Are You Happy With The Lions 1st Round Pick?
By: Scott Anderson
I like the Lions choice of T Riley Reiff in the first round. I would have preferred that they selected a CB, but the top 3 were off the board, thus leaving the team to select another position. Mel Kiper had Reiff at number ten on his Big Board, not that he was to be selected tenth overall, but rather that he was rated that high talent wise.
The alternative to OL would have been DE and the Lions don't have an immediate need for a DE. What they have in Reiff is a player who probably rates ahead of Cherilus and one who competes for a starting job in training camp. Within the next couple of seasons, they will have to replace at least 3 Offensive Lineman and perhaps two right away if Backus isn't healed from his biceps injury.
That is not to say that the Defensive Line doesn't need help soon either. Avril hasn't signed his tender and if he does, he's only good through the 2012 season. KVB is on the downside of his great career and there is no guarantee that he'll be on the roster in the near future. This creates another need for the team going into the rest of the draft, but it still pales in comparison compared to their need for a good CB. Tonight's second round should be real interesting, particularly if the Lions feel the need to move up; the question is what will they be moving up for?
