Michigan's Brandon Graham could slip to Lions at No. 34
By Tom Kowalski
January 26, 2010, 11:15AM

The Detroit Lions, who gave up 494 points last year -- the fourth-worst defensive effort in NFL history, will be looking for a lot of defensive help in this draft and it's possible they could take two linemen with their first two picks.

As it stands now, the Lions are expected to take either Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh or Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy with their first-round pick (second overall). In the second round, there are early indications that Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham could be available at Detroit's 34th overall pick.

"He's a guy I really like,'' said Mike Mayock, the NFL Network's top draft analyst. "He has a solid second-round grade.''

Some early draft projections had Graham going in the bottom of the first round, but Mayock said there are some questions about Graham's game. Some of those will be answered this week at the Senior Bowl. Graham is among the players on the North team who are being coached by the Detroit Lions' staff.

Mayock said the first time he watched tape of Graham he was reminded of former Wolverine LaMarr Woodley, who was a second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007. Woodley didn't start in his rookie season but has started the last two years and was named to the Pro Bowl this season.

"They have a similar build,'' Mayock said. "(Graham) is not a top-level pass rusher, he's more stout and you know he can stop the run. But does he have the technique and explosion to win in the pass-rush game?''

Mayock also said that some teams will look at Graham as an end in a 4-3 defensive alignment and an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. While Graham has to prove he can be a solid pass rusher, Mayock said Graham must also show that he can drop back into pass coverage if he's going to play in a 3-4.

One knock against Graham already is that at the Senior Bowl weigh-in, his arms only measured 30 ½ inches, which is considered short for a pass rusher.

Still, Graham appears to be the kind of defensive end the Lions are looking for -- someone who is solid against the run but can also generate some pass pressure. If the Lions draft Graham, look for him to start out on the left side and then, depending on his pass rush, he might switch to the right side.

Michigan’s Brandon Graham was unstoppable on the edge. He beat Virginia Tech’s Sergio Render with a quick shoulder dip, then bull-rushed a blocker (sorry, I forget which one) with tremendous burst and pad level.

I agree with M2K that Graham may be better suited as a 3-4 OLB, but I wouldn't rule him out as a 4-3 DE either. I'm also not sure if I would take him at #34, but if the Lions could pick up an extra mid 2nd rounder, he could be a possibility there.

2 words, Elvis Dumervill

Dumerville is a pro bowl starting DE in the NFL.

Graham is a College player hoping to play in the NFL. How can you possibly say he is better ?

Or were there stipulations to the comparison that werent mentioned (such as "At this stage in his career, He is better than Dumerville) ?

Well, that didn't last long - Mike Mayock says Lions won't get shot at Brandon Graham
By Tom Kowalski
January 27, 2010, 1:01PM
Going into the Senior Bowl, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock believed the Detroit Lions would have a shot at Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham in the second round (with the 34th overall pick).

After three days of practice with the North team (under the guidance of the Lions' coaching staff), Graham's stock has jumped dramatically. Mayock now says that Graham -- because he's proven he's got a quick first step and has some good pass-rush ability -- should be a value pick in the bottom third of the first round.

Another reason why there's a good chance Graham won't be there at Detroit's second-round pick is because of the expected "run'' on defensive linemen. While this draft is very deep in that position -- perhaps 12 or 13 could go in the first 35 picks -- once they start to get picked, teams will grab them quickly because they don't want to miss out.

The Lions would like the option of getting a defensive lineman in the second round but those odds appear to be shrinking. The Lions need some other players -- especially underclassmen -- to have big performances at the scouting combine in late February to push some of those defensive linemen down the draft boards.

I agree with M2K that Graham may be better suited as a 3-4 OLB, but I wouldn't rule him out as a 4-3 DE either. I'm also not sure if I would take him at #34, but if the Lions could pick up an extra mid 2nd rounder, he could be a possibility there.

Kowalski's is on drugs. I have been listening to live coverage of the Senior bowl week. Brandon Graham has most likely played and practiced his way into a top 15 pick. Certainly, a top 25 pick. He won't be there for anyone in the 2nd round. Kowalski spells his name ski at the end because he is to dumb to spell toboggan.