Detroit Lions Offseason Summary and Grades
By Scott Carasik
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Key Losses
Released G Daniel Loper, DE Dewayne White, DE Jared Devries, DT Grady Jackson, CB Brian Witherspoon, CB Kevin Hobbs, CB Phillip Buchanon, S Kalvin Pearson
WR Adam Jennings DE DeWayne White, LB Larry Foote, CB William James, CB Anthony Henry contracts expired
TE Casey Fitzsimmons retired
Trades
The Lions traded 2010 2nd round pick (#34 overall - used on CB Chris Cook), 2010 4th round pick (#100 overall - used on DE Everson Griffen), and 2010 7th round pick (#214 overall - used on TE Mickey Shuler) to the Vikings for 2010 1st round pick (#30 overall - used on RB Jahvid Best) and 2010 4th round pick (#128 overall - used on OT Jason Fox)
The Lions traded 2010 5th rounder (#146 overall - traded to Eagles) to the Browns for DT Corey Williams and 2010 7th round pick (#214 overall - traded to Vikings)
The Lions traded LB Ernie Sims to the Eagles as part of a three way traded with the Broncos. The Lions received TE Tony Scheffler and a 7th round pick (#220 overall - traded to Eagles later)
The Lions traded 2010 6th round pick (#171 overall - used on S Shann Schillinger) and 2011 conditional pick to the Falcons for CB Chris Houston
The Lions traded 2011 7th round pick to the 49ers for QB Shaun Hill
The Lions traded DE Robert Henderson and 2010 5th round pick (#133 overall - used on S Kam Chancellor) to the Seahawks for 2010 7th round pick (#213 overall - used on DE Willie Young) and G Rob Sims
Free Agency
Re-signed RB Cedric Peerman, TE Will Heller, OT Jon Jansen, G Manuel Ramirez, C Dylan Gandy, DE Copeland Bryan, DE Jared Devries, DE Jason Hunter, CB DeAngelo Smith, S Daniel Bullocks, S Ko Simpson
Signed WR Nate Burleson, WR Brian Clark, G Trevor Canfield, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, CB Jonathan Wade
Signed as undrafted free agents RB Aaron Higdon FB Matt Clapp WR Mike Moore TE Richard Dickson DT Rob Calloway CB Aaron Berry LS Sam Scroggins LB Ryan Stamper
Draft Grade = A+
2 Detroit Lions - DT Ndamukong Suh - 6'3-7/8" 307 - Nebraska
The Lions needed someone to play their 1-tech NT and Suh is a beast. Grade: A+
30 Detroit Lions - RB Jahvid Best - 5'10-1/8" 199 - California
They took Suh and couldn't get a better trade up here than for Best. Best is a true all-around back and will be a great compliment to Smith. Grade: A
66 Detroit Lions - CB Amari Spievey - 5'10-7/8" 195 - Iowa
Fits the defense very well and could be a great improvement over who they have now. Grade: A
128 Detroit Lions - OT Jason Fox - 6'6-3/8" 303 - Miami
They need to protect Stafford. They take their first tackle here and get an excellent steal. Grade: A+
213 Detroit Lions - DE Willie Young - 6'4-3/4" 251 - North Carolina State
They take a guy who fell here to improve their already improving defensive line. Grade: A
255 Detroit Lions - WR Tim "Mr. Irrelevant 2010" Toone - 5'10" 175 - Weber State
In true Mr. Irrelevant fashion, the Lions take someone who makes me say: Grade: Who?
Overall Grade based on talent acquired and team needs met: A
Sure they went 0-16 and then 1-15, but the Lions are really building their team in the proper way. I love the moves they are making and they are really trying to surround Stafford with talent. They have gone BPA on almost every pick in the draft and the only pick that I didn't like this year was Tim Toone... and they signed the guy I would have taken in his place in WR Mike Moore.
Projected Depth Chart heading into training camp:
QB - Matthew Stafford/Drew Stanton/Shaun Hill
RB - Kevin Smith/Jahvid Best/Maurice Morris/DeDe Dorsey/Aaron Brown/Aaron Higdon
3DRB - Jahvid Best/Maurice Morris/DeDe Dorsey/Aaron Higdon
FB - Jerome Felton/Matt Clapp
WR Featured - Calvin Johnson/Brian Clark/Eric Fowler/Kole Heckendorf
WR Possession - Nate Burleson/Derrick Williams/Mike Moore
WR Slot - Bryant Johnson/Dennis Northcutt/Tim Toone
TE - Brandon Pettigrew/Tony Sheffler/Will Heller/Jake Nordin/Dan Gronkowski/Richard Dickson
LT - Jeff Backus/Jason Fox/Kirk Bardon
LG - Rob Sims/Manuel Ramirez/Roy Schuening
C - Donovan Raiola/Dylan Gandy/Dan Gerberry
RG - Stephen Peterman/Trevor Canfield/Dylan Gandy/Kurt Quarterman
RT - Gosder Cherilus/Jon Jansen/Corey Hilliard
LDE - Kyle Vanden Bosch/Jared DeVries/Turk McBride/Copeland Bryan
NT - Ndamukong Suh/Sammie Lee Hill/Joe Cohen/Rob Calloway
UT - Corey Williams/Landon Cohen/Andre Fluellen
RDE - Cliff Avril/Willie Young/Jason Hunter/Andre Fluellen
WLB - Zach Follett/Jordon Dizon/Ryan Stamper
MLB - DeAndre Levy/Jordon Dizon/Landon Johnson
SLB - Julian Peterson/Vinny Ciurciu/Ashlee Palmer
LCB - Amari Spievey/Jonathan Wade/Jonathan Hefney/Jack Williams/Aaron Berry
RCB - Chris Houston/Dante Wesley/Paul Pratt/Eric King/Jahi Word-Daniels
FS - Louis Delmas/Daniel Bullocks
SS - Marvin White/Ko Simpson/Marquand Manuel
K - Jason Hanson
P - Nick Harris
LS - Don Muhlbach/Sam Scroggins
KR - Derrick Williams/Aaron Brown
PR - Dennis Northcutt
Starter is Bolded
Free Agent/Trade Acquisitions are Italicised
Draft picks are Underlined
