After already going on the clock twice in the third-round, the Lions decided to make a trade that gave them one more third-round selection.  The trade allowed Detroit to pick Purdue tweener Cliff Avril, who can play both defensive end and outside linebacker.  His measureables project him as more of a linebacker in the NFL, but with the Lions he is likely going to be Rod Marinelli's edge rusher on the defensive line.

The one criticism Avril has received the most is that he doesn't show up enough during games.  He amazed people at the combine and during his workouts, but some NFL scouts were a tad disappointed in how he played during games.  Regardless, he should see a decent amount of playing time given the Lions lack of depth at defensive end.  I don't see him starting in the immediate future, but down the road that's a realistic possibility.

Here's what others are saying about Avril:

Scouts Inc.:

Strengths: A tweener DE/OLB that can be very effective when turned loose up the field. Has very long arms (34.5 inches) and big hands (9.6 inches) for his smaller frame. Fires out of stance with very good leverage and shows good body control and lean when turning the corner. Displays very good initial burst and top-end speed for the position. Much stronger upper body than lower body. Uses rip and swim moves effectively. Does a good job of keeping his hands active and will jar some OT's with his initial punch. Displays a good motor. Plays with a mean streak and won't back down from physical challenge versus bigger OT's. He shows good initial pop as a tackler and will occasionally jar the ball loose.

Weaknesses: Is undersized. Lacks ideal height and has just adequate bulk for his shorter frame. Plays with a narrow base and will struggle to anchor at the point of attack when teams run at him. Gets in trouble when forced to play head-up or inside shoulder of OT. Needs to be a seven-technique to be effective. Gets too far up the field ate times and will take himself out of plays. Has very limited experience turning and running in coverage as an OLB.

SI.com:

POSITIVES: Athletic defender with good size and playing speed. Plays with good pad level, rarely off his feet, and uses good hand technique to protect himself. Fast off the edge, can bend around the corner, and covers a large amount of area on the field. Displays speed in pursuit. Quickly changes direction, nicely redirects to the ball-carrier, and displays a good head for the action.

NEGATIVES: Slow shedding blocks and engulfed by larger linemen. Did not live up to expectations as a senior.

NFL Draft Countdown:

Strengths:
A great athlete...Good speed and quickness with a burst...Active with a non-stop motor..Does a nice job of shedding blockers...Versatile with experience at multiple positions...Hard worker with top intangibles...Productive and made a lot of impact plays..Hails from a program that is known for producing similar types of prospects.

Weaknesses:
Undersized and does not have the bulk you look for...Is not stout at the point and could be a liability against the run..Heavily reliant on the speed rush and needs to develop additional moves..May be a 'tweener who has to make a position change.

Videos:

SI Film Room:

• Avril returns an interception for a TD
• Interview with Avril following a game

Looking at the depth chart for defensive end, Dewayne White and Jared DeVries are projected to be the two starters.  After that, it's really a toss-up for who gets to be the backups.  I would say Corey Smith and Ikaika Alama-Francis have the best chance to be the backups, but Avril certainly could come in and beat one of those two out.

• Roy Williams thought that with all of the rumors out there before the draft that he would actually be traded.  As it turned out, though, nothing happened, just as Rod Marinelli said.  Williams also believes that he will get the franchise tag next offseason, which would keep him in Detroit for at least one more season if he signs the franchise tender.
• The Lions held their first organized team activity (OTA) on Tuesday.  They will have fourteen total when all is said and done.
• Click here for a photo gallery of the first OTA.
• The Lions' official website has posted a Q&A with Cliff Avril and one with Rod Marinelli.
• Safety Kalvin Pearson participated in Tuesday's OTA, but declined to comment on the two felony charges he's facing.
• The Free Press has a photo gallery up of the first day of the rookie mini-camp that took place last Friday.
• Defensive coordinator Joe Barry commented on some of the Lions' defensive players recently.
• Mocking the Draft has posted its Top 300 list for the 2009 NFL Draft.  I guess it's never too early to start looking ahead to next year's draft.
• Detroit will get a rookie pool of $4,815,910 to pay its draft picks for the coming season.

After drafting running back Kevin Smith to open the third-round, Detroit still had to use the pick they acquired from Cleveland in the Shaun Rogers deal.  On top of that, the Lions would also trade back into the third-round to go on the clock again at pick #92 by trading this year's fourth-round pick and next year's as well.  Movement isn't unusual for the Lions around this time of the draft, and this year it allowed Detroit to add much-needed depth to their defensive line.

With the 87th pick, the Lions selected Florida State defensive tackle Andre Fluellen.  This is the pick Detroit got for trading Shaun Rogers, so it's fitting that a defensive tackle was chosen with it.  Since Rogers is gone, the Lions did need to add another DT to truly have a good amount of depth at that position, and drafting Fluellen did just that.  He should be able to come in and back up Cory Redding and Shaun Cody.  I don't expect him to beat out Cody, but we won't truly know until he gets in pads and onto a football field.

Five picks later, the Lions again went on the clock and this time drafted Purdue defensive end/outside linebacker Cliff Avril.  Avril is an unusual DE in the sense that he is so athletic.  Because of that, he is viewed as a tweener and could end up playing outside linebacker.  Avril runs a 4.5 40-yard dash and is sort of undersized to be a DE, so a switch to OLB for him would really be expected at this point.  If he puts on some weight then he could probably stay on the defensive line, but unless that happens, expect to see him standing up as a LB.

Both of these picks made complete sense as Detroit had needs at both positions.  Fluellen adds depth to a defensive tackle position that needed it after Shaun Roger's departure, and Avril adds depth to both the defensive end and outside linebacker positions.  Since he is a tweener, the coaching staff can decide what they want to do with him and move on from there.

Overall, the Lions had a very good third-round to get day two of the draft started.