/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/611718/GYI0060239955.jpg)
In his NFL Draft debut as general manager of the Detroit Lions, Martin Mayhew hit the ball out of the park. His first four picks are currently starters for the Lions, and of his other five picks in 2009, four are currently on a roster somewhere in the NFL (one of the other five is still with the Lions).
A year later, in his second draft as GM of the Lions, Mayhew turned in another pretty solid performance. Of the six picks the Lions made in 2010, three are starters and one is a solid rotational player for them. Let's take a look back at all six of the picks.
DT Ndamukong Suh (2) - Suh wasted little time in leaving his mark on the league. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2010 and an All-Pro selection thanks to recording 66 tackles, 10 sacks, three pass defenses, one interception and one forced fumble. Although 2011 didn't go quite as well statistically and for other reasons (his suspension, for example), Suh is still considered an elite talent.
RB Jahvid Best (30) - Best's talent certainly seems to be at a first-round level, but injury issues have plagued his first two seasons in the NFL. In his rookie season, Best was limited by turf toe injuries throughout the season. Then, this past year, he dealt with a concussion in the preseason and in the regular season. The second one ended his season, and there are questions about if he will be able to continue his career. If he can get back on the field, Best should continue to be an explosive player on offense for the Lions.
S Amari Spievey (66) - The Lions drafted Spievey as a cornerback, but it didn't take long for him to switch to safety. It also didn't take long for him to become a starter at safety. In 2010, Spievey started nine games for the Lions, and he was the starter in all 15 games he appeared in this past season. While Spievey needs to be more consistent with his play, he's got a lot of potential.
OT Jason Fox (128) - Fox is one of the more interesting players on the roster. When healthy, he looks like he has the potential to possibly one day take over the starting spot at left tackle. However, he hasn't been able to stay healthy. Injuries were an issue in college, which is why he fell this far in the 2010 draft. He spent most of his rookie season recovering from an injury, and last season he was out most of the year because of injury issues. If Fox can stay healthy and continue to develop, this could turn into a very good pick for the Lions.
DE Willie Young (213) - Considered a raw talent coming out of North Carolina State, Young has developed into a solid defensive end for the Lions. After making only two appearances in his rookie season, Young played in 14 games in 2011 and had three sacks. He figures to be an important part of the D-line for years to come as he continues developing his pass-rushing skills.
WR Tim Toone (255) - The Mr. Irrelevant of 2010, Toone spent his rookie season on the practice squad with the Lions before going down with a season-ending injury. After being let go during the final round of roster cuts in 2011, Toone spent about a week on the practice squad before being let go again. He later landed a spot on the Buffalo Bills practice squad, and right now he is with the Denver Broncos.
--
All six of Mayhew's draft picks in 2010 are still in the NFL. Three are starters for the Lions, although Best's status as the starting running back is obviously in question due to his concussion issues. The other three picks from this year include an offensive lineman with potential who has dealt with injury issues, a potential future starter in Young and a player who is now with the Broncos.
Reminder: You can follow Pride of Detroit on Twitter and like us on Facebook.