MIKE O'HARA SPORTS

Players-for-Picks Part of Lions’ Draft Grade

NFL Countdown | by Mike O'Hara | 04.27.2010/6:51AM

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In terms of pomp and circumstance – and Mel Kiper’s never-wilt hairstyle—the 2010 NFL draft officially began shortly after 7:30 Thursday evening. That’s when the Rams made Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford the first pick, with draftniks howling and the TV lights glowing.
In reality, the draft started earlier. Much earlier. Weeks and months earlier.
Teams cashed in draft picks in the trade market to build their roster. It was like trading in the futures market – today’s proven commodities for tomorrow’s potential.
The Lions dealt in volume in the futures market, but not at a high level. Donovan McNabb and Brandon Marshall were among the big-name players to change teams.
Long before the draft – dating to 2009, actually—the Lions exchanged picks in the 2009 draft to build their roster. A fair evaluation of how GM Martin Mayhew and his personnel and scouting staff performed should include an analysis of veterans acquired for draft picks – and the players taken in that draft slot.
Here is one man’s market report of the value received by the Lions for picks traded:

Round 5, pick 133, to Seattle:
Player received: Rob Sims, 26, full-time starter at left guard, should be entering the peak years of a productive career.
Seattle’s pick: Kam Chancellor, FS, Virginia Tech. He’s 6-3 and 231 with some physical skill.
Added value: Lions also got Seattle’s seventh-round pick in the deal and used it on defensive end Willie Young of North Carolina State.
Stock value: Win for the Lions. Left guard was the biggest weakness on their offensive line. Now the spotlight falls on right tackle, where 2008 first-round pick Gosder Cherilus must pick up his game.

Round 5, pick 134, to Cleveland (ultimately dealt to the Bucs and finally the Eagles).
Player received: DT Corey Williams, who turns 30 in August. He had 14 sacks his last two seasons in Green Bay before going to Cleveland in 2008. He was moved to end and was less productive there.
Philadelphia’s pick: Ricky Sapp, DE, Clemson.
Stock value: The Lions get an immediate return on the investment from Williams, but Sapp has future value. Williams should give the Lions a strong tackle rotation for three or four years. Immediate improvement of a defense that has ranked last for three straight years is vital.

Round 6, pick 171, to Atlanta:
Player received: CB Chris Houston, 25, started 37 of 44 games played in three seasons with the Falcons.
Atlanta’s pick: Shann Schillinger, S, Montana. An obscure prospect, at best.
Stock value: Cornerbacks and offensive linemen are like packing shirts and underwear for a long trip. You never think you have enough. This was a heist for the Lions – a young, starting cornerback who was a primary starter on a young, improving team.

Round 7, pick 209 to Buffalo in 2009.
Player received: Safety Ko Simpson, 26. He started five of eight games played for the Lions in ’09 and is coming off an injury. He was the starting safety, when healthy, for three seasons in Buffalo.
Buffalo’s pick: Levi Brown, QB, Troy. He was invited to the combine to throw in drills but not as a participant. Whoopee.
Stock value: A wash. The Lions obviously would not have drafted a safety but might have gotten a player similar to LB Zack Follett, a seventh-round pick last year from Cal. Follett will compete for a starting job this year.

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