Pancake Blocks Mock: Pick No. 1
Sparty leads off the 2009 Pancake Blocks Mock Draft with a safe, yet strong selection. Clearly Sparty has been doing his homework. Jason Smith would presumably step in day one at left tackle, with longtime blind side starter Jeff Backus kicking to guard. Here's Sparty's reasoning:
Of course the Lions are stuck with the #1 pick in a year where there is no clear-cut #1 selection on which to lavish all that guaranteed money.
The consensus #1 pick among most of the pundits is Matthew Stafford. I think the Lions are leaning in that direction but will only draft Stafford if they can sign him prior to the draft. I believe the Lions would be better served to draft help on the OL and wait for a better crop of QBs coming out in 2010. Additionally the list of underclassmen QBs who have been successful in the NFL is woefully short.
Jeff Backus is, at best, a mediocre LT. The Lions need to draft an anchor for their OL to keep the quarterback they draft next year upright.
With the first pick in the 2009 NFL draft the Lions (should) select OT Jason Smith / Baylor.
2009 Pancake Blocks Mock Draft
1. Detroit Lions (Sparty) - Jason Smith
Comments
brady quinn avaiable for a first round pick! BE taken by the jets for their 17th...
Posted by: Thomas G | April 13, 2009 04:29 PM
I don't think you can argue with this pick too much. Some will think a QB is the right way to go in this spot, and I probably would have had the Lions take Stafford if they like him as much as they seem to, and then allow him a year to develop. People seem to think that Stafford would pale in comparison to next year's crop of QBs but I disagree. Anyways, it's hard to argue against Jason Smith.
Posted by: Jesse | April 13, 2009 04:36 PM
This is the obvious choice for a team that wants to dominate in the trenches. Adding an elite LT not only solidifies LT, but hopefully leads to a trickle down. If Backhus is good enough to play LG and Gosder is anything other than an epic bust, the Lions would suddenly have a decent start on offense where Megatron is transcendent and Kevin Smith is very good.
You would like to think the Lions could do a reasonable contract with Jason Smith before the draft as well, which would give them a real jumpstart on the rest of the offseason.
Posted by: The Dude Abides | April 13, 2009 04:39 PM
theres no trading in this mock draft.
Posted by: scott c | April 13, 2009 04:51 PM
i would have agreed with this selection if the lions has signed leftwich (seriously? you wouldn't pay 2 mil for an obvious upgrade over culpepper?). however, you can't base your decision on next year's draft because who knows detroit will be picking next year? what if they have the #3 draft pick and the top 2 QBs go in the first two picks? what if the lions have the #8 or #10 pick? you still think it would be a good idea to pass on stafford for bradford next year?
Posted by: cgeezy | April 13, 2009 05:26 PM
Nobody has yet mentioned that the notoriously cheap Lions would prefer to spend Henry Ford era cash on #1. No way they take a QB when a significantly cheaper option (with less BUST potential) makes just as much sense.
Nice pick, Sparty.
Posted by: Juggs | April 13, 2009 05:37 PM
Juggs: This draft is about what we think they SHOULD do, not what we think they WILL do, so the talk of whether they are cheap or not doesn't really enter into it. Again, it's not a bad pick but I think that if they like Stafford they need to take him.
Posted by: Jesse | April 13, 2009 05:42 PM