Detroit Lions: NFL Offseason Report Card

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Detroit Lions
2009 Draft Grade: B-

Free Agent/Non Draft: A-

Total Grade: B

Overall Needs:
•Defensive End
•Quarterback
•Middle Linebacker
•Cornerback
•Defensive Tackle
•Guard

Draft Picks:
Rd / Sel# / Name / Pos. / School
1) 1 Matthew Stafford QB Georgia
1) 20 Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma State
3) 33 Louis Delmas S Western Michigan
3) 76 DeAndre Levy LB Wisconsin
3) 82 Derrick Williams WR Penn State
4) 115 Sammie Lee Hill DT Stillman
6) 192 Aaron Brown RB TCU
7) 228 Lydon Murtha OT Nebraska
7) 235 Zack Follett LB California
7) 255 Dan Gronkowski TE Maryland

Arrivals: Old Team
OT Kirk Barton (FA) Cincinnati
CB Phillip Buchanon (FA) Tampa Bay
WR Ronald Curry (FA) Oakland
OG Toniu Fonoti (FA)
OG Dylan Gandy (FA) Oakland
TE Will Heller (FA) Seattle
CB Anthony Henry (trade) Dallas
DE Eric Hicks (FA) NY Jets
DT Grady Jackson (FA) Atlanta
WR Bryant Johnson (FA) San Francisco
OL Daniel Loper (FA) Tennessee
RB Maurice Morris (FA) Seattle
LB Juian Peterson (trade) Seattle
OT Epharim Salaam (FA) Houston
FB Terrelle Smith (FA) Arizona
LB Cody Spencer (FA) NY Jets

Departures: New Team
CB Leigh Bodden (FA) New England
LB Anthony Cannon (released)
DT Shaun Cody (FA) Houston
WR Mike Furrey (FA) Cleveland
TE Michael Gaines (released)
RB Moran Norris (FA) San Francisco
QB Jon Kitna (trade) Dallas
QB Dan Orlovsky (FA) Houston
TE John Owens (FA) Seattle
DE Cory Redding (trade) Seattle

Offseason Analysis:

Detroit has a new general manager in Martin Mayhew and coach in Jim Schwartz. With the number one pick, most would have taken Matthew Stafford, but the front office and coach will be judged on his performance. Stafford hasn’t had a great QB since Bobby Layne played in the 50’s. They also took a tight end in Brandon Pettigrew in the first round, the best in the draft.

In the third round they grabbed Louis Delmas, one of the highest-rated safeties who had some red flags due to a torn ACL in 2007. In the third, they also added DeAndre Levy, an inside linebacker from Wisconsin and Derrick Williams a receiver/return man from Penn State.

In the fourth, they selected DT Sammie Lee Hill, a big and athletic lineman who wasn’t invited to the Combine because he played at a small school. In the sixth, they took Aaron Brown from TCU, who can also return kicks and play slot receiver.

In the seventh, they took a tackle in Lydon Murtha, an athletic freak from Nebraska; linebacker Zack Follett from Cal, who lacks size; and a blocking tight end in Dan Gronkowski from Maryland. As for free agency and trades, the Lions were busy. Even if Stafford doesn’t start right away, the Lions have added Daunte Culpepper to hold the fort in case Stafford isn’t ready.

At running back, the Lions brought in Maurice Morris to compete with Kevin Smith for playing time. They also picked up Bryant Johnson to add speed to the receiving corps.

On defense, they are getting rid of the Tampa 2 system and trying for a bigger look up front. They added veteran run stuffer Grady Jackson to start at tackle. They traded for five-time Pro Bowl LB Julian Peterson, who can fill a hole at the strongside.In the middle, they picked up former Steelers LB Larry Foote to compete for the starting job. They also took two corner in Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry, who should start.

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