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March 26, 2009

Mike Eckert: Why Stafford? Why not?

ESPN's Kiper still projects Georgia QB to Lions

By MIKE ECKERT

A month away from the NFL Draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. still thinks the Detroit Lions will select Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford with the top overall selection. However, his reasoning seems like it's more a pick of convenience rather than hitting on a can't miss prospect.

Why Stafford?

Why not?

"I'm not making the choice," Kiper said in a conference call with media members Wednesday. "But if they don't take Stafford, who do they take? And if you don't take Stafford and you take somebody else, who's going to be your quarterback? Are you just going to forget about quarterback this year?"

It's a sign of this year's draft where questions surround all of the top picks. A can't miss player like Peyton Manning, Reggie Bush or Jake Long doesn't seem to exist.

"This draft, people will bash it a little bit because it doesn't have the stars," Kiper said. "It's not unlike any other draft, it just doesn't have the big name players at the top."

And it's just the Lions' luck that they select No. 1 this year for the first time since 1980.

Are there options for Detroit other than quarterback? Sure. But none of them are slam dunks.

Many regard Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry as the No. 1 overall player this year, in terms of talent. Kiper put Curry atop his "big board" last fall.

However, Curry plays outside linebacker and Detroit needs a guy in the middle after trading for Seattle's Julian Peterson.

"He's a versatile kid and I wouldn't count it out," Kiper said of the Lions drafting Curry and moving him to middle linebacker. "He's not a great pass rusher, but he's a decent one. He's a complete linebacker."

Detroit could also go with an offensive lineman with the top pick, but questions arise on who is the top overall prospect at the position. Kiper said he believes the Lions would take Baylor's Jason Smith if they pass on Stafford, but some draft analysts put Virginia's Eugene Monroe ahead of Smith in their pecking order. Not Kiper.

"Some think he's the best offensive tackle in the draft, I don't" Kiper said of Monroe. "I think he's a good player, not a great player."

That doesn't leave Detroit with many options. After Matt Millen drafted four wide receivers with No. 1 picks en route to burying the franchise in shame and embarrassment, there is no way new GM Martin Mayhew takes Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree with the top pick. And Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji is probably a stretch with the very first pick off the board.

That leaves Stafford, at least in Kiper's eyes.

"To me, I look at Stafford as having skills very few quarterbacks have," Kiper said, adding that his arm strength puts him in "rare company."

But there are certainly questions surrounding Stafford, who hails from the same Texas hometown as former Lions quarterback Bobby Layne. One of which is his maturity after leaving Georgia after his junior year.

"I think there's no similarity to (Atlanta quarterback and Rookie of the Year) Matt Ryan because he didn't play his senior year," Kiper said. "If you draft him, you're going to have to treat him differently. You're going to have to coach him.

"We have more coaches in the NFL than ever. It's their job to take a kid and make him a finished product. Let's put some onus on the coaches."

If the Lions do take Stafford No. 1, they would have the luxury of developing him for at least a year with veteran Daunte Culpepper still on staff.

And while defense and offensive line will still be unresolved, Detroit also has a second pick in the first round at No. 20, thanks to a mid-season trade with Dallas for Roy Williams.

"They will have to look at 20," Kiper said. "They could go defensive end. I don't think offensive tackle will fall that way, but they could take (Mississippi's Michael) Oher and move (current left tackle Jeff) Backus. They have a lot of options and a lot of needs."

Michigan meets the mid-rounds

A year ago, the first name called in the NFL Draft hailed from Ann Arbor. This year, it may be the second day before the University of Michigan hears its name called.

Kiper described nose tackle Terrance Taylor and cornerback Morgan Trent as mid-round players. That's a far stretch for the Wolverines, who last year had Jake Long go No. 1 overall to Miami, Chad Henne go in the second round and Shawn Crable and Mario Manningham each taken in round No. 3.

"There's players like (Taylor and Trent), but certainly not the highly regarded player," Kiper said.

Michigan State made a run to the Capital One Bowl last season behind senior running back Javon Ringer, who Kiper expects to go in the third or fourth round.

"He's not big, but he can be a big impact player," Kiper said.

As for the Spartans' quarterback, Brian Hoyer is in the mix to be drafted after leading MSU to a 16-10 record during his two years as starter.

"I'm not exaggerating, there are 15-20 quarterbacks that could go in that fifth to seventh round," Kiper said. "Certainly, Brian Hoyer is one of those guys. He has a shot to be a guy teams look at as a third quarterback they can develop."

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