darius Nall, DE - James Brooks

The combine, running February 22nd - 28th, will inevitably raise and lower the stock of draft prospects. There will be an updated series, and new mock draft following the event.

ROAR.

Russ Lande is a former NFL scout that now works for the Sporting News. His recent mock draft has the Lions selecting DE Nick Perry at #23.

Perry is a local kid (King High School), that possesses a great burst, excellent use of hands, and led the PAC-12 in sacks with 9.5. Free agency will certainly lay the ground work for some of what may occur on draft night, but the Perry selection is worth noting because it stands in stark contrast with many of the other current mock drafts, and also comes from a credible source.

23. Detroit Lions: Nick Perry*, DE, Southern Cal. Cliff Avril is a free agent who might not be back. Kyle Vanden Bosch is 33. So the Lions grab Perry, who would upgrade their outside pass rush immediately.

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-02-09/nfl-mock-draft-first-round-board-fluctuates-as-combine-approaches#ixzz1lwjKY18a

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/behindthemic/#/nfl/2012/02/09/020912.btm_crisphil_qb

Cris Collinsworth and Phil Simms sat down to discuss which young quarterbacks they believe are the likeliest to make the jump to "elite" status.

Collinsworth brings up Newton, while Simms doesn't hesitate to nominate Matthew Stafford. After watching the video my immediate reaction was, "tell me something I didn't already know." (I personally believe throwing for 5,000 yards and 41 td's makes Stafford elite already). Still, Stafford will need the Lions brass to continue to place the right pieces around him.

Which leads me to the poll question...

ROAR.

By: Dustin J Quarrella

(Ed. note: Bumped to the front page.)

In 2010, Ndamukong Suh became the centerpiece of a defensive front that after one year warranted a city-wide nicknaming craze that included the head coach. He exploded onto the scene with 5 sacks in his first 6 games, ended the season with 11 sacks, ranked 1st at his position in total QB pressures (41 of his 545 passing snaps), and added flare with an interception and fumble recovery for TD, not to mention he was the first ever rookie defensive tackle to be tagged All-Pro.

In 2011, Suh did not make the All-Pro team. He didn't even make the Pro Bowl. Instead he was voted the dirtiest player in the NFL by his peers, was criticized for his lack of splash plays, and his once advocate, Warren Sapp, went as far as to blame his offseason shoulder surgery for his "lack of production."

But what exactly happened to the House of Spears and his production? Did he indeed lose strength? Lose his competitive edge? Did he spend too much time driving cars in Europe? Or is the popular perception that Suh is struggling all in our heads? Let's let the numbers speak before we do.

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The Detroit Lions aren't the only team in the NFC North facing a tight squeeze in terms of the salary cap.

Kevin Seifert, ESPN NFC North beat writer, laid out the numbers in a recent entry. "The following is how much each team currently has committed to its 2012 cap. Keep in mind that the numbers probably will change between now and March 13 as teams re-sign, re-negotiate and release players from their rosters," Seifert wrote. Unfortunately, the Chicago Bears appear to be on solid ground, and are rumored to be in the market for either Robert Meachem or Vincent Jackson.

Chicago Bears: $101.8 million
Detroit Lions: $122.8 million
Green Bay Packers: $115.3 million
Minnesota Vikings: $115.3 million

As of now, the salary cap is right around $120 million, and isn't expected to significantly fluctuate. It will be interesting to see how the Lions maneuver the cap and sign free agents, retain their own, and bring in a new draft class. Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand clearly have their work cut for them.

ROAR.

By: Dustin J Quarrella

Thoughts?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/09/raiders-release-stanford-routt/

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The Detroit Lions defensive lineman accounted for 35 sacks this past season. The team ranked 22nd against the pass, 23rd versus the run, and 23rd overall. The number that ultimately matters most is points allowed per game. The Lions gave up 24.2 ppg, a number many didn't expect heading into the 2011 campaign.

Clearly, the Lions need to address the defense this offseason. Debates abound regarding the unit that should garnish the most attention heading into free agency and the draft, but the sentiment seems to be that the defensive line remains our most reliable asset.

Kyle Vanden Bosch is 33 years old, and while arguments suggesting his release are preposterous, he isn't getting any younger. Some suggest Ndamukong Suh had a down year by his standards, but the fact remains that he's a dominant force whose absence was felt in his two missed games. Corey Williams will be 32 when the season begins, and began to show signs of aging as the season progressed.

As far as depth is concerned, Willie Young and Lawrence Jackson (when healthy), were promising. Each guy is more than capable of getting to the quarterback, and the Lions are fortunate that both players provide depth if the Lions decide the price tag for Cliff Avril is just too high.

Sammie Lee Hill is a RFA, and will be back. Hill is a run stopping hog that further validates Mayhew's ability to add value through the later rounds of the draft (Hill was a 4th round selection, and Young a 7th round pick). The Lions also have Andre Fluellen, a (cough) Matt Millen draft pick.

Nick Fairley may have the most potential of any Detroit Lions defensive lineman. There were moments this past season (both Saints games), where I found myself just saying, "wow." Whether or not Avril is retained will have an impact on the effectiveness and depth of the Lions pass rush, but if he were to leave, the Lions still have a formiddable front four.

Let's now examine potential sleepers (rounds 3-7 or beyond), along the defensive line in this year's draft.

Defensive Line Sleepers

Billy Winn - DE - Boise State - 6'3 296 lbs. - Projected 3rd round selection

Winn could easily push himself into the 2nd round with a solid effort at the combine, but for now, let's assume he's a 3rd round selection. Winn has what the Lions love; a great motor, relentless pursuit, and is violent with his hands. I recommend watching some video of Winn. He maintains a low center of gravity through the rush, and has a high grade bull rush.

Cam Johnson - DE - Virginia - 6'4 267 lbs. - Projected 3rd round selection

I love Cam Johnson. Simply put, I think he's going to be an excellent pro end. Brad Noel's scouting report on Johnson is excellent.

"Tremendous explosion, accelerates low with power. Relentless blindside pursuit, tracks down ball carriers on the other side of the field. Fast in a straight line. Excellent wide and bull rushes when quick off the snap. Strong tackler. Has good power in hands and can anchor, shed, and chase."

Johnson should garnish quite a bit of attention as we head closer to the draft.

Malik Jackson - DE - Tennessee - 6'5 270 lbs. - Projected 4th round selection

Jackson had a tremendous season for the Vols, leading them in tackles for loss (11), sacks (2.5), and QB hurries (10) (cbssports). I love players that come from the battle tested SEC. Jackson isn't a polished product, but for a 4th round selection could develop into something. (Think Willie Young).

Donte Moss - DE - North Carolina - 6'4 260 lbs. - Projected 6th round selection

The few times I caught North Carolina this season, Moss stood out. Lining up up opposite Quinton Coples certainly opened the door for few double teams, but he still displayed an abillity to get to the quarterback with athleticism, strength, and solid footwork. Moss certainly displays power on the edge, and is capable dropping into coverage as well. Character concerns are part of the reason his stock is down, and he likely could have used another year at Carolina. With that said, someone could find a player that sticks in the later rounds who has a high ceiling - my criteria for drafting a guy late.

Darius Nall - DE - UCF - 6'3 246 lbs.- Projected 7th round selection or undrafted rookie FA

Nall is undersized, but so is Cameron Wake. I love his speed off the edge. He displays great burst, and a motor that doesn't stop until the quarterback is lying on the ground. In 2010 Nall had 8.5 sacks and 14 QB hurries.

James Brooks - DE - North Alabama - 6'5 278 lbs. - Projected 7th round selection or undrafted rookie FA

Brooks is a transfer from Arizona State that left for personal reasons. I'll admit I'm not going on much other than a few videos, but he demonstrates great use of hands, a violent pursuit, and a sound bull rush. Brooks also appears to possess the prototypical body for a defensive end. Brooks will likely be overlooked, and could be a great free agent signing after the draft.

ROAR.

By: Dustin J Quarrella

The Detroit Lions have a multitude of difficult decisions to make this offseason. Detroit's focus remains on retaining the services of Cliff Avril, Stephen Tulloch, Jeff Backus, and Eric Wright, but the front office brass is also setting their sights on the cap casualties of other teams in the NFL.

Vincent Frank of fantasyknuckleheads.com has an intriguing, well thought out series in which he's examining potential players who may fall victim to release as a result of the salary cap. The following players are potential bargains for the Lions pending the inability to land one or two of their primary free agent targets.

LB Thomas Howard - Cincinnati Bengals - 29 years old on opening day

Howard is an intriguing player. After spending five seasons with the Oakland Raiders, Howard started 15 games last season for the surging Bengals. With Dontay Moch and Manny Lawson, the Bengals may not be able to afford Howard's services. Howard had 64 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and a sack last season in a starting role. Howard may command more money than the Lions have to offer, but he would provide depth at a position of need.

LB Gary Brackett - Indianapolis Colts - 32 years old on opening day

Brackett is another player that could provide experience and depth. The Colts are likely switching to a 3-4 scheme, and Brackett is a 4-3 LB. According to Frank, Brackett will be a $7 million cap hit, so the likelihood he's released is strong.

Three 1st Round "Busts" that have potential to be released

OT Eugene Monroe, CB Kareem Jackson, DE Derrick Morgan.

I don't see Jackson being released, but Monroe could be an option. I think most of us would prefer the Lions draft young lineman, but Monroe is still young (25 on opening day), and could be a sneaky bargain pickup if released.

I'll attempt to respond to any statements as they come.

ROAR.

By: Dustin J Quarrella

SI has their rankings up... so I'd thought I'd put my thoughts on each set of announcers .... the SI link is at the bottom. I put the better of the group in a poll below.

Let's rip some shit up!

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My thoughts on our corner postion have been well known for a awhile I think. " The greatest assembley of number 2 corners ever put together". I love the Phonz, Aaron Berry and Chris Houston all as potential solutions to that number 2 spot. Sorry Wright fans I don't want to be the "hater" here but he's just to incositent for my liking at times. I'm looking to add a #1 guy who can compete with some of the top talent a WR in the NFL. Sure I could easily see Mayhew making a move to try and grab Asante Samuel, DR. Cromartie or maybe even a Marcus Trufant. What about free agency gets? Drafting corners is fine but this year there is no Patrick Peterson to solve our problems. There is some very good corners like Alfonso Denard and Dre Kirkpatrick this year. For the first time in a long time these Lions aren't building for the future anymore. There adding parts to win post season games. We need to be prepared to make a push for that ultimate goal.

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