Lions fans should be happy with Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft
Posted by ttwentyman on February 15, 2012 – 3:44 pmESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released his second mock draft and I have to say that I’m on the same page with Kiper.
In his first mock draft, Kiper had the Lions choosing North Carolina linebacker Zach Brown with the 23rd pick. I wasn’t a big fan of that selection. I believe the Lions are better at linebacker than others may think.
I have to say I’m on board with his selection of Janoris Jenkins, though. Some scouting and draft analysts I’ve talked too were really impressed with Jenkins at the Senior Bowl. Outside of Morris Claiborne (LSU), I think Jenkins might be the best cover corner in the class.
“At one time, Jenkins was destined to be a top-10 pick, and his talent level hasn’t dipped,” Kiper wrote. “After exiting Florida, he spent a year at North Alabama, and is finally ready for the NFL.
“As a pure cover corner, in terms of pure instincts, ball skills and athleticism, you’re looking at a potential Pro Bowl player. Jenkins is already a major threat in the return game. He has a history, but get him in the right system, and you could have a star. We know Detroit needs help at corner, and Jenkins might be too much value to pass up here.”
I agree, Mel.
Posted in Lions Insider Tim Twentyman | 26 Comments »
By dewalt2990 on Feb 15, 2012 | Reply
He doesn’t even have Brown going in the 1st round now. These guys flip-flop more than politicians. I’ll trust Mayhew/Harris and The Schwartz.
By STEVEF on Feb 15, 2012 | Reply
jenkins is a bust…..i dont agree!!!!
By CoryK on Feb 15, 2012 | Reply
Schwartz can’t keep their current players under control (the ridiculous number of personal fouls being the best evidence). Why add someone else who’s probably going to need a babysitter? They do need linebacker help (ranking 23 vs the run), but I wouldn’t hesitate to go O-line if the right player’s there.
By Dave "Waz" on Feb 15, 2012 | Reply
After the Charles Rogers episode, I don’t trust any pick that has “off the field” issues. These guys need to be interviewed thoroughly. Besides, if we sign Cortland Finnegan, we only need to focus on the offensive line and add depth at linebacker. Another good safety woudn’t be bad insurance either, as erratic as Spievey was last season.
By Don on Feb 16, 2012 | Reply
I am just now finding time to check out the new prospects.
I have heard of Jenoris Jenkens Though and the issue that he has.
And that kind of thing does scare me also, However I know that Mayhew and Shcwatz will be doing thier homework on whoever we are looking to take and therefore I believe that we are in great hands.
I’m going to start the drafting process very soon Now! And of coarse try to put my input in on the issue. This is the most fun about football after the Season is over!
And Free Agency! I hope that there will be a nice corner to pick up on in FA as well.
GO LIONS!
By J-sizzle on Feb 16, 2012 | Reply
We don’t need Finnegan. Too much money. We need to resign Avril (for the right price); resign Eric Wright (for less than he was paid last season); and go after KC Defensive Back, Brandon Carr (Flint MI). He had 6 picks, costs less and will be an upgrade over Wright. (That said, I liked Wright too). He is a hometown product and will get turnovers if Suh and Fairley can get together to make the QB feel pressured.
That allows us to focus on the best MLB prospect in years in RD 1, Vontaez Burfict out of ASU. He will be an upgrade right away, and he is the NASTIEST player if college. PERFECT fit behind Suh and Vandenbosch. Then we can think about trading for an upgrade over Spievey, and our defense will be GOOD.
The offense can get some depth with late picks at RB/ WR. If we can steal one of the better guards after the late first round, we might want to trade up for a higher RD2 pick. Cherilus needs to go. Let Backus slide over to the right and let’s trade for a better left tackle; let a rd 2 pick compete with Peterman for a starting spot at Guard. These things should leave us deeper and stronger at every position.
By Alec on Feb 16, 2012 | Reply
i honestly believe that that we are in the best hands in the nfl. i know we didnt have the one year build that some other teams did but our organization has slowly but surely built a team that is ready to win now. i trust in mayhew and schwartz more then anything else. if they think we should select jenkins i think they know best. im sure we all have our preferences but they have it under control. personally i think CB is something that you look at in free agenecy because the draft takes to long to develop corners. i would love an OT someone like martin or adams would be a solid plug and play player.
By drew on Feb 16, 2012 | Reply
he won’t even last til 23,
kiper is an azz.
By Josh on Feb 17, 2012 | Reply
I don’t think we get finnegan. Our salary cap is an issue and we’re still restructuring. Unless cuts are done to make room, I think the draft is our best bet right now.
By elreydeleon on Feb 17, 2012 | Reply
Even if we get Finnegan, we still need CB help because the dudes we have now couldn’t stop up a toilet, much less stop WR’s streaking downfield. And let’s not forget injuries. Depth. Depth. Depth.
By Ryan on Feb 17, 2012 | Reply
I think we should draft dre kirkpatrick… we need a bigger corner, look at our top cornerbacks and we dont have one over 5’11 he is also said to be a top 10 talent but might slide to the lions i trust they wont neglect the position again !
By jordan on Feb 17, 2012 | Reply
lions know what is up trust the schwartz
By gibbyfan23 on Feb 18, 2012 | Reply
Jermaine Thurman is listed as a sleeper and is a tall back, 1 i have been saying since the end of the season,signing Tullock is more important than Avril & Avril is important to sign,Eric Wright is a good back-up and is Shaun Hill and Stanton,Backus still has a couple,so looking for his replacement is a good thing so a L-tackle in the 1st and groom him wouldn’t be bad, or trade the damn 1st, stock pile picks, there are a ton of good 2-3rd ronds. availble this year,Isiah Pead,Lamichael James,Jermaine Thurman,are all good 2-3rd rond picks that we can get and still be impact players,along with signing our FA & picking up Cortland Finnegan, we should have a solid team and a 13-3 recordwith a home playoff game, with a high possibility of a playoff game going to the SB, with GB troubles we might just have Homefield advantage through-out the Playoffs.
By gibbyfan23 on Feb 18, 2012 | Reply
another area we need to look at is WR’S, we have Megatron, he is not going anywhere, Stafford & Calvin are 2 valuable together, but we need that 2cd threat, Buerlson& Young are great slot guys,but picking up Moss or T.O. would not be a bad investment, they even pep-up they can be cut just as fast,at there age they can still spread the Off. and go deep, i realize that getting younger is a great thing,but them 2 WR’S make people think and take pressure off Calvin,Now you have 2 mega star WR’s & we all know it’s Calvins & Matts team, T.O or Moss just give Matt another weapon and can we say 6000 yrds. 50 t.d.’s and a SB.
By CJ44 on Feb 18, 2012 | Reply
we need to go after a linebacker in the 1st round then grab trumaine johnson in the 2nd. this guy is big and fast and can play ball
By darren on Feb 18, 2012 | Reply
this guy has his dumb opinion, the lions needs LB’s and DB’s but jenkins will be another pacman adams, Zach Thomas would be a excellent pick he runs a 4.3 forty and he can help the DB’s with his speed, did u see that guy in the senior bowl? he was all over the field. and the lions linebackers was getting burned so bad they looked defensive tackles trying to cover people tulluch can tackle but he was getting burned left and right in the new orleans saints game. thst was pathetic. get a cover linebacker and then in then 2nd round look for a cover db or big strong good offensive lineman. lets face it the lions has needs ecerywhere, Let us bowel our heads and pray, lol. how about them Red Wings, and go Tigers. its about time, Detroit is hopefully going to have some good teams. we are the best dedicated fans in the world. on that fire joe dumars fat lazy butt, they need to start drafting and picking up talent. look what clippers and knicks are doing.
By darren on Feb 18, 2012 | Reply
zach thomas is a great player he is fast he runs a 4.3 forty and he can tackle. he is a athlete. a beast. janoris jenkins is another pacman adams
By Woody Douglas on Feb 19, 2012 | Reply
jekens is too small and not proven no time for potential in the DBs. Tullock would be a roll player on other teams, Need to get faster at ilb to cover those tightends and to drop back into coverage. CBS is a must , Need toget off the field on third downs. The Finnigans, and the Carrs would be nice ,but cap would be problem. Mayhew should look at smaller schools player and find a Gem, Teams has a tendency to stay in that bubble. Lions don’t have the luxury to under scout any thing. WE ARE HUNGRY IT’S TIME TO EAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By redwingliger on Feb 22, 2012 | Reply
Some of you people make me laugh. Jenkins only off field issues have been with weed, which he has supposedly gotten under control but he’ll be gone by pick 23. For those of you worried about Jenkins character issues Finnegan makes him look like a choir boy. It’s going to depend on re-signing Wright, if we don’t then I see the Lions picking a CB (not a big name one) in free agency or in later rounds (possibly as late as the fourth). We need O-linemen C & LT if we can’t re-sign Backus then I hope we go LT with the 23 pick or C if Konz is still there at 23 and possibly LT in the second round, which means a CB in the third round, but I wouldn’t doubt picking a RB in the third round..
For those who are questioning this team’s discipline you need to take into consideration that 1) they were young, and 2) Green Bay and New Orleans veteran players (in particular) baited them into those penalties. That has been addressed by coach Schwartz, so it is now a moot point, of course if we signed Finnegan (which I doubt) we would have character issues that could potentially be uncontrollable.
Mayhew cannot simply take the BPA anymore because were not a 2-14 or 4-12 team anymore, (which made it easy since we had needs everywhere) so he has to be a little more selective with regard to “team needs”. I think he will draft the best player available at O-line, CB, LB, S (possibly DE if Cliff Avril walks which I think he will) but a lot rides on free agency and the cap numbers one critical re-signing I think should be Don Muhlbach our current LS, but he won’t cost much. It’s really difficult to speculate on who we will draft because it depends on great deal on FAs signings and which current players we re-sign. Also an awful lot depends on the combine which is just getting underway… things change a lot at that meet, so Lord only knows. You’ll hear a couple of new names that no one’s even mentioned so far, and the mock draft is bound to change several more times before April 26 gets here. Oh, and the only thing consistent about Mel Kiper Jr. draft board is how consistent he is wrong compared to what teams actually do.
By eric on Feb 22, 2012 | Reply
If somehow we can sign all of our key free agents..get Cortland and draft Jenkins 2 go with the corners we have now.(say what u want Jenkins is just what we need!)..we would have great depth..Actually Houston and Wright played their ass’s off..smith and berry are young talented cats..We must keep Tulloch he blowed up a lot of plays this season made the defense a lot better…he made Levy better 2..although i thought he would have more impact..he did have a career year..Im lookin for Delmas the real Delmas the Western Michigan Detriot Lion rookie year Delmas.! Maybe he can do a Stafford..All the cryin about run blocking needs 2 stop..although with a back like Leshoure u gotta be able 2 do it..But all starts with that qb..and after a 100 years we finally got 1..! but we could use a stud runblocker or 2..that would give us more balance..i hope best can put 2gether a whole season..he is a helleva player..when he went down..it hurt us..Trent Richardson could end up here..wouldnt suprise me..
By redwingliger on Feb 22, 2012 | Reply
Eric,
I agree with much of your analysis, but our run blocking stinks and has for years. We need a couple of road graders upfront to open the holes for our running backs or our running backs will all end up like K-smooth. And we don’t know how Leshoure will be after his Achilles injury, after all he hasn’t played one down in the NFL, so he is an unknown quantity already. Coming off an Achilles injury is scary enough, but for a running back position its even scarier because of their accelerating, decelerating, and cutting to bust through holes or change directions to avoid defensive players. As for Richardson the only way we could get him would be sacrificed a couple of draft picks at the very least in order to trade up in the draft. We have to many upgrades/depth players needed to do that, plus he wouldn’t fare well with our inability to run block worth a darn, and this is not a new issue… watch our offensive line play sometime.
By les johnson on Feb 22, 2012 | Reply
OK, we need a running back who can catch and fly in open space. The Lions would create plays for this guy and take the double team off Calvin Johnson….
PICK Andonis Thomas (University of Toledo ) This guy is in your back yard,,,,
By Andy on Feb 23, 2012 | Reply
I agree with Redwingliger that the lions definitely need an upgrade at offensive line. Backus is too slow to play outside but he may do fine if moved inside a bit. They need someone who can actually block for Kevin Smith and Leshoure (I’m not counting on Best returning from that concussion injury)
The resigning of the defensive coordinator was a bit upsetting. They supposedly have the best D-Line in football but can’t ever seem to stop the run. That terrible wide 4 line setup is terrible and doesn’t work at all when trying to stop the runs up the middle.
They Need to draft CB, O-Line, and then after that defense. Our offense has proven to be okay and our front end of the defense is fine but the corners and safeties need to stop the pass of the other team so they can actually stop the run.
By Jontron on Feb 23, 2012 | Reply
Konz at C. As good as the defense was on 3rd and 1, the offense struggled in these short run conversion situations. Look at how many rushing TDs Montee Ball had at Wisconsin last year behind Konz. Getting a top flight center would be a huge bolster to the team. Also, look at some offensive guards. Jason Fox has been groomed for the last couple years to take over at tackle, so he might be more ready than someone we stretch for at tackle. Other than C, look at LB and DB, whichever beast is out there. Vontaze Burflict or Janoris Jenkins could be studs, or could be headaches. Both are intruiging and could represent the best talent available. We need some speed at OLB and size in the secondary. Also, look at Zack Brown, he could be the fastest LB at the combine, which is what our run defense needs.
By rockbo55 on Feb 23, 2012 | Reply
I must really say I have had enough of the complianing of schwartz not having control of his team you tell me genuis we where 10-6 last just two years from being 0-16. why is it that people complain when things our good over nothing that hasnt happened in other teams on the rise the officals always give you trouble and alot of second player got caught except for some instance these guys our experence the term playing with big boys and some of them where first and second players who have never played on the big stage and I beleive this coming year will show that! I do not wont to lose schwartz as our coach and I beleive the defense has been address with some new coaches which I beleive you will great improvement in the defense! Give schwartz a break and give us fan who our enjoying the lions for a change get some optimiztion around these boards OR you never new how good you had it till it was gone!
By crippler4hm on Feb 24, 2012 | Reply
@rockbo55 spell check. it does wonders for posting on boards like this.