Here's the situation:

You run the Lions' war room and must establish your board. The board can change any time between now and the draft. Let's start with the five players who sit atop your board. The only rule is that trading down is not an option. We are talking about the #1 overall pick and you WILL have to take one of these players and pay all of the guaranteed money that goes with the top pick. So who are your top 5 for the Lions? Again, you can change anytime between now and the draft.

Mine as of today:

Andre Smith
Michael Oher

LT is an obvious need, although perhaps not the top need. A top LT is going to be expensive anyway so the #1 overall pick is an OK place to get either guy. This is a safe "value" pick; a combination of need and fiscal responsibility. Don't yet know the order of the two guys; if they stay even, I draft the guy who is willing to play for less money.

Matthew Stafford

Is he a franchise QB? If yes, then he's the pick, no question. I don't think you ever pass on a franchise QB. I need more info before I can put him on top of the board--not ready to call him a franchise QB just yet. Huge risk in taking a QB here.

Rey Maualuga
Aaron Curry

LB is a huge need and both of these guys are studs. It is very difficult to justify taking a LB with the #1 overall pick because of money but either guy could be the best pick for the Lions based on need. Slight edge to Maualuga as MLB with the understanding that Lenon can slide to SLB.

My draft picks for the first pick is probably one of these guys.

Michael Johnson: Same size as Mario Williams minus like 20-30 pounds. He could put on some weight and not lose speed either. We need a pass rusher off the edge.
Malcolm Jenkins: He seems to be very good in coverage, also a great tackler.
Any DT that is good, I haven't really looked into any but if there are any good ones in the draft they would be my 3rd option.

If for some reason they fall on the draft board and we can get them later in the first then I guess we should get LT to attempt to make the line better even though we've drafted there before and it still sucks so not sure why waste more picks but hey it is the Lions. I personally think we'd be better off getting a proven one in FA, because like I said we drafted 3 OL in the past 9 years and our O Line sucks so yeah obviously can't draft good there.

I agree with you mwill2 on the LT, Andre Smith or Michael Oher.

Unless he doesn't enter Stafford is my guy.

Anyways other then that I will just list some of the propects I like by position (the list turned out longer then I though lol.

QB
Stafford
Josh Freeman
Nate Davis
John Parker Wilson

RB
Shonne Green
DeMarco Murray
Donald Brown
Rashad Jennings
Tyrell Sutton
C.J. Spiller

FB
Jorvorskie Lane
Chris Pressley

WR
Jeremy Maclin
Ramses Barden
Deon Butler

TE
Jermaine Gresham
Brandon Pettigrew
Chase Coffman
Dennis Pitta

OT
Oher
Jason Smith
Troy Kropog
Andrew Gardner
Joel Bell
Andrew Hartline

OG
Ryan Stancheck
Andy Kemp
Jeff Byers
Andre Levitre

OC
Alex Mack
Antoine Caldwell
Max Unger
Eric Wood
Ryan McDonald


DE
George Selvie
Everette Brown
Greg Hardy
Brandon Graham
Connor Barwin (I don't think I wouldn want the lions to draft him though)
Auston English
Cody Brown
Derek Walker
Will Davis

DT
Peria Jerry
B.J. Raji
Vince Oghobaase
Arthur Jones
Ziggy Hood
Vance Walker
Ron Brace
Darryl Richard
Roy Miller

OLB
Aaron Curry
Sean Weatherspoon
Mark Herzlich
Zack Follett
Jonathan Casillas
Michael Tauiliili
Josh Mauga

ILB
Brandon Spikes
Daniel Holtzclaw
Jason Phillips
Scott McKillop
Jasper Brinkley
Dave Philistin

CB
Vonte Davis
D.J. Moore
Kevin Barnes
Victor Harris
Mike Mickens
Alphonso Smith
Darius Butler
Domonique Johnson
DeAngelo Smith
Joe Burnett

S
William Moore
Patrick Chung
Kam Chancellor
Chip Vaughn
Darcel McBath
Derek Pegues
Sean Smith

I can't believe you left Brian Orakpo out of your DEs. IMO, he's easily the best one out of the ones you listed. I also heard this weekend that unless Selvie has a monster combine to expect him to be a late 2nd early 3rd rounder.

My top 5?

1. Owner
2. Pioli
3. McDaniels
4. Cassell
5. Coaching staff

Orakpo is a workout warrior who jumped on the scene as a senior for the most part. Selvie has a great athlete with great production desptie being doubled and tripled. I would be pissed if he went into the 2nd and we didn't get him.

How about Crennell and Weis (If he is fired)... Lets get the band back together...

Yeah, Orakpo is.. I'd love to have him and I guess we'll see what happens when the staff and front office moves are made.

For Selvie... I'm just not that sold on him.. if he's doubled and tripled team in college and his production drops.. what's going to happen when he gets to the NFL where the talent is better? I am waiting to see what he does at the combine to make my final judgement on him.

Can't be any worse than what we've seen over the last 8 years, can it?

This team ain't going anywhere till they someday find a franchise QB...

1. Matt Stafford
2. Colt McCoy
3. Sam Bradford
4. Graham Harrell
5. Tim Tebow

Colt Mccoy is staying. Tebow would be a HUGE risk @ QB anywhere near the first round. (I wouldn't draft him as a qb till the 3rd-5th.

I was joking of course.

I think right now my top five would be:

1. Michael Oher
2. Andre Smith
3. Sam Bradford
4. Malcolm Jenkins
5. Matt Stafford

I want to replace Stafford but I don't see anyone else I'd put top 5 right now.

You were NOT!

Oher and Stafford are the two most common choices at the moment. Keep 'em coming.