The dichotomy of the Detroit Lions

I am confused by the front office of the Detroit Lions.

One one hand, you have a team that has managed to sign 7 starters. 7, in one offseason. Admittedly, it is not as hard to find players who can start for lions as it would be for, well....every other team in the league. However, most of those players were starting for other teams, and a couple of them were lead players who likely would have gotten Pro-Bowl consideration on those teams. For example, the trade for Julian Peterson was a masterstroke. Even if he does not work out as gloriously as they are hoping, this has the appearance of a smart move to bolster an area of weakness. Just the kind of shot in the arm that the lions need to be looking for. That signing, combined with the signing of Grady Jackson and Larry Foote gives them a solid front 7 which should be able to pressure the passer and hopefully stand up against the run much better than their past teams defensive front 7's have.

On the other hand, you have a team which failed miserably at the draft, reaching for prospects instead of looking to players who are ready made. Their draft life should have revolved around high producing players from Bowl Teams. You can argue their first round if you like, so I will leave it alone, even though I take serious issue with it. 0-16, and you take a TE in the 1st round. I don't care who the tight end is, or what he becomes, I don't like it. Not in draft stock full of stud offensive linemen. I digress, once you get past the first 3 picks, it fell apart. There is some potential, but way too many project picks. Follett and Williams were nice picks who will see time early, but I think this is a situation where the Lions tried to be smarter than the rest of the league. When you are this bad, safe is good.

Here is are some examples of the players still available when whey took the following players.

DeAndre Levy OLB: Antoine Caldwell or any of the plethora of remaining linemen. I don't even care which side of the ball.

Sammie Lee Hill DT: Well, at least he is a lineman. But with the investment they are putting into Stafford, this would have been a great time to pick up a guy like Jamon Meredith who is good enough to play now, and could be a star down the road.

Aaron Brown RB: You don't take a risk on an athlete at running back who has had the kind of off the field issues that this guy has had when James Davis is still on the board. I like the pick for a change of pace back who can produce in the return game. I don't understand rolling the dice on a knucklehead when you are rebuilding.

Lydon Murtha OT: Ricky-Jean Francois. Assuming that Meredith had been picked up earlier, Francois was a better player than Hill in College and has more potential. He dropped due to some inconsistency, but he can really take over a game.

Dan Gronkowski TE: Another TE? Ok, so they are going to run the ball I guess, and throw to the TE. I get it, we all get it, but seriously, another TE? A blocking TE? There were so many better players out there, for example Ian Campbell is a tweener who can play DE or OLB and would have given your defense flexibility and growth potential with Sims and Follett already on board for the long term.

But hey, on the bright side. wait....nope, that's all I got.