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KSPR Mock Draft: Detroit Lions
By Dustin Hodges, KSPR News
Story Created: Apr 8, 2009
Story Updated: Apr 13, 2009
What do you get the team who has absolutely nothing? No, not another wide receiver; the best player available… After grabbing thier franchise quarterback in Matt Stafford, the Lions still have to address offensive line, and a defense that ranked dead last in the league last year.
However, Atlanta grabbed their franchise signal caller in round one last year in Matt Ryan, and still found a starting left tackle to protect his blindside in round two in USC’s Sam Baker; I would look for Detroit to do the same thing this year; leaving them wide open to add a true playmaker with this selection.
I never thought about the prospect of Knowshon Moreno winding up a Lion until we started this mock draft and much to my surprise, he was still on the board at pick twenty. Moreno, a redshirt sophomore, was voted SEC Freshman of the Year in ‘07 and 1st Team All-SEC in ‘07 and ‘08 after totalling over 2700 rushing yeards and 30 touchdowns in two seasons as the Bulldog’s runningback. Despite a mediocre combine performance, Moreno is still the top runningback in this year’s class due to his vision, work ethic, and amazing athletic ability.

Detroit still needs an offensive tackle, so Michael Oher is a possibility here, but I think Detroit could improve itself overall as a team moreso if it waited until the second round (they have the first pick, #33, in the second round) and try to grab Arizona’s Eben Britton or Connecticut’s William Beatty. Remember, Detroit’s rushing offense ranked 30th in the league last year, and Kevin Smith is still the current starter.
Detroit hasn’t even thought the word playoffs since Barry Sanders retired, so maybe an offense boasting Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Knowshon Moreno would give fans in Detroit a reason not to sleep in on Sundays. If Moreno or Ohio State’s Chris Wells isn’t the pick, Oher will be the man.