On April 25, the Detroit Lions will make the first overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft. When you have a team like the Lions, who have so many pressing needs, there are a lot of questions on which player Detroit should take.
The current consensus No. 1 pick as projected by most mock drafts is Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford. Stafford has publicly stated he would love to be selected by the Lions, but whether Stafford is the right choice for Detroit is debatable.
Detroit has been starving for a quarterback that could be the face of the franchise. Their most recent attempt came in the form of Joey Harrington, who never amount to much during his short career with the team.
During their winless season in 2008, the Lions used 5 difference quarterbacks who combined to complete 55% of their passes for 2,960 yards with 19 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.
The offensive line allowed the Lions quarterbacks to be sacked a total of 52 times during the regular season. With that type of inconsistency you can see why the Lions would be tempted to use the first pick on Stafford.
When you take a look at Stafford’s three-year career at Georgia, he produced some very respectable numbers. Stafford completed 57.1% of his passes for 7,731 yards with 51 touchdowns and 33 interceptions.
Stafford’s arm strength isn’t an issue. He possesses an NFL caliber arm and has the ability to make any throw. He’s shown the ability to complete passes under pressure and has enough mobility to move in the pocket to avoid the rush.
However, there are some NFL scouts that have expressed concern over Stafford’s sloppy footwork and his tendency to throw into coverage. No one disagrees that Stafford is ranked as the top quarterback in the 2009 NFL draft, but he hasn’t necessarily distinguished himself as a clear cut No. 1 selection.
Before the Lions come to a final decision, they need to take a long hard look back at the 2002 NFL draft. The Houston Texans decided to pass on defensive studs like Julius Peppers and Dwight Freeney, who have since become Pro Bowl caliber players.
Instead, the Texans decided to use the first overall pick to select Fresno State quarterback David Carr. The winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, Carr started three years at Fresno State and was able to complete 62.8% of his passes while amassing 7,849 yards, 70 touchdowns and only 23 interceptions.
The NFL scouts loved Carr’s quick release, even though some were concerned about how well he worked through his progression of receivers.
The Texans expected big things from Carr and he delivered in the team’s first ever NFL game, when they upset the Dallas Cowboys.
After that win, things began to go downhill for Carr. During his 5 years with the Texans, he completed 60.1% of his passes for 13,391 yards with 59 touchdowns and 65 interceptions.
But the most telling statistic that led to Carr’s demise were the 249 sacks he endured during his tenure in Houston. That total equates to nearly 50 sacks a year and includes a whopping 76 sacks during his rookie season.
Considering the Lions’ veteran quarterbacks were sacked 52 times this past season, how many times will a rookie quarterback like Stafford get sacked? Detroit’s offensive line was among the worst in the NFL last season and Stafford could end up on his back more times than Eva Braun in a Berlin bunker.
Yes, Stafford seems eager to play for the Detroit Lions, even after a disastrous season in 2008. Who wouldn’t be if the team was going to hand over truck loads of money? Stafford’s positive outlook for the coming season is admirable, but could very well change when he’s running for his life on every passing down.
There is no doubt the Lions need to find a franchise quarterback to help lead them out of the darkness, but this is not time. The Lions need to do the smart thing and pass on Stafford.
If Detroit is going to start building for a brighter future – and anything they do can only be considered brighter – they should start the process by focusing on the foundation of the team – the offensive line.
Not only will this save the Lions a lot of money, it may give Stafford the chance of having a solid NFL career rather than becoming a first round bust.
The last thing Stafford wants to do is end up like David Carr – or Eva Braun.
