Only four days until the 2011 NFL Draft and for the first time in a while, NOBODY knows what the Detroit Lions are planning to do. In 2010, most of us had a good idea they would draft NDamukong Suh and thank God, they did. The year before that, it was widely expected they would draft Matthew Stafford with their first pick. This year? Your guess is as good as mine and mines as good as any NFL expert out there.
Ask most fans and they will tell you they hope the Lions can draft CB Prince Amukamara. He has the talent to be a shut down corner who is big enough to bump and run and the Lions desperately need to improve their cornerback position. However, as much as it would be the perfect pick, it likely will not happen. It would surprise me if he got past the 49ers and then there are a couple other teams that could use him after that.
If the Lions want a shut down corner, they have what essentially comes down to two choices. 1) They can package a couple picks with their 1st round pick and try to move up to 6th to get Amukamara before San Fransisco does. 2) The more likely scenario, is the Lions can take a chance and draft troubled cornerback, Jimmy Smith.
The media has had a field day with Smith lately. He has had run ins with the law for drinking under age and failed either one or four drug tests (depending on which report you read). Definitely does not sound like a player you want to take a chance on in the first round. But some things are not always black and white. Whatever Smith's problems were, they happened early on. He has said he was young and stupid and needed to grow up. The fact that he has not had any red flags in the last two years only lends his statements credit.
Personally, I don't care what he has done in the past. Whether it was drinking, pot, meth, robbery or grand theft auto, as long as it stays in the past, I am fine. It is not what a man has done in the past that matters, but who he is now that counts. Jimmy Smith has the size, speed and talent to be a shut down corner in the NFL. He would make an immediate impact on the Lions. He is ranked a top-10 pick if not for the problems in his past. So if he has cleaned up his act, the Lions should absolutely draft him with the 13th pick in the 2011 NFL draft.
Consider this. If the Lions pass up on him.... The Lions are an up and coming team. They ended the 2010 season with a four game winning streak. If they continue to show they can win, the Lions may be years before they get a pick in the first half of the first round again. With that in mind, ask yourself one thing. How long will it be before the Lions get another chance at a shut down corner again? This could be their last chance for years to come and they need to get him while they can. The Lions absolutely should either trade up and get the Prince, or sit tight and take Jimmy Smith.
It will be easier in the future to get a top linebacker in the later part of the first round than it will be to get a shut down corner.
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