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Detroit Lions 2008 NFL Draft Review

(Sports Network) -

1 - Gosder Cherilus, T, Boston College (6-6, 317); 2 - Jordon Dizon, LB, Colorado (6-0, 229); 3 - Kevin Smith, RB, UCF (6-1, 216); 3 - Andre Fluellen, DT, Florida State (6-2, 294); 3 - Cliff Avril, DE, Purdue (6-3, 253); 5 - Kenneth Moore, WR, Wake Forest (5-11, 195); 5 - Jerome Felton, FB, Furman (6-0, 240); 7 - Landon Cohen, DT, Ohio (6-1, 290); 7 - Caleb Campbell, SS, Army (6-2, 229)

Analysis: It was not a shock that the Lions passed up running backs Rashard Mendenhall and Felix Jones to draft a tackle, though the fact that the team passed over Pittsburgh's Jeff Otah in order to select Cherilus was. Cherilus will help protect Jon Kitna, but is a right tackle and won't generate a huge impact right away. Dizon was a productive college player and has a chance to win the starting middle linebacker job in year one. The Lions traded up to get Smith, a productive collegian who needs to get stronger, with the first pick of the second day. Smith and fellow third-rounders Fluellen and Avril could all be in the starting rotation in Week 1 of the 2008 season. The same goes for Felton, the fullback the team needed in the post-Mike Martz era. The need area that the club failed to address was the secondary, as Campbell projects as a special-teamer if he makes it. The Lions will be under public pressure to keep the West Point alum, who will be deployed by the United States Army if he fails to make an NFL team.

Bottom Line: Pass defense remains a problem for this team, which found neither a top-end pass rusher nor a secondary contributor.

Grade: C+

Detroit Lions


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