NYLion

I don't think even think it's about draft value, I think it's more about positional value. The positional value hounds say that you can't take RB, off ball LB or TE early unless they're generational and that's exactly what the Lions did so those that put a lot of stock in positional value hated their draft. Personally, I see it as good football players being good football players. If you see a good player that is the best player on your board and a culture fit go get him and that's exactly what the Lions did. It presents some risk but so does every draft pick really. I'd prefer that they don't reach for a less desirable player just because they need to fill some positional value quota. I have some questions about this draft but they got good players that will present matchup problems for the opposition in the cases of Gibbs and LaPorta specifically. Holmes probably felt content with the roster and felt that he could take some luxury picks.

I did feel like some of the series were foregone conclusions, which happens in the NBA moreso than other sports, but the entertainment level has been high including last night.

Salty? What? Saying that the Lakers beating the Grizzlies and the Warriors beating the Kings aren't upsets isn't me being salty and I'm not sure why my post was taken that way. I didn't say that the basketball wasn't enjoyable, there's been some great games even though the ending to the Lakers and Warriors series were disappointing from an entertainment perspective. I'm just saying that I don't consider those upsets. Just an opinion, that's all.

I'd love for the Lions to sign one of those guys. I think Holmes has another fairly significant up his sleeve. I can't see him sitting on that cap space, unless he wants to save it for in season moves.

I don't see the Lions as a 12-13 win team yet so I see the Vikings as a threat. I could see the Lions going something like 10-7 while the Vikings go 9-8. I don't think the Lions are far and away the best team in the division, the Vikings have a lot of vet pride over there.

My point is crystal clear. The Vikings are still a threat to the Lions to win the division IMO while you're acting like it's a foregone conclusion that the Lions got this, I never once said the Vikings are as good as their record last year yet you keep going back to that well. I'm not ready to crown the Lions yet, I'll call it "cautious optimism".

Again, I'm not saying they're as good as their record indicated but if you're thinking that the Lions are going to just dominate the division and that the Vikings are an afterthought then we'll just agree to disagree.

The Vikings will still be a threat because they have an offense that can score with the best of them, basically replaced Theilen with Addison and we'll see what happens with Cook. I'm not going to assume anything when it comes to the Lions. It looks promising but the reality is that they haven't proven enough yet to be crowned as NFC North champ yet, nevermind being a threat to the Eagles, Niners and Cowboys. They have that potential but they're all potential right now and, as I said previously, they'll have a target on their back which will come with a different level of expectation/pressure. The Lions weren't even .500 until very late in the season. Playoffs weren't really realistic until roughly the Jets game so there was a lot of playing with house money until the end of the season.

Were there any real big upsets though? Maybe according to seed but I don't think anybody is shocked that the Lakers beat the Posers, I mean, Grizzlies that the Warriors beat the Kings and that the Heat who almost made the NBA finals last year with pretty much the same roster beat Gimpy Giannis and the Bucks. This just proves how meaningless the regular season is now with the play-in, championship level teams like the Warriors, Lakers and Heat can just cruise through the regular season knowing that they can make the play-in without putting up much effort and make noise once they get in. All the real contenders, outside of Milwaukee, are still left.

I'm as bullish on this regime as anybody but I think there's too many assumptions that the Lions are all of a sudden going to take off to being an NFC power and not look back. I wouldn't lock that in or even lock in them taking the division yet as I feel that Minnesota is being underrated, their offense is still going to be a handful to deal with. The roster looks as good, on paper, as it's looked in years maybe decades (that's how sad their history is) but there's something to be said for learning to deal with expectations when you're no longer the hunter and are now the hunted. I'm not saying that they'll crumble under the weight of expectations but this team has some proving to do that they can handle the pressure. The 8-2 finish was great but it was largely done with a "nothing to lose" mindset, it's going to be a whole different pressure next season now that Holmes put the pieces in place and expectations from everybody really are going to be through the roof.

Holmes could have easily stood pat and took "his guy" Gibbs at 6 (which I'm sure Quinn would have done) but, instead, worked the phones knowing that he could still get his guy at 12 (unless somebody else traded up for Gibbs) and collected an asset in addition so instead of just Gibbs+whoever at 81, he landed Gibbs+LaPorta. Argue positional value all you want but instead of settling for his guy, he went to work and still got his guy while adding another guy. He used one of those assets to trade up for Branch then did the same with Hooker, kept trading down to collect assets making a calculation that Hooker would be there in the 3rd round and still landed a guy who most were projecting in the 2nd at worst. He then used those assets to take a longshot NT which I'm still baffled but he made all the maneuvering and landed his targeted players. Personally, I think he took a big leap of faith with some of these guys going against the consensus but he did what he had to do to land the guys he wanted which is a talent in itself.

It does lose some value because it's in 2 years but, yeah, not a bad haul. I heard that it was a 30 spot jump in the 7th so almost like adding a late 6th as well. Not too bad. I hate that it was to the Philly Bulldogs though.

LaPorta wasn't a reach. He was projected 2nd round by just about every draft pundit. Not crazy about the Gibbs pick but he was coveted by a lot of teams in the mid to late 1st according to rumors. I can get on board and justify each pick (even if I'm skeptical of a few) but the Martin pick, not only the pick but the cost to get him, was baffling. Giant, immoblie guy who had minimal production at a small school. Willing to give him a chance but this smells like a bust already.

Yes but just not with Hookers

I'm not sure if this is a good draft yet (I'm leaning towards yes) but it's fascinating as hell.

The positive is that this might give the Lions some leverage on Goff's next contract with Hooker waiting in the wings. I like it from that standpoint.

Actually, I'll say the opposite. Hooker never sees the field for Detroit outside of mop up duty or injury fill in. They're building a strong enough offense that Goff will assert himself as THE guy. I know some people like this pick but I was a "Go Big or Go Home" guy if they wanted QB and I don't see this as going big.

Nope. You get an old, backup QB instead lol. I'm sure you're thrilled with this pick.

Traded back again haha. 63+183 for 68+139. Ok I guess I have a feeling that Holmes trades back into the 3rd. Lots of ammo to do so now

No 3rd

Closer to the middle actually. The 4th ends at 135

#122 (4th round) and a 7th. Pretty good return

Well, the Lions got into the 4th round now. I wonder if they traded back once Benton was taken, he was linked to the Lions before.

Or CJGJ or Moseley or Sutton or Kerby or Walker or Jacobs. Damn, that depth

Jalin Hyatt incoming. I wouldn't hate it. Get more weaponzzz