Detroit Lions Weblog

Blogger Mock Draft Round 2, Lions Re-Sign Hanson, Peterman, Re-Structure Culpepper, Are Danny O. and Moran Norris next?

Ty from The Lions in Winter and I recently collaborated for our selection in the 2nd round of Next Season Sports’ blogger mock draft.

With the first pick of the 2nd round, we were a bit conflicted. Given the affinity that most Lions fans have for white linebackers (see Teddy “China Doll” Lehman, Stephen Boyd, Chris Spielman), we were nearly convinced to select another one, in former USC LB Clay Matthews.

We considered Matthews because he would be an intriguing player to add, considering both his vast NFL pedigree (father and uncle were NFL players) and the incredible growth that he showed as a Trojan player evolving from a walk-on to a high NFL draft pick over the course of four years.

In the end, however, the availability of a playmaking cornerback trumped the selection of the versatile Matthews. Wake Forest CB Alphonso Smith, represents the same type of skill set that allowed another former ACC player, Dre Bly, to thrive in the NFL, despite his lack of desirable size.

Smith is a difference-making playmaker, as his being the career interceptions leader in the ACC will attest. Last season, Smith had eight interceptions, three of which he returned for TD’s. He also forced four fumbles and had multiple quarterback sacks.

The selection of Smith helps the Lions in two personnel areas since Smith is also a quality returns specialist. Given the fact that the returns game and secondary are likely the two weakest personnel areas on the entire Lions roster, Smith represented a tantalizing option that refused to be ignored, at least for Ty and myself.

The Lions quarterback situation is becoming clearer, after yesterday’s announcement that the Lions had agree with Daunte Culpepper to restructure his contract.

Culpepper was awful last season. There is no denying it. Hopefully, with an off-season of conditioning (No Doritos, No Paczkis for Daunte) and his being reunited with his former Vikings offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, maybe Culpepper will provide a one year stop-gap until the Lions figure out what direction they want go in with the position.

The Lions re-signed K Jason Hanson and G Stephen Peterman, too. Hanson, a potential hall of famer, was an absolute no-brainer decision. Had the Lions let Hanson escape, an already battered and broken Lions fan base would have been distraught.

Peterman’s return provides the right side with some much-needed continuity. Hopefully, Peterman and ‘08 first rounder Gosder Cherilus will make a formidable tandem for years to come.

An interesting sidebar is that the Lions new offensive line coach, George Yarno, coached Peterman in college. Maybe Peterman will help the offensive line in any transition that occurs due to Yarno’s arrival.

The Lions are rumored to still be in pursuit of FB Moran Norris and Qb Dan Orlovsky, which likely means that QB Jon Kitna, and potentially, at least one of the two Drew’s (Stanton/Henson), are not likely to return next season.

I am hopeful that the Lions view the QB position as one that needs to be upgraded in the future, but not immediately. They should not feel the desperation to select a young QB that most draft prognosticators have speculated thus far. They have larger issues to address, in my opinion.