The Detroit Lions regressed last season after making the playoffs the previous year and with the number five pick in the draft there is a chance they will be able to select a high-impact player, but it might not be the one they want, as top target Dee Milliner is quickly moving up draft boards.
The Lions could make a move to trade up to number one or number two to ensure that they will be able to select him, but that so far does not seem like a possibility. According to NFL.com, general manager Martin Mayhew, despite reports that ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper saying that the team should trade up to get their man in Milliner, Mayhew said the team is planning to sit tight.
Mayhew told reporters that he has not had any discussions about trading out of the spot and if they get Milliner or not, the team is content with the number five pick. While there is a chance that Milliner could go number one to the Kansas City Chiefs, it is more likely that he will get picked in the next three slots, either to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders or Philadelphia Eagles before it gets to the Lions.
"I follow it. ... How much stock do I put in it? None. Zero," Mayhew said. "But I certainly read and keep up on what's going on around the league and what people are saying, and glean what some other people might be thinking."
The Lions have a desperate need for a cornerback and after signing Reggie Bush the team likely will focus on defense with their first pick. The Lions would love to get their hands on Milliner before the sixth pick in the Cleveland Browns, as they too want the Alabama cornerback. One thing the Lions may have to worry about though is the Browns trading up to get him over the Lions, since they know Detroit wants the corner as well.
Even if the Lions do not get a chance to select Milliner, there are a number of high-profile players at the top of the draft on both sides of the ball, including Sharrif Floyd, Eric Fisher, Jarvis Jones, Dion Jordan and Ziggy Ansah. The Lions went just 4-12 last season and despite their inconsistent play, linebacker Stephen Tulloch said that he expects the team to bounce back.
The linebacker spoke to ESPN.com and said that the franchise will put 4-12 in the rearview mirror and move on to 2013. The team has started offseason workouts and they have added a number of new players in Bush as well as Glover Quin and Jason Jones to an already talented roster with Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson.
The team ranked second in passing yards per game in the NFL, but were 23rd in rushing, something that Bush should be able to help with. The team also allowed over 220 passing yards per game and the addition of Milliner could be a big boost for them going forward.