BTSC 2009 Community Mock Draft - Pick #20 by the Detroit Lions: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Apr 15, 2009 12:46 PM EDT
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PrintThe 2009 BTSC Community Mock Draft keeps trucking along. Thanks again to steelerark, for pulling double duty for the Detroit Lions and providing another solid pick with quality analysis. Quarterback is certainly a need for the Lions and since they didn't address it with their first pick, it makes sense that they would try with their other first round pick. With only 10 days left until the draft the quicker the remaining picks come in the better; especially since we still have 12 picks left to wrap up the BTSC Mock Draft. Up next is a great contributor to the site, SteelerBuddha, who is picking for the Philadelphia Eagles.-DYM-
The Lions step up to the plate again in the first round. With two picks in the top twenty, I imagine Lions fans must be salivating at all the possibilities. If this were the real draft, I would have traded my picks in an effort to move down in the draft. There are just too many holes for this team to fill. It's going to be a long time before this team is able to overcome the Millen years and be competitive. Since the dawn of the Millen era, the Lions have never finished above 7 wins in a season and only managing to climb out of the NFC North cellar three times(finishing next to last all three times). During his tenure, the Lions were 31-84! I couldn't imagine what that must be like as a fan. So, back to the grind stone.
Preparing for this pick was a bit trickier than the first pick, which was easy for me. I just went safe. This pick, I wasn't sure who to go with until I saw that Sanchez was still available. Well, the Broncos ended that hope for me, so my choice for the 20th pick of the 2009 NFL draft is Josh Freeman.
I chronicled the success rate of 1st round quarterbacks in the last ten years, and it wasn't good, less than a 50% chance to washout. I wasn't prepared to take that risk with the number one overall; I am prepared to take that risk at number 20. Josh is a fantastic athlete who has crazy size to go with a great arm. He checks in at 6'6" and 248 pounds. In three years as a starter, he has thrown for 8078 yards and 44 TDs. His positives and negatives from nfl.com's draft page:
Positives: Tall frame with a solid build. Arm strength allows him to make all of the NFL throws and attack the deep half. Stands tall, will step up in the pocket, keep his eyes downfield and deliver the ball to secondary target. Good, not great, quickness on release. Keeps the ball low over the middle, away from defenders. Can be accurate on fades and corner routes, although he needs a bit more air under the ball. Good straight-ahead runner with long strides and deceptive speed, can shed arm tackles and uses his tall frame to get extra yards after contact. Dropped some weight to better his footwork and speed. Works under center and in the shotgun.
Negatives: Must improve his footwork. His height makes him take long strides in his drop. Fails to step into his throws or square his shoulders at times, relies on his arm strength too often. Inconsistent accuracy from the pocket and throwing on the run. Needs to anticipate downfield throws better, sometimes getting the ball to his receiver a second early or late. Prone to turnovers, makes poor decisions trying to make plays that aren't there. Does not feel backside pressure. Lacks touch on shorter throws. Ball comes out of his hands poorly at times, negating his arm strength. Sometimes pats the ball before the throws. Loose with the ball in the pocket and as a runner. Doesn't move the pile as you'd expect in short-yardage situations, but his height allows him to be effective.
BTSC 2009 Community Mock Draft Team Selections
#1) Detroit Lions - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
#2) St. Louis Rams - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
#3) Kansas City Chiefs - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
#4) Seattle Seahawks - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
#5) Cleveland Browns - Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas
#6) Cincinnati Bengals - Jeremy Maclin, WR/KR, Missouri
#7) Oakland Raiders - B.J. Rahi, DT, Boston College
#8) Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
#9) Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
#10) San Francisco 49ers - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
#11) Buffalo Bills- Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
#12) Denver Broncos- Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
#13) Washington Redskins - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
#14) New Orleans Saints - Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss
#15) Houston Texans - Rey Mualuaga, LB, USC
#16) San Diego Chargers - Evander 'Ziggy' Wolf, DE, Missouri
#17) New York Jets - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
#18) Denver Broncos - Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern Cal
#19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Brian Cushing, LB, Southern Cal
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Not sure...
I recognize the odvious needs of the Lions, but I feel they could just as easily make this pick with the first pick in the second round. Not too many teams after 20th overall lining up to pick a QB, and even with the threat of a trade up a possibility, I take that chance. I go DB here, or a surprise pick… Alex Mack. I know he’s who most peolple think we’ll take, but Detroit might be looking to move Dominic Raola, their long time center, who did everything but stop showing up to games to prove he didn’t want to be there anymore. Adding Mack and a solid LT will seal up the line for the next few years. Add in Gosder Cherilous, who I am not a fan of at all, but was a pretty high pick last year and you have a young talented offensive line with plenty of years ahead of it to mesh and get better as a group. The Lions are a long way off, but you can win early on with good line play and smart play calling. Give Culpepper a shot with a good line in front of him and a bonified beast of a WR to throw to, and maybe the veteran can find a bit of his younger Minnesota days, and make a run at .500 at least. Plus Freeman is at least a year or two away from having much positive impact on a game to game basis, according to everything I’ve seen and read so far, he’ll have better value at round two number one.
and much cheaper too
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Apr 15, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Too many needs
My problem with this pick is that the Lions’ roster is a mess … obviously. Thye have so many needs that it’s practically pointless to draft a QB. They need to fill half a dozen spots before a new leader can even have a shot at making an impact. IMHO.
Anyway, if I were drafting for the Lions, I would be drafting all supporting players.
their front office is a mess...
they might be looking for someone to help
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Apr 15, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Good pick at this point
This is actually a dream scenario for you Buddha and I think considering how the draft has unfolded here you made a good pick. You bypassed Stafford with the first pick to take OT Jason Smith and you still get a QB who might end up being better than Stafford with the 20th pick. I think Freeman will be gone by this point of the real draft and in this situation the Jets or Panthers would likely trade up ahead of the No. 33 spot … maybe with the Steelers at No. 32. Freeman is big and strong with a good arm and the ability to move around the pocket and evade pressure. A lot of physical similarities to Ben. This draft is not unlike last year with the Ravens selecting Flacco way ahead of where he was ranked. It’s tempting to bypass QB altogether and look ahead to next year’s good QB group, but most of the elite defensive guys are off the board in this draft and you never know how next year’s draft will unfold. The Lions could end up with the fifth worst record and see three QBs taken ahead of them. Anyway, in this situation it’s probably too early for Laurinaitis, Butler and Vontae Davis, who might be a head case especially on a team that lacks leadership. DE Robert Ayers is worth considering but the Lions need a DT more than a DE. They don’t need to draft another OT or WR in the first round. RB Kevin Smith looks pretty good. I agree with NYsteeler about them needing an upgrade at center, but they might get Mack anyway at No. 33 or take the best defensive player at that spot (Laurinaitis?) and look for a center with the 65th pick.
true
someone probably would trade up if he falls into the late 20’s. still think ayers or mack would’ve been better here though. like said many times before, just too many holes on this team to go for someone who’s mostly rated as a 2nd round qb.
thanks lifer
I tried to go as I thought the Lions would go, and I thought that I had a paragraph about teams trading down, but I guess I left it out. I too think that in the real draft, Freeman will be gone by the 20th pick, but I wasn’t going to pass on their number one need this time around. Quarterback is a position the Lions have not had locked up since…. well I can’t really ever remember a memorable Lions qb. 20th pick here is still good value, and I just don’t think that he would be there by 33. Someone, like you mentioned with the Jets or even the Jags could move up, especially with the Steelers. Why take the chance? Freeman is huge and incredibly athletic, they can park him on the bench behind Party Barge for a year or two and then turn him loose. Sorry to the others, but I think this is a perfect scenario for the Lions as well. BPA and fills a huge need, one that they desperately need.
Oops, credit to steelerark, not steelerbuddha
I’m obviously having trouble reading the intros. Good job steelerark.
Smtih and Freeman
If the Lions end up with these two players by the end of Round 1 they will be on their way to becoming a real team again and putting the Matt Millen era behind them. Millen is also responsible for the crash of the Auto industry.
Tony - Stillers Fan in Raleigh
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