Posted by Lisa on March 25, 2009, 3:03 pm, in reply to "Stafford..."
The only QBs that I have liked in recent drafts were Ben Roethlesberger and Jay Cutler. And I didn't think either one was worth a top 10 choice, because I have a bias against wasting a year developing a QB while the whole team languishes. Paying $70M for a guy to sit on the bench that year is fiscal imprudence.
I would much rather pay a LT and immediately improve the run and pass game. Plus, the Lions haven't had a franchise LT since Lomas Brown. It's time to replace him. If they don't think Eugene Monroe is a franchise LT (and his knees may be a medical question) then they can't go wrong taking Jason Smith (more of project but can still be a difference maker for the Lions o-line like Ryan Clady). At #20, you aren't going to get a LT better than Backus and they have essentially wasted another pick and not upgraded the offense.
Or they can immediately improve the defense and take the best defensive player in the draft (this year it's Curry, by a long ways) and get immediate help. The MLB spot is completely vacant right now, so it's not like they wouldn't fill a need. Public opinion is that you don't take a MLB this high and I understand the basis of general value of positions. But he would be gone by #3, so what's the big deal about taking him at #1. And what's the difference in paying the rookie offensive signal caller or the rookie defensive signal caller. To me the difference is you get immediate dividends and a difference maker at a position of huge need.
I don't hate Stafford, much like a I didn't hate Harrington. I just think, that at this point it would be putting the roof on before you lay the foundation. And if you're building a pole barn, I guess that's okay. But I'm not going to pay money to go see a pole barn. I like a good "Parade of Homes" as much as the next gal, but I draw the line at pole barns.
Stafford is missing something. He lacks the Tebow-ness that any QB who comes to Detroit is going to need. Stafford is a good kid, and has a tremendous arm. But he just doesn't have the right mental make-up IMO. I hope I'm wrong. I didn't like Eli Manning or Phillip Rivers. I fell in love with Ryan Leaf's arm, and thought Peyton Manning was going to be like Drew Bledsoe. But I've been right on a few too, and I've learned not to fall in love with the measurables too much.
Message Thread:
« Back to thread