Millen, don’t draft Brady Quinn!

Or Troy Smith! Yes, I am a Michigan fan, and no, I’m not a Quinn or a Smith Hater, but I think drafting the best player in college football, quarterback Brady Quinn, would be a disaster for the Lions.

Yes, Brady Quinn is the best player in college football. In fact, he had a better year statistically than Troy Smith, and had Quinn been the QB at Ohio State, you might have seen him push for 4,000 yards. Notre Dame was weak, and the Heisman Trophy voters were dazzled by what Troy Smith didn’t do—run like Vince Young, even though he has that talent. And don’t forget that 12-0 record. If the roles were reversed, Troy would not have won as QB at Notre Dame.

The truth is that the performances of Joey Harrington in Miami and Jeff Garcia in Philadelphia prove that Detroit is a quarterback Hospice—it is the place that they go to die. John Kitna isn’t a washed-up veteran; he has a lousy offensive line. If Millen drafts Quinn (or Smith), it is lights out for another year. The Lions might improve to 3-13.

The Lions are assured of getting a top three pick, and they appear to have a good shot at the top pick, so here is my advice for the general manager. Trade it away! Get rid of that top pick (if you get it). Trade down. Look at the draft strategy of a genius like Mike Shanahan in Denver. Watch the draft board and trade down, but also, be willing to trade back up. A trade for a star is as good as a pick (WR Javon Walker went to Denver for a second rounder last year). The Lions not only have too many needs to waste it on a quarterback (that will get pushed out of town in four years anyway), but they could take care of several with some good trades. If they play their cards right, the Lions could have new starters on the offensive line, fullback, defensive line, linebacker, and cornerback from the first three rounds alone.

Now, Matt, I know what you are thinking: “if I take an offensive lineman (or two) in the first round, the fans won’t be happy—they aren’t a sexy enough pick.” Well, the Jets took two OL as their first picks and they are 8-6. I also know that Detroit is the one place where OL may be sexy enough. Think about it—we give up way too many sacks as it is, you could transform the quarterback position by giving Kitna more time to throw the ball, and you could pave the way for Kevin Jones (when he comes back). This is a win-win scenario.

With the Kevin Jones injury, you will no doubt be tempted to use the pick on a running back: don’t! There won’t be many options unless some of the elite go pro early. Adrian Peterson may be the exception—he is likely to pull a Willis McGahee—but know that your replacement/insurance player is coming off of an injury (not to mention way too many carries at the college level).

Key picks may be at middle linebacker, anywhere on the defensive line (Lamar Woodley, perhaps?) and the OL. Waste no picks in the first three rounds that don’t shore up the offensive line (that has been awful for a decade) or the DL. Picking Rod Marinelli’s guys isn’t really a bad call, either. Just don’t waste the pick on a “playmaker” that we will end up cutting in three years for “under-performing”. Wake up and realize that it isn’t Kitna or Roy (or Mike) Williams or Kevin Jones’ fault that the Lions lose. As a parting shot, Jerry Jones, the obnoxious owner of the Dallas Cowboys suggested that the success for his team in the 90’s was paying big for playmakers and filling in around them. That was fine for him to say when Aikman, Irvin, and Smith were protected by one of the top offensive lines in league. The Lions have comparable talent at those positions, so what’s the real difference?