The Official 2014 Lions Draft Thread

[Gulf of Brazil]

Player ............Pos. Team Grade
1 Jadeveon Clowney DE Texans 98
2 Greg Robinson OT Rams 97
3 Blake Bortles QB Jaguars 91
4 Sammy Watkins WR Bills 96
5 Khalil Mack OLB Raiders 96
6 Jake Matthews OT Falcons 95
7 Mike Evans WR Buccaneers 94
8 Justin Gilbert DB Browns 91
9 Anthony Barr OLB Vikings 90
10 Eric Ebron TE Lions 92
11 Taylor Lewan OT Titans 94
12 Odell Beckham Jr. WR Giants 93
13 Aaron Donald DT Rams 94
14 Kyle Fuller DB Bears 92
15 Ryan Shazier OLB Steelers 92
16 Zack Martin OT Cowboys 93

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Player Pos. Team Grade
17 C.J. Mosley ILB Ravens 92
18 Calvin Pryor S Jets 91
19 Ja'Wuan James OT Dolphins80
20 Brandin Cooks WR Saints 91
21 Ha Ha Clinton-Dix S Packers 92
22 Johnny Manziel QB Browns 90
23 Dee Ford DE Chiefs 89
24 Darqueze Dennard DB Bengals 92
25 Jason Verrett DB Chargers 90
26 Marcus Smith DE Eagles 70
27 Deone Bucannon S Cardinals 86
28 Kelvin Benjamin WR Panthers 75
29 Dominique Easley DT Patriots 77
30 Jimmie Ward S 49ers 84
31 Bradley Roby DB Broncos 89
32 Teddy Bridgewater QB Vikings 89

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Player Pos. Team Grade
1 Xavier Su'a-Filo OG Texans 88 2
Demarcus Lawrence OLB Cowboys 86
3 Joel Bitonio OT Browns 89
4 Derek Carr QB Raiders 68
5 Ra'Shede Hageman DT Falcons 86
6 Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE Buccaneers 81
7 Marqise Lee WR Jaguars 90
8 Kyle Van Noy OLB Lions 80
9 Lamarcus Joyner DB Rams 80
10 Jordan Matthews WR Eagles 83
11 Weston Richburg C Giants 77
12 Cyrus Kouandjio OT Bills 88
13 Paul Richardson WR Seahawks 74
14 Stephon Tuitt DE Steelers 89
15 Trent Murphy OLB Redskins 69
16 Timmy Jernigan DT Ravens 87

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Player Pos Team Grade
17 Jace Amaro TE Jets 84
18 Jeremiah Attaochu OLB Chargers 89
19 Ego Ferguson DT Bears 69
20 Troy Niklas TE Cardinals 79
21 Davante Adams WR Packers 85
22 Bishop Sankey RB Titans 85
23 Jeremy Hill RB Bengals 79
24 Cody Latimer WR Broncos 88
25 Carlos Hyde RB 49ers 88
26 Stan Jean-Baptiste DB Saints 86
27 Jack Mewhort OT Colts 73
28 Kony Ealy DE Panthers 87
29 Allen Robinson WR Jaguars 78
30 Jimmy Garoppolo QB Patriots 82
31 Jarvis Landry WR Dolphins 84
32 Justin Britt OT Seahawks 45

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Player Pos. Team Grade
1 C.J. Fiedorowicz TE Texans 72
2 Morgan Moses OT Redskins 92
3 Billy Turner OT Dolphins 58
4 Dez Southward S Falcons 58
5 Charles Sims RB Buccaneers 70
6 Marcus Martin C 49ers 87
7 Chris Kirksey OLB Browns 61
8 Scott Crichton DE Vikings 80
9 Preston Brown ILB Bills 65
10 Jay Bromley DT Giants 48
11 Tre Mason RB Rams 78
12 Travis Swanson C Lions 51
13 Chris Borland ILB 49ers 70
14 Spencer Long OG Redskins 49
15 Terrence Brooks S Ravens 80
16 Dex McDougle DB Jets 47

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Player Pos. Team Grade
17 Gabe Jackson OG Raiders 73
18 Will Sutton DT Bears 61
19 Louis Nix III DT Texans 88
20 Kareem Martin DE Cardinals 71
21 Khyri Thornton DT Packers 57
22 Josh Huff WR Eagles 60
23 Phillip Gaines DB Chiefs 71
24 William Clarke DE Bengals 61
25 Chris Watt OG Chargers 54
26 Donte Moncrief WR Colts 68
27 John Brown WR Cardinals 59
28 Trai Turner OG Panthers 76
29 Brandon Linder OG Jaguars 56
30 Terrance West RB Browns 68
31 Michael Schofield OT Broncos 55
32 Jerick McKinnon RB Vikings 51
33 Dri Archer RB Steelers 68
34 Richard Rodgers TE Packers 44
35 Crockett Gillmore TE Ravens 54
36 Brandon Thomas OG 49ers 70

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Travis Swanson

Travis Swanson

• OC 6-5, 312 lbs Arkansas Scouts Grade 51 Position Rank 4
• Overall Rank 175 Arm Length 33-1/8" Hand Size 10"
• 40-YD Dash5.28 Conference SEC

Draft Analysis
WHAT HE BRINGS
Much like Colorado State's Weston Richburg, Swanson is a four-year starter and two-time team captain with good length (33 1/8 inches) for the position. He's not as balanced as Richburg and has a tougher time staying in front of defenders, but he shows good awareness and rarely gets caught out of position in pass protection. He's also an adequate positional blocker who gets into position and walls off defenders.
HOW HE FITS
Swanson is a position guy who plays well in space, which should help him thrive in Detroit's zone-blocking scheme. He's not a mauler, but efficient and excellent in blitz pickup -- an area in which the Lions need to improve. Their starting line is in place, but Swanson offers quality depth across the interior of the O-line as the Lions look to keep QB Matthew Stafford upright.
Draft Results

Overall Football Traits

Production

1​

2009: Redshirt 2010: (13/13) 2011: (13/13) 2012: (12/12) 2013: (12/12)

Height-Weight-Speed

2​

Hits all the marks in terms of height, weight and top-end speed but lacks muscle definition and has thin ankles. Above-average arm length (33 1/8") and big hands (10") for center position.

Durability

1​

Started every game of college career.

Intangibles

1​

Two-time team captain. Leader on and off the field. Hard worker that takes professional approach to game. Son of Todd and Gina Swanson. Majoring in sociology.
1 = Exceptional 2 = Above average 3 = Average 4 = Below average 5 = Marginal

Offensive Center Specific Traits

Pass Protection

4​

Longer arms and big hands to lock on and lock out. Active hands and resets quickly. Finds ways to get job done with effort. Digs in, plays with wide base and fights to hold ground against power but doesn't bend well and can give too much ground. Limited athlete that struggles to stay in front of defenders. Top heavy; lunges and gets caught off-balance too often.

Run Blocking

3​

Good first step and adequate initial hand placement. Drives legs once in position and flashes ability to move defenders off ball but more of a positional blocker than bulldozer. Plays high and leans. Gets stood up. Doesn't press defender off frame. Slips off blocks and spends too much time on ground. Footwork, size and enough balance to be adequate zone blocker. Takes sound angles to second level assignments and flashes ability to cut off linebackers despite athletic limitations. Sub-par angles on block back.

Awareness

1​

Smart and makes accurate pre-snap reads. Makes line calls. Keeps head on a swivel in pass pro. Picks up line stunts and blitzes. Keeps head up and locates second level assignments as a run blocker.

Toughness

2​

Not an overwhelming mauler but grinder that finishes when he catches defenders off balance and smells blood in water. Aggressive and throws weight around in space. Agitator that can get under opponent's skin by blocking through whistle and leaning on defenders on ground.

1 = Exceptional 2 = Above average 3 = Average 4 = Below average 5 = Marginal

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Kyle VanNoy



Eric EbronTEJunior6-4⅜, 250 lbsNorth Carolina
Scouts Grade 92 Position Rank 1 Overall Rank 11
Arm Length 33-1/4" Hand Size 10" 40-YD Dash 4.6

• Conference ACC – Coastal

Draft Analysis






WHAT HE BRINGS

Ebron isn't a powerful blocker. He dropped too many passes last year, and his effort is inconsistent, yet he's a good value pick at this point in the first round, and the reason is he's a dangerous receiver. He has the speed to stretch the field and body control to make plays downfield, plus the burst and wiggle to produce after the catch. He's also a nightmare matchup for defensive coordinators. If you try to match up with a linebacker, he can separate underneath or get behind the coverage. If you try to match up with a safety, he does a nice job of getting inside leverage and using his frame to box out.
HOW HE FITS

This was not a real need, with Brandon Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria already on the roster, but the Lions love pass-catching tight ends. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi comes from New Orleans and knows how to get big production out of the position. We will see multiple packages with motion, flexes, seven-step drops and go-routes between the hashes. Ebron must be able to flourish in their sight-adjustment package and be on the same page with quarterback Matthew Stafford. He will line up wide and flex a lot using some of the same skills we see from Jimmy Graham. This is an offense with a wealth of receiving weapons.
Draft Results
Overall Football Traits

Production 2 2011: (10/0) - 10- 207-20.7-1 2012: (11/11) 40-625-15.6-42013: (13/13) 62-973-15.7-3

Height-Weight-Speed 2
Average height and added nearly 20 pounds to previously lean frame prior to 2013 season. Has very good top-end speed for position. Also has big hands (10') and average arm length (33 ¼') for position.


1 = Exceptional 2 = Above average 3 = Average 4 = Below average 5 = Marginal
Tight End Specific Traits


Separation Skills 1
Unpolished route runner who telegraphs breaks and gets muscled off course. Would like to see better route savvy when working through traffic. However, he naturally separates thanks to outstanding movement skills. He shows the initial burst and top-end speed to threaten a defense vertically. He consistently runs past linebackers and also has enough size to box out safeties when ball is in air. Does a good job of getting inside leverage on seam routes. Finds pockets in zone looks. Could do better job of uncovering when zone collapses on him.

Ball Skills 3
Ball skills are not as good as perception. Makes some circus catches. Has long arms, shows adequate leaping ability and good body control to adjust. Hauls in high-percentage of away-from-frame opportunities. But too many focus drops on 'catchable' balls. Highest drop percentage (11 percent) in 2013 of all the top TE prospects. Big Play Ability 1 Most dangerous TE in class - as both vertical route runner and after catch. Explodes off the line and gains speed quickly. Legitimate seam-stretching weapon. Good suddenness and acceleration transitioning upfield after catch. Above average elusiveness for position and has a second-gear to threaten if given a crease (see: TD vs. Miami (Fla.) 2013 5:39 1st quarter). Competitiveness 3 Highly competitive when he's a top option in passing game. Otherwise, effort and competitiveness are underwhelming.


Blocking 4
Effort as a blocker is inconsistent both in-line and in space. When he does give effort, he is capable of establishing good positioning and occasionally shoots hands inside and shows ability to sustain. Does not project as a player with the mindset, strength and toughness to develop into a decent 'Y' in the NFL. Can be an effective move blocker if focus and consistency of effort improves.
1 = Exceptional 2 = Above average 3 = Average 4 = Below average 5 = Marginal

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

Highly competitive when he's a top option in passing game. Otherwise, effort and competitiveness are underwhelming.

I really hope the coaches work on this with him, as he will not be the top option in the passing game.

 

[themuzzer]

This stuff never gets old.....Check swing state!

 

[Rollingthndr]

The Van Noy one didn't come through.

 

[Thruthefog]

I couldn't help noticing, after the brilliant Ebron pick, there were a few WTF? replies, and this thread died.

Here was my draft day at my friend's house. His team takes Clowney. My team has multiple talents to choose from, and takes......Ebron???

Me: "Fuck you! Fuck Clowney! Fuck the draft! This is fucking bullshit! Fuck you!" And I get in my car and go home. Of course, he's laughing the whole time.

Anyway, that was my true reaction to the pick.

 

[Coach_Ed_LPW]

Dont take a tight end

 

[tpaulus_2]

I couldn't help noticing, after the brilliant Ebron pick, there were a few WTF? replies, and this thread died.

Here was my draft day at my friend's house. His team takes Clowney. My team has multiple talents to choose from, and takes......Ebron???

Me: "Fuck you! Fuck Clowney! Fuck the draft! This is fucking bullshit! Fuck you!" And I get in my car and go home. Of course, he's laughing the whole time.

Anyway, that was my true reaction to the pick.

They might trade us Clowney for Ebron straight up at this point. Guarantee they would for Odell Beckham Jr.

 

[RobBase]

I drafted ODell with a late pick in my keeper. I should rub it in their faces.