Running back - Tatum Bell is not an ideal starter. Brian Calhoun hasn’t done anything. Aveion Cason is the other guy. A big grinder is needed, considering the team is supposedly refocused on pounding the ball. A Mendenhall or Stewart in the first would be a tempting addition. That said, Kowalski has suggested they might wait on a RB. In the mid-2nd range, a guy like Matt Forte could be a justifiable addition (seems debatable if he falls to their first third). Ray Rice could garner a look mid-2nd. Guys like Kevin Smith and Tashard Choice could garner consideration in the 3rd/4th area. Same goes for Mike Hart (4th or later) or Chauncey Washington (probably 3rd), but it’s hard to imagine them not adding a RB fairly early.

Middle Linebacker - Ernie Sims has the weakside locked up. They could use a MIKE backer. The other roster options currently are Paris Lenon, Anthony Cannon, Alex Lewis, Buster Davis, Alfred Fincher, Gilbert Gardner. They’d probably like to move Lenon to SAM. Of the rest, Davis might be a tad undersized to take on a regular role, Lewis hasn’t done much and IMO isn’t a fit, and Fincher probably lacks enough agility to handle the MIKE role in the Tampa 2 (he had good straight line speed, 4.6’s, but agility numbers were poor). The one that intrigues is Gilbert Gardner, due to his past experience in Indy with the scheme, but he’s more a backup. Kowalski has suggested the decision in the first could be Rivers (if he lasts) or Mayo. Mayo seems like a really good fit, with the size and athleticism to cover the deep middle, and the hitting ability to go with it. If Dan Connor lasts until the early 2nd, I could see them perhaps move up for him, a la Buffalo and Posluszny. Tavares Gooden and Jonathan Goff could perhaps be looks in the 3rd round if they wait. Erin Henderson might be a MIKE fit for the scheme, a la his brother. Probably ranges in that mid-2nd to mid-3rd area. Jordan Dizon is a possibility, perhaps in the 3rd/4th.

Defensive End - Right now, it stands as Ikaika Alama-Francis, Dewayne White, Claude Harriott, Jared Devries, Corey Smith. There really isn’t a dominant edge guy there, and there really isn’t anyone that projects as a dominant edge guy. They’d probably love Derrick Harvey at 15, but the chances of him being there is iffy. They could perhaps look to a Lawrence Jackson type if he’s there in the 2nd round. Even a Cliff Avril isn’t all that incredulous (if utilizing Avril as an open-side end). A Jason Jones could perhaps warrant consideration in the 3rd. Darrell Robertson has been compared to Mark Anderson by some, and could be a fit in the 3rd.

Offensive Tackle - They need help here. Jeff Backus is a decent player, but nothing special. Other than that, we’re talking about Jon Scott, George Foster, Jon Dunn. Not an impressive crop. The problem is, sitting in the first, there’s a chance the top 5 OL are off. If a Williams or Otah is there at 15, it should garner some consideration. In the 2nd, the option might be someone like Duane Brown. Carl Nicks could be a 2nd possibility, or he could drop with the off-field stuff. Tony Hills could be a look in the 3rd/4th, John Greco could be looked at in the 3rd/4th (although he may be a better fit inside). Kirk Barton could be a 3rd/4th look. A raw guy like a Breno Giacomini could be in the 4th. If they are willing to gamble, someone like Brandon Keith offers a lot of upside in the 4th/5th area (if he’s there). A guy like Geoff Schwartz could warrant a look in late day 2 (5th-7th).

Defensive tackle - Cory Redding, Shaun Cody, and Chuck Darby are the current guys (Langston Moore is a RFA). Somehow this need gets overlooked, largely because Redding got the big contract. But is there a dominant interior player here? Ikaika Alama-Francis may be better off bulking up a few pounds closer to 290 and sliding inside. The Tampa 2 is usually keyed on a dominant 3-tech, and I’m hard pressed to see any of those guys as dominant. They could use a NT to clear space up for their DL. I don’t think it’d be the worst idea to grab a DT early (a guy like Trevor Laws seems like a superb fit), but realistically, they’ll likely wait. A Demario Pressley could be a NT option with their late 3rd. Maybe a Letroy Guion in that 3rd-5th range. A Kurt Hout or Derek Lokey could warrant late looks. A lot of options in day 2.

Tight End - Currently, it’s Dan Campbell, Sean McHugh, John Owens, Casey Fitzsimmons, Clark Harris, Michael Gaines. Nothing too intriguing there. A better pass catching option would help balance out the offense a bit with a target across the middle. It’s unlikely a high target due to other needs. A Jermichael Finley could be a look in the 3rd/4th. Guys like Drew Atchison and Tom Santi could be looks in that 5th-7th area. Guys like Craig Stevens (for his blocking and raw athleticism), Kellen Davis, Martin Rucker, Jacob Tamme could be looks in the 4th-5th range.

FB - Grabbing a FB late would be warranted. They have converted DT Jon Bradley on the roster at FB. If they want to power run a bit more, adding another option to compete is an idea. An Owen Schmitt in that 5th/6th area could be justified. A Jerome Felton could go in the same range and offers some single back/big back potential.

Other positional thoughts:

CB - Probably good to add another piece late, although the additions of Bodden and Kelly do upgrade their short term.
Interior OL - Raiola will be 30, and he’s average anyways. A youngster late wouldn’t be the worst idea. An OG piece could be looked at, although they are okay there.

General Thoughts:

This was a team that finished poorly, which was probably an indictment of the roster fit for scheme. They could probably plug a few pieces and be decent again next year, but for them to take the next level, they’ll really need some impact pieces. This is a clear indictment of the Matt Millen era. The coach shuffling and misses in the draft have left them weak.

It feels like they are doing a lot of stopgap plugging defensively. Adding Bodden and Kelly this offseason address the CB spot temporarily. Dwight Smith and Kalvin Pearson should help at safety, although letting the kids (Daniel Bullocks, Gerald Alexander, Greg Blue) play, IMO, would be better. I’d love to see them try to add an impact end and tackle on the defensive side, but that might have to wait. Darby gives them a decent guy inside. Most of these guys know the system, or at least, the style (including a guy like Gardner), which adds to the addition last year of Dewayne White. It’ll be a surprise if, with their 4 picks in the top 3 rounds, if 2 of them aren’t used on the offensive side, where OL and RB are desperately needed.

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That reminds me. I think it would be a good idea for Lions fans to call the team office on April 26 to let Millen know the draft is going on today.

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As much as I’d like to see this team take another linebacker at 15 (Paris Lenon is a starter? Really?), the OL situation NEEDS to be addressed if the team is to move to an offensive system geared toward the run as OC Colletto said.

Heck, if they took LB first and OL and DL with every pick after I’d be happy. Build the trenches and move outward.

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