Report: Lions to draft Baylor OT Jason Smith #1 [Archive]

DeToxRox

03-22-2009, 09:53 PM

Hot off the Wire - Fantasy Football News (http://www.kffl.com/hotw.php/nfl#561145)

Not a lot there but earlier reports indicated the Lions were in talks with one player as of today.

Hope it's true.

DeToxRox

03-22-2009, 09:58 PM

Dola .. Smith, Curry and Stafford were in up till now and Lewand said today they'd sign someone tomorrow if it made sense. It could have legs.

stevew

03-22-2009, 10:35 PM

Right choice, but the timing is puzzling. Personally I would have tried to leverage Smith, Sanchez, Curry, and Monroe off of each other and save the money. But i guess we'll see when the numbers come out.

Noop

03-22-2009, 10:38 PM

I would have went with a QB but if Smith is a franchise tackle a la Orlando Pace, Walter Jones, etc... then great pick.

DeToxRox

03-22-2009, 10:40 PM

this still may be premature but itd make sense based on info today

Doug5984

03-22-2009, 10:45 PM

imo best pick, doesn't matter who you put at QB if the O-line is always crap.

RainMaker

03-22-2009, 10:58 PM

imo best pick, doesn't matter who you put at QB if the O-line is always crap.

I agree. You rebuild a team up front on the offensive and defensive lines. If I was the Lions, I would probably trade down if I could grab a couple other high picks.

Matthean

03-22-2009, 11:21 PM

I would have went with a QB but if Smith is a franchise tackle a la Orlando Pace, Walter Jones, etc... then great pick.

But this is the Lions and getting a QB who has consistency issues, isn't somebody you want at 1.1. If you talk to their coach he is big on building inside out. If the lines are crap(and the OL is), then you aren't going anywhere regardless of who is the QB. I won't be surprised if they went DT at #20 because it further backs what Schwartz wants to do. Well, that and the fact that the Lions couldn't run stop anybody. :lol:

I don't think it's the complete ideal pick with Backus being the starting LT with an overpriced contract, but this should be something(crosses fingers) that looks better down the road once he's off the books. Raiola needs to be replaced as well. So much of the pressure came from straight up the middle against the Lions.

Stanton might not be the guy, but I don't think you burn a 2nd round pick on him and even before he gets a chance to do much of anything go, "Oh look, a QB with a big arm."

ISiddiqui

03-22-2009, 11:33 PM

If I was the Lions, I would probably trade down if I could grab a couple other high picks.

They've probably tried. No one wants to move up to the #1, take that cap hit if there isn't some amazing "can't miss" player up there.

Matthean

03-23-2009, 12:03 AM

They've probably tried. No one wants to move up to the #1, take that cap hit if there isn't some amazing "can't miss" player up there.

Yep, trading up to one is really difficult to do since the pick holds such a huge amount of value. Even going from 1.4 to 1.1 is pretty costly. Looking at the trade calculator...

1.1: 3.0K
1.2: 2.6K
1.3: 2.2K
1.4: 1.8K

You end up having to trade something like the 1.4 and 1.12(1.2K) just to attempt it. Add in this draft doesn't have that one guy that you absolutely need and few teams want to move up that high.

Crapshoot

03-23-2009, 12:35 AM

See, I disagree - the "trade value" chart is meaningless; it was one team's metric but really, needs to be adjusted for the draft talent distribution. IMO, if I'm the Lions, and someone at 10 or 11 offers me their 1(10) and 2(10), I jump at it - the difference between talent is simply not that high in this draft. I mean, when was the last time someone traded into the top 5? I can't recall - its because no one really wants to, no matter how much fun it is to speculate.

fantom1979

03-23-2009, 06:08 AM

Most of the trades I remember involve a team that already had a high draft pick, like the Vick/Tomlinson draft pick trade and the Rivers/Manning after pick trade. Or the Redskins trading the 6th and 28th pick in the 1992 draft for the 4th pick to grab Desmond Howard.

Passacaglia

03-23-2009, 06:11 AM

The NFL Draft makes me miss Mike Ditka.

Ksyrup

03-23-2009, 07:06 AM

This is a good move, because whoever they drafted at QB would have had a far better shot at becoming Tim Couch/David Carr than Matt Ryan/Big Ben, simply based on the team around them.

albionmoonlight

03-23-2009, 07:41 AM

I hope that the new NFL CBA has a rookie pay scale for the first few rounds. Shift money from the top 10 picks down through the first couple of rounds.

Still give the same amount of overall money to the rookies, but simply make it so that the guy drafted at #31 does better than he is doing now, and the guy drafted at #2 does worse.

That would make top picks more valuable and, hopefully, increase trading of the top picks, which is always fun for the fans.

Passacaglia

03-23-2009, 09:19 AM

JonInMiddleGA

03-23-2009, 09:25 AM

Why? I never understood the point of slotting rookie salaries. How is it the league's business how much each particular rookie makes?

Isn't that part of the collective bargaining agreement, and something that was pushed at least as much by the NFLPA as the owners? Or am I just outta my tree here?

JPhillips

03-23-2009, 09:26 AM

Because with a total salary cap any money spent on rookies is taken away from veterans. It makes perfect sense that the owners and players would agree to limit initial salaries and by default increase salaries for experienced players.

Passacaglia

03-23-2009, 10:14 AM

Isn't that part of the collective bargaining agreement, and something that was pushed at least as much by the NFLPA as the owners? Or am I just outta my tree here?

I assumed it was completely pushed by the NFLPA. The owners are probably neutral on the matter. As a fan, I have a different perspective. But of course, no one asked what I think.

Peregrine

03-23-2009, 10:15 AM

This seems like a good move, especially if (as rumored) they are going to make a strong drive towards trading for Cutler.

molson

03-23-2009, 10:19 AM

DeToxRox

03-23-2009, 10:20 AM

So how much money would the Lions save just "passing" in the #1 pick and wating until around #7 to make their first pick? I'm surprised we haven't seen a team do that yet (assuming that's still the draft mechanism in place, I haven't heard otherwise).

Probably none because when Rivers was traded for Eli his agent wanted #1 money. Any agent worth a salt would bend them over the barrel. It'd be bad enough PR even if they planned to do it, but then for the guy to hold out and have it blow up in their face?

Mustang

03-23-2009, 10:21 AM

So how much money would the Lions save just "passing" in the #1 pick and wating until around #7 to make their first pick? I'm surprised we haven't seen a team do that yet (assuming that's still the draft mechanism in place, I haven't heard otherwise).

I thought of that too, but that could be a mess. You'd have the player they pick claiming that they were the #1 pick and then the person that was pick first with the #2 pick claiming that they were first and then the NFLPA would probably claim that Detroit was trying to get out of paying salary..

Messy probably, but interesting.

Bad-example

03-23-2009, 10:24 AM

The Lions drafting an OT in the first round. I wonder what his bars will look like after they switch him to receiver.

RendeR

03-23-2009, 10:48 AM

The Lions drafting an OT in the first round. I wonder what his bars will look like after they switch him to receiver.

Ok I admit it, this cracked me UP!:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

molson

03-23-2009, 10:52 AM

I thought of that too, but that could be a mess. You'd have the player they pick claiming that they were the #1 pick and then the person that was pick first with the #2 pick claiming that they were first and then the NFLPA would probably claim that Detroit was trying to get out of paying salary..

Messy probably, but interesting.

True. So how about a scenerio where the Lions actually give something up to move down - a 1(1) and a 5th for a 1(6).....That would probably never happen, though you could argue it would be a good move for the Lions.

Samdari

03-23-2009, 11:30 AM

Isn't that part of the collective bargaining agreement, and something that was pushed at least as much by the NFLPA as the owners? Or am I just outta my tree here?

The total rookie pool is determined by the collective bargaining agreement.

Actually, Goodell mentioned during last year's draft that he would push hard for a rookie wage scale, and a still breathing Gene Upshaw insisted that the union would never agree to one.

Fighter of Foo

03-23-2009, 11:50 AM

What site is picking #2 in the mock draft?

DeToxRox

03-23-2009, 11:57 AM

Here is more ..

Citing sources "with intimate knowledge of the situation" KFFL reiterates that Jason Smith is expected to be the Lions' No. 1 overall pick, but admits that Detroit is negotiating with other players.

KFFL reports that Detroit is negotiating with Smith, Matt Stafford, and Aaron Curry, but says Smith is "believed to be" the top choice and an announcement could come within two weeks. We're over a month from draft day and caution that this story is likely to take many forms in the coming weeks. Take this with a huge grain of salt.

Travis

03-23-2009, 12:00 PM

So how likely is it that the Lions try to trade up into the second half of the 1st to nab Freeman?

And assuming this does go down this way, should mean the Seahawks have a crack at Stafford and/or Crabtree at #4 (I'm assuming Curry is off the board in the top 3). Really torn on which direction I'd like to see them go there though. Only way I can see Seattle going OT at #4 is if there is word that Walter Jones' recovery isn't going well so I certainly hope they don't take OT.

Honolulu_Blue

03-23-2009, 12:03 PM

I thought of that too, but that could be a mess. You'd have the player they pick claiming that they were the #1 pick and then the person that was pick first with the #2 pick claiming that they were first and then the NFLPA would probably claim that Detroit was trying to get out of paying salary..

Messy probably, but interesting.

Does anyone recall what happened salarywise when the Vikings did this several years ago? Where did the guy they finally ended up drafting end up getting slotted?

Passacaglia

03-23-2009, 12:03 PM

So how likely is it that the Lions try to trade up into the second half of the 1st to nab Freeman?

.

Don't the Lions still have the #20 pick?

Honolulu_Blue

03-23-2009, 12:14 PM

Don't the Lions still have the #20 pick?

Yes.

Mustang

03-23-2009, 12:29 PM

Does anyone recall what happened salarywise when the Vikings did this several years ago? Where did the guy they finally ended up drafting end up getting slotted?

Not sure, I don't remember hearing anything although, that was pick 8/9. I think the #1 pick would raise more of a ruckus.

Travis

03-23-2009, 12:46 PM

Don't the Lions still have the #20 pick?

Sorry, I should have clarified, I meant trading up from that spot if they feel that Freeman is going to go higher or would they be pretty confident they could land him there (if he's a guy they're high on, I haven't read anything for or against that particular point).

Fighter of Foo

03-23-2009, 01:17 PM

Does anyone recall what happened salarywise when the Vikings did this several years ago? Where did the guy they finally ended up drafting end up getting slotted?

IIRC there was a big fuss about it by the agents for both players involved and they held out of the start of camp trying to sort it out.

Logan

03-23-2009, 01:27 PM

Sorry, I should have clarified, I meant trading up from that spot if they feel that Freeman is going to go higher or would they be pretty confident they could land him there (if he's a guy they're high on, I haven't read anything for or against that particular point).

There's a lot of talk that Tampa Bay loves Freeman...and they conveniently pick right in front of Detroit at 19. So yeah, if they want him, they'd probably need to move up a couple spots (which TB could do too of course).

Matthean

03-23-2009, 01:30 PM

What site is picking #2 in the mock draft?

#2 should be a tackle since they need one.

And the Lions shouldn't pass their pick to get it later to save money. It would just be a tremendous PR gaffe if they did do it and it's not like the Lions have the best PR image right now as is.