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Star
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Michigan
Age: 20
Posts: 2,618
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CNNSI:
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Williams and the Lions' first-round choice last season, Charles Rogers, should combine to give Joey Harrington a dangerous young receiving tandem to throw to. This is a great pick for the Lions at this point. The Lions had the worst offense in the NFL in '03. How can this not help? Yeah, the Lions still need a running game -- last season, they averaged 83.6 running yards a game, worst in the league -- but they picked up a second-round pick in swapping places with the Browns, so look for Detroit to look at some running backs there.
Trade, trade and trade again. The fourth straight one. The Lions stepped into this spot, swapping with the Chiefs, to get their second first-round pick. And what a pick. After grabbing wideout Roy Williams with the No. 7 overall selection, the Lions grabbed Jones, a speedy guy with great moves and strength to burn. They've upgraded their poor offense to good, or better. Wow. They're the leaders in the clubhouse as best draft so far.
We love the Lions' picks. They went with Lehman here, and you could almost hear the champagne corks popping in Detroit. This guy turns on the switch and never turns it off. He's relentless. Not as talented as some of the other linebackers, but he makes up for it with his high-revving motor. The Lions will love this guy, and so will Detroit fans.
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ESPN:
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This was a surprise. The Lions made out like bandits, getting the Browns' second-round pick (No. 37) in order to move down a single spot. The tradeoff was they didn't get Winslow or a running back, but they did get a receiver to play opposite Charles Rogers and give them one of the best young wide receiving corps in the NFL.
This is shaping up to be a great draft for the Lions and beleaguered GM Matt Millen. After ignoring the running back position for WR Roy WIlliams with their first pick, they traded back into the first round to draft RB Kevin Jones, the second-rated back behind Steven Jackson in this class.
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Corey Chavous:
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On surprises: The first big surprise of the draft was Roy Williams falling to the Detroit Lions at No. 7. Pairing Williams with last year's No. 2 pick overall Charles Rogers could give the Lions one of the best receiving tandems in the history of the game if they both work hard enough. The Lions now have a ton of speed at receiver and two guys who'll compete for the No. 1 receiving spot, which should only make them better. Another surprise was St. Louis taking RB Steven Jackson. This move doesn't help the Rams take the step to the next level, which is what a veteran team should be trying to do.
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Randy Mueller - CbsSportsline:
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Detroit Lions (from Kansas City)
The Lions desperately needed a back, and after passing on one earlier in the round, they made a bold move to go up and get Virginia Tech's Kevin Jones, the top back on our board. We love this move by the Lions, especially after they added Roy Williams earlier in the round. Joey Harrington has to be one happy quarterback.
Grade: A+
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NFL.com:
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7 Roy Williams WR Texas
Vic Carucci's Analysis
His stock was on a steady climb in the days leading up to the draft. I thought there was a possibility he could go as high as No. 2 to Oakland, but his joining the Lions makes perfect sense. He is an extremely disciplined route runner, which is the exact quality Steve Mariucci wants in a receiver in his horizontal passing game. Williams will definitely help make Joey Harrington a better quarterback
30 Kevin Jones RB Virginia Tech
Vic Carucci's Analysis
You have to love what the Lions have done in this draft so far. They manuevered well to get a great receiver in Roy Williams with the seventh overall pick and made another impressive move by going up from the second round to get Kevin Jones, who some had rated as the best running back in the draft. His outside speed will be put to good use by Steve Mariucci.
37 Teddy Lehman OLB Oklahoma
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
Lehman is a versatile outside linebacker that can also play inside. He has good first-step quickness, good key and diagnose and if he plays weakside linebacker in the 4-3 defense, he will have over 100 tackles once he becomes a starter. With Barrett Green gone, that could be sooner rather than later. The Lions are having a very good draft.
73 Keith Smith CB McNeese State
Gil Brandt's Analysis
Smith is a "Yes, sir, no, sir," kind of guy thanks to his military background in Louisiana. He gained weight this past year and probably didn't play as well this year as he did last year.
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ESPN: John Clayon
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Winners
Detroit Lions: Matt Millen is having his best offseason. He paid big money in free agency for guard Damien Woody and cornerback Fernando Bryant. He maneuvered in the draft aggressively, filling out the offense with wide receiver Roy Williams and halfback Kevin Jones.
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Fox Sports:
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The Cardinals had bigger needs than receiver, but it's difficult to argue against their pick. Roy Williams, who went to Detroit at No. 7, has more high-end potential than Fitzgerald, but Fitzgerald is a safer selection. Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin will make a fantastic combination and help Josh McCown become an effective NFL quarterback.
The Lions played their hand perfectly, forcing the Browns to give up the ridiculous price of a second-round pick to move up one spot so they could take tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. Even if the Lions had not traded down, they probably would have selected Williams ahead of Winslow.
Williams, the receiver from Texas, was a great value at the seventh pick. In time, it's going to be nearly impossible to defend him, Charles Rogers and Joey Harrington. In Williams and Virginia Tech's Kevin Jones, whom the Lions selected later in the first round, Detroit got the best receiver and running back in the draft. What a day.
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