Lions' NFL drafts under Mayhew: Some hits but a lot more mostly misses – Detroit Free Press
Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett grades the Lions’ drafts under general manager Martin Mayhew by round and overall pick number:
2009
1-1: QB Matthew Stafford — One of the NFL’s most productive QBs past five years, but questions remain about how good he really is.
1-20: TE Brandon Pettigrew — Highly productive TE despite injuries before role was minimized past few years.
2-33: S Louis Delmas — Leader of secondary for five seasons; bad knees eventually took their toll.
3-76: LB DeAndre Levy — Pro Bowl-caliber outside LB; hip injury derailed him in 2015.
3-82: WR Derrick Williams — Never made a dent as a receiver.
4-115: DT Sammie Hill — Solid rotational tackle who left for Tennessee as a free agent after four years.
6-192: RB Aaron Brown — Never figured out the playbook enough to get on the field.
7-228: OT Lydon Murtha — Spent a few weeks on practice squad; backup OT for two years in Miami.
7-235: LB Zack Follett — Neck injury ended special-teams contributor’s career.
7-255: TE Dan Gronkowski — Unfortunately, nothing like his brother.
The buzz: Stafford has his critics, but history has proved he was the best player and right choice in a below-average draft. Levy was a steal. Hill, too. And while there were better options than Pettigrew, the TE has had a successful career. Only Williams stands out as a whiff.
THE GRADE: A-
2010
1-2: DT Ndamukong Suh — Three-time All-Pro and the best DT in the NFL; left for Miami in free agency.
1-30: RB Jahvid Best — Concussion issues derailed his career six games into second season.
3-66: CB Amari Spievey — Couldn’t cut it at corner, switched to safety; also felled by brain injuries.
4-128: OT Jason Fox — Knee injuries limited his role with Lions, but he found a home with Dolphins.
7-213: DE Willie Young — Rotational end with Lions; 10 sacks with Bears last year before Achilles injury.
7-255: WR Tim Toone — Never appeared in an NFL game.
The buzz: Suh was a home-run pick, the best player in the draft. Trading up for a RB with significant injury issues and whiffing on Spievey in a loaded third round drag this grade down, but nabbing Young in Round 7 is a plus.
THE GRADE: B-
2011
1-13: DT Nick Fairley — Weight and work ethic issues led to early struggles; left as a free agent after last year to Rams.
2-44: WR Titus Young — Out of football after a 2013 crime spree; Lions’ scouts advised against the pick for good reason.
2-57: RB Mikel Leshoure — Ruptured Achilles as a rookie kept him from reaching his potential.
5-157: LB Doug Hogue — Last seen in the CFL after two uneventful years in Detroit.
7-209: OT Johnny Culbreath — Released in 2012 after an off-season arrest for possession of marijuana.
The buzz: The 2011 draft produced some of the NFL’s top players, but the Lions have nothing to show for it. Fairley’s issues proved true, Young never should have been drafted, and the Lions traded up for Leshoure.
THE GRADE: F
2012
1-23: OT Riley Reiff — Mediocre starting LT past two-plus seasons after playing as sixth OL as rookie.
2-54: WR Ryan Broyles — Injuries have stunted career; cut Sept. 1.
3-85: CB Bill Bentley — Suffered torn anterior cruciate ligament last year; he was cut in June.
4-125: DE Ronnell Lewis — Never seemed like a good fit; he was cut after one season.
5-138:
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LB Tahir Whitehead — Showed major growth in new defense last year, but a rotational OLB in 2015.
5-148: CB Chris Greenwood — Cut last year; never made good on immense athleticism.
6-196: CB Jonte Green — Fill-in starter for five games as rookie; cut last year.
7-223: LB Travis Lewis — Splits time with Whitehead at OLB and core special-teams player; signed with Minnesota in March.
The buzz: Reiff is playing out of position, and Whitehead has played well in spurts, but the Broyles pick was a mistake (Lavonte David and Casey Hayward went in the next handful of picks), and Ronnell Lewis seemed miscast from the start.
THE GRADE: C-
2013
1-5: DE Ziggy Ansah — More sacks than any Lion the past two years.
2-36: CB Darius Slay — Rebounded from rocky rookie season to be rising star.
3-65: OG Larry Warford — Above-average starter when healthy at right guard past three years.
4-132: DE Devin Taylor — After slow start to his career, played better in 2015.
5-165: P Sam Martin — Nets 42.4 yards per punt for career; has one of NFL’s strongest legs.
6-171: WR Corey Fuller — Backup receiver; eighth on the team with 14 catches in 2014.
6-199: RB Theo Riddick — Third-down back in 2014; has been the team’s most productive RB in 2015
7-211: TE Mike Williams — Moved to OT, traded to New England in 2015.
7-245: LB Brandon Hepburn — Waived after training camp in 2014.
The buzz: Ansah might be the best player from a mediocre top 10, Slay and Warford are dependable starters, and hits on several role players in later rounds. What you’re seeking in a draft.
THE GRADE: A
2014
1-10: TE Eric Ebron — Starting tight end; Lions are hoping for a breakout 2016 season.
2-40: LB Kyle Van Noy — Backup with no real role at linebacker.
3-76: C Travis Swanson — Started in 2015 after taking over for Dominic Raiola at center.
4-133: CB Nevin Lawson — Replaced Rashean Mathis as starter midway through last year.
4-136: DE Larry Webster — Spent last year on practice squad before being waived.
5-158: DT Caraun Reid — Played sparingly as rookie but was part of rotation in 2015.
6-189: WR TJ Jones — Showed flashes of being a solid player; No. 4 WR most likely this year.
7-229: K Nate Freese — Cut after three abysmal weeks in 2014.
The buzz: This draft always will be remembered for passing on Odell Beckham and Aaron Donald in the first round. Lawson looks like a steal, and Reid and Jones look like good value picks, but the jury is still out on Van Noy and Swanson.
THE GRADE: Inc.
2015
1-28: OG Laken Tomlinson — Started 14 of 16 games last season at left guard.
2-54: RB Ameer Abdullah — Led the Lions with 597 yards rushing as a rookie; No. 1 back entering fall.
3-80: CB Alex Carter — Missed the entire 2015 season with an ankle injury.
4-113: DT Gabe Wright — Made six tackles and played in seven games (one start) last season.
5-168: FB Michael Burton — Starting fullback, had six catches for 39 yards and four rushing attempts for 2 yards in 2015.
6-200: CB Quandre Diggs — PlaPlayed extensively last season, often at slot corner. Will be nickel corner this year.
7-2409: OT Corey Robinson — Played in one game last season. Will have to compete for roster spot this year.
The buzz: Once again, the Lions appear to have gotten some value out of their Day 3 picks with Burton and Diggs filling holes as rookies. The Wright choice could haunt the Lions as they gave up their third-round pick this year to move up.
THE GRADE: Inc.
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