Some good news that there is speculation that the Lions will receive a 4th round compensation pick on the loss of Gosder Cherilus. I'd sa the emergence of Waddle has turned out very well. I still am a fan of Fox of Hillard, but I think it's Waddle's spot. Now the Lions do not have a 5th round pick form the Mike Thomas trade to the Jaguars. This has been seen as a terrible trade and it clearly was. Personally I think it was worth the risk.
With the rookie salary cap trading up and down is much more likely. I think we very well could see a lot of movement in the first ten picks. Who is a team that would want to come up to ten though. Honestly who knows. Maybe it's the Redskins. I wouldn't be upset if the Redskins through the farm in to get the Lions first rounder this year and we no longer had one. The Jets are a team that I think will want to get talent and aren't afraid to move up. I think you look at Dallas as a contender also. Maybe even the Steelers needing a CB. I think any team back there might find a guy they fall in love with.
Trading down with the Redskins mean. It could possibly mean a lot of things. It could possibly mean two first round picks over the next two years and possibly more. Maybe they through in pretty much everything this year and a first rounder next year. Lion fans won't be happy, but having two first round picks in a draft leaves so much flexibility.
Trading down to anyone else. Lets look at the Jets because they're kind of in the middle and probably the most realistic. They'd be giving up the 18th and 49th pick for the 10th. Keep in mind this is before compensation picks are handed out. Now why does this make sense for the Lions. The Lions need a lot of quality help. They also need it at a cheap rate. The Lions are in a serious cap issue. While extending Suh makes sense from a cap situation. Personally I'm not read to tie a knot with the guy yet. They need a quality safety, CB, TE, and WR. They need depth at the d line. They could use an upgrade at OLB and DE with Young a free agent. You look at really keening on getting secondary help and a playmaker. Now having two second round picks and a first should help you get three starters over two.
With the Jets 18th pick I think you will still have the possibility of your choice of at least 1 of the top 2 CBs in Gilbert or Dennard. Possibly the top safety Clinton. Two WR are probably off the board. Top TE in Ebron might be there. I've been very adamant about taking a WR in the second round or later. Mainly due to the lack of separation between WRs and such a deep WR class. I think you pass on that position. So we can narrow it down to CB, S, or TE here.
Their original 45th pick and the Jets 49th pick I think you look to fill WR or whichever position you didn't in round one between CB, or S. I doubt there's a top TE you see to draft in round 2. Austin Sefarian-Jenkins being the most likely, but lets say he's gone. I think you're looking at Calvin Pryor at safety Jason Verrett at CB being the top guys,but possibly not there. Marcus Roberson and Lamarcus Joyner are your likely CB and safety be available there. Possibly off the field issue athletic stud Loucheiz Purifoy or Dion Bailey at safety. Maybe look to upgrade OLB with Van Noy. I think at WR you're looking for Jordan Matthews. Someone like that is definitely very likely to be available. With the Jets 49th you're looking at picking two of these guys instead of one.
Lets look more directly at what kind of combinations we're looking at. We'll start with Ebron then Gibson and then Clinton as if they had been the pick in the first round.
18 - Ebron
45 - Marcus Roberson
49 - Van Noy
18 - Gibson
45 - Jordan Matthews
49 - Lamarcus Joyner
18 - Clinton
45 - Marcus Roberson
49 - Jordan Matthews
Now you can swap in who you like, but you could be looking at three huge upgrades. Now I think all CBs in this draft are a risk. I think there are a lot of starters at safety in this draft. I think if you went Ebron, Joyner, and Van Noy are likely group to succeed.
