clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2012 NFL Draft Results: Ryan Broyles Selected By Detroit Lions

Getty Images

Just about as soon as the Detroit Lions went on the clock at No. 54 overall, their pick was turned in. That made it pretty clear the Lions got the guy they wanted, and that guy turned out to surprisingly be Oklahoma wide receiver Ryan Broyles.

This pick came as a complete shock based on the players who were still available. Guys like Peter Konz, Trumaine Johnson and Lavonte David were all there, but the Lions opted to go with Broyles, giving themselves another receiver to add into the mix.

There's no doubting Broyles' production at Oklahoma. He had 349 career catches for 4,586 yards and 45 touchdowns. Those numbers were in spite of him having his senior season cut a bit short, too. Last November, he tore his ACL, which begs the following question: When will Broyles even be able to get on the field to play a game at full strength?

This is a real head-scratcher for me. Broyles is a slot type of wide receiver, so I'm not sure what that means for Nate Burleson. Are the Lions drafting Broyles to eventually take over for Burleson? Perhaps, but I think they could've gotten much better value for somebody else at pick No. 54.

Reminder: You can follow Pride of Detroit on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

NEW: Join Pride of Detroit Direct

Jeremy Reisman will drop into your inbox twice a week to provide exclusive, in-depth reporting and insights from Ford Field. Subscribe to go deeper into Lions fandom, and join us on our path to win the Super Bowl.