Lions Draft Grades

Here we go, being a Lions fan is SWEET!

#1 Overall Selection
Matthew Stafford Quarterback Georgia
The guy has all the tools, can throw the ball over a mountain! Makes throws that 98% of QBs cannot make, the problem is that he tries them far too often. He improved every year in the toughest conference in the country, and had a ton of injuries to his offense this season. I wasn't as high on Jason Smith as the rest of the world, he jumped 20 spots in 2 months. Kinda scary. I also didn't think drafting an OLB and moving him to MLB at the #1 overall choice was the best decision either.
Grade for #1 pick: B (Stafford is not a top notch, no doubt stud, but he has the tools)


#20 Overall Selection
Brandon Pettigrew Tight End Oklahoma State

Pettigrew is the consensus #1 overall Tight End. On almost everyone's board he was the top rated player left when the Lions picked. I still do not believe on this team, you could spend a first round pick on a tight end. I know he is a great blocker, and will help the OL, but still. Another problem is that he is going to be public enemy #1, he has no chance at succeeding in Detroit. He is not the type of Antonio Gates or Jason Witten TE, he is not going to be a fantasy stud. No matter what he does to prove his worth, it will never be enough in Detroit.
Grade for 20th overall pick: C- (I love Pettigrew as a player, he just isnt the player I would have taken)


#33 Overall Selection
Louis Delmas Free Safety Western Michigan
Delmas is a stud safety. Going into the Senior Bowl he was on the radar, and then he blew up. Most called him the most impressive DB in Mobile. He can hit and cover, he will make big plays in the NFL. In Tennessee, Schwartz had 2 good safeties, and a great FS (Griffin). Delmas was at a needed position, and the top player at that position. Great Pick. Delmas also played CB his first year at Western.
Grade for the 33rd overall pick: A-

#76 Overall Selection
Deandre Levy Outside Linebacker Wisconsin
Levy was predicted by most to go in the 5th round. He shows flashes as an above average athletic pass rusher at OLB. He should bring much needed depth to the Lions OLB corps. Not sure this pick makes as much sense as some of the O-line prospects available at this point, or even on of the MLB. Maybe Schwartz likes Paris Lenon, it at least appears that way.
Grade for 76th overall pick: C-

#72 Overall Selection
Derrick Williams Slot Receiver Penn State
Derrick Williams was the #1 overall player in the nation his senior year of high school. For whatever reason his career at Penn State did not live up to the hype. He is a great athlete, and return man, but was extremely inconsistent in the passing game. He disappeared at times. Some will blame his lack of quarterback play, and there is definitely something to that. But, studs find ways to make plays and he didn't always. I still like the pick, a good player who can cross underneath, catch WR Screens, and even break a deep ball from time to time.
Grade for #72 Overall Selection: B+


#115 Overall Selection
Sammie Lee Hill Defensive Tackle Stillman
Hill has elite size and strength. At 6'4 330+ he was the biggest DL prospect in the entire draft. He shows a violent punch and push up the middle, and matched with Grady Jackson there should be little room up the middle of the Lions defense. Playing at Stillman, obviously the level of competition was not great, that will be a big adjustment. I love the 330+ DTs, so I like this pick a lot.
Grade for #115 Overall Selection: A-

Other picks: RB Aaron Brown (TCU), OT Lydon Murtha (Nebraska), OLB Zach Follett (Cal), TE Dan Gronkowski (Maryland)

Overall Grade: B
Obviously the key to this draft is the progression of Stafford. He is getting 42 million dollars whether he is Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf. If Stafford becomes a Pro-Bowl QB there will be a ton of CROW EATING going on around here. If he stinks it up, he will be booed more than anyone in the history of the world, that's a promise. Lions fans have absolutely lost it, they were nice for a long time, but no longer.