Detroit Lions 2014 Draft Day 1

Unlike many Detroit Lion fans, I really have no problem with the Ebron pick. I would've preferred a trade down and to select Dennard but that does not mean I can't see the advantages to this pick. He can play slot WR, he can play TE, he can produce in the same manner as the top TEs in the league (or at least, is expected to). He's tall, he's not overweight or underweight, has 10" hands, runs a 4.58 (which is fast for a TE) and most scouts like what they see in him. This is what one of my draft guides says about him:

UNC's Eric Ebron is a match up nightmare on the next level, he has the speed to get in between the linebackers and the safeties and the size to absolutely bully secondary players who may be assigned to coverage in between the numbers. While Ebron is a dynamic weapon in the passing game, he doesn't quite get the credit he deserves as a blocker. Ebron is willing and active in the run game and while he doesn't consistently get movement on his draft blocks, he does attack defenders with a solid hand punch and his effort is normally enough to wall off lanes should the back be running off his hip. He doesn't have the softest hands but he will make "wow" catches on a regular basis, a testament to his length and concentration. He closes defender cushion very quickly off the line thanks to high good straight line speed and is a very natural runner in open space. He creates separation not just with his size but with good breaks and cuts. He has the potential to be a true game breaker attacking between the hashes where his size/speed combination should overwhelm teams who don't possess a hybrid defender of similar gifts to match up. An every down receiving threat, the only potential barrier between Ebron and playing early is any issues he may have picking up a play book or if he goes to a team with a well established starter.

And this is from a Packers article I posted in my forum a couple weeks ago, with many comments from current NFL scouts.

1. ERIC EBRON, North Carolina (6-4½, 252, 4.58, 1) — Third-year junior often compared to the 49ers' Vernon Davis. "Vernon is more sudden and compact," said one scout. "Twitchy. Eric's fluid. Where Eric makes his mark is being deceptive, running in gears and transitioning well in and out of breaks. I think he has special hands. You see him making one-handed palm of the ball in traffic. He has a chance to be an exceptional player, especially the way the game's played now." Two-year starter with 112 catches for 1,805 yards (16.1) and eight TDs. "He's a top-10 talent," another scout said. "He's as talented a tight end as has come out in the last five years." Played most of his career flanked wide or in the slot. "He's not a great big bulky guy but he'll block," another scout said. "Watch him against (Jadeveon) Clowney. He didn't win but he wasn't afraid. He's (Rob) Gronkowski-like but he's a lot smoother." From Greensboro, N.C. "In this new-fangled tight end position he can stretch the field and be a matchup issue," a third scout said. "He's better than (Jermichael) Finley and (Tyler) Eifert." Wonderlic of 16.

Finally, there is this video I posted about a month ago... if you can get over the let down of not having "your guy" being the pick and watch this with an open mind I think you can see some of the reasons why he was deemed the right pick by the Lions front office.

@ebron85 --> espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10824158 CC: @sport_Science @nfl Draft @nflplayersinc

His head is on straight, his heart is in the game, he's not too short or too weak or afraid or in it for the money. You're not going to find very many negatives on him, his drop number appears high until you go with percentage of passes then it's actually low (as I recall). Plus, he fills the TE we wanted Pettigrew to be and also fills the slot WR role... meanwhile, Pettigrew and Fauria will be playing with him on 2 and even 3 TE sets. The plays that can be designed with him on the roster are numerous and the way to defend those plays are very limited. I still wanted a trade down, but that didn't happen, so I'm over it.

Here's another blog on him, this dude is kind of new to me, we just started following each other on twitter recently, but the article is worth a read and has a bit in there I didn't know about (contact wise).

www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2014/05/eric-ebron-how-the-no-10-pick-fits-in-detroit/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Near the end there is mention of another article, in case you missed the link here it is, very much worth a read (with videos in it to show TE stuff by our new offensive coordinator). www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2014/03/eric-ebron-why-hes-still-an-option-for-the-10th-overall-pick/

If you're still with me you can probably see for yourself by now why I'm good with the pick. Now for rounds 2 and 3.

The following are players available for day 2 of the draft. I am going to limit the list to those on the contact list, and then put them in order of my big board...

WR Marqise Lee
WR Allen Robinson
LB Kyle Van Noy
LB Jeremiah Attaochu
WR Jordan Matthews
WR Paul Richardson
WR Martavis Bryant
OC Marcus Martin
CB Keith McGill
DE Kareem Martin
DT Will Sutton
WR Donte Moncrief
OC Weston Richburg
FS Terrence Brooks
CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste
WR Cody Latimer
CB Marcus Roberson
CB Jaylen Watkins

Very good odds the next two picks are on this list. Give me DE/OLB Attaochu and then either CB Jean-Baptiste or S Terrence Brooks

Attaochu

Honors
* 2013 Third Team All-American (AP)
* 2013 Third Team All-American (CBS)
* 2013 Fourth Team All-American (Phil Steele)
* 2013 Honorable Mention All-American (SI.com)
* 2013 First Team All-ACC (Coaches)
* 2013 First Team All-ACC (TSN)
* 2013 Second Team All-ACC (ACSMA)
* 2013 Second Team All-ACC (Phil Steele)
* 2013 Reese's Senior Bowl Inivitee
* 2013 College All-Star Bowl Invitee
* 2013 Athlon ACC Defensive Player of the Week (11.30)
* 2013 ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week (11.30)
* 2013 Bronco Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List
* 2013 Lombardi Award Preseason Watch List
* 2013 Butkus Award Preseason Watch List
* 2013 Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List
* 2013 Preseason First Team All-ACC (Phil Steele)
* 2013 Preseason Second Team All-ACC (Athlon)
* 2012 Honorable Mention All-ACC (media)
* 2012 Honorable Mention All-ACC (coaches)
* 2012 Third Team All-ACC (Phil Steele)
* 2012 ACC Linebacker of the Week (11/5/12)
* 2012 Rotary Lombardi Preseason Watch List
* 2012 Preseason First Team All-ACC (Blue Ribbon)
* 2012 Preseason Second Team All-ACC (Athlon)
* 2012 Preseason Second Team All-ACC (Phil Steele)
* 2012 Preseason Third Team All-ACC (Lindy's)
* 2011 Honorable Mention All-ACC
* 2011 Third Team All-ACC (Phil Steele)
* 2011 Bronko Nagurski Watch List
* 2011 ESPN Gameday Helmet Sticker (9/24)
* 2011 ACC Linebacker of the Week (9/26)
* 2011 FWAA National Player of the Week (9/27)

In The Tech Record Books
* 1st career sacks (31.5) * 1st career sack yards (226) * t-4th season sacks (12.5, 2013) * 6th career tackles for loss (43.5) * t-8th season sacks (10.0, 2012) * 11th career tackles by a lineman (196)

In The ACC Record Books
* 5th career sacks (31.5)

One of Georgia Tech's all-time greats on the defensive side of the ball... recorded more career sacks (31.5) than any player in Yellow Jacket history... won multiple individual awards including All-American in 2013... played defensive end as a senior after playing outside linebacker in the 3-4 in 2011 and 2012... played for three different defensive coordinators... one of the top pass-rushers in ACC history... a classic edge-type defender... is tall, long and rangy with good speed.... voted by teammates as one of the "most likely to be an NFL star."