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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Martin Mayhew On Lions’ Draft

May 10th, 2014 at 8:13pm CST by Rob DiRe

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew spoke to the media after the NFL Draft to talk about the team’s draft strategy. He explained that his reason for not drafting a safety, thought to be a position of need, was a combination of being comfortable with the players they have already and the way the board fell, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN (via Twitter). Mayhew noted that the pick would have had to be an “impactful guy.”

Here are some other notes from the Lions’ draft class:

  • Mayhew said fourth-round pick Nevin Lawson’s “play speed” is better than he timed at the combine, according to Rothstein (via Twitter).
  • The team’s other fourth-round pick Larry Webster will line up at defensive end, writes Rothstein (via Twitter). Mayhew called him a raw player.
  • The Lions’ fifth-round pick, T.J. Jones, will most likely project as a slot receiver, meaning he will be competing with Ryan Broyles for playing time, reports Rothstein (via Twitter). Mayhew called the Notre Dame pass catcher a “clutch” guy.
  • Mayhew noted that the team considered drafting the kicker, Nate Freese, in the sixth round, and was happy to be able to get him in the seventh, according to Rothstein (via Twitter). In Mayhew’s view, after spending his college career kicking outside in the elements at Boston College, Freese will be great in the NFC North, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).

Cowboys Acquire No. 146 Pick From Lions

May 10th, 2014 at 1:24pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Cowboys have traded up to the 146th pick, finding a trade partner with the Lions, reports Detroit Lions senior writer Tim Twentyman (via Twitter). The Cowboys used the pick to select Pittsburgh wide receiver Devin Street (via Twitter). The Lions have moved down 12 spots to No. 158, and pick up pick No. 229 from the Cowboys in the trade, reports the SideLionReport (via Twitter).

Extra Points: Raiders, Jets, Jags, Lions

May 9th, 2014 at 7:39pm CST by Zachary Links

A flurry of trade activity has dominated Day 2 of the draft — here’s the latest news from New York:

  • The Raiders had the chance to trade their No. 36 pick to the Cowboys, but they resisted in order to stay ahead of the Titans, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
  • The Jets were furiously trying to trade up with the Buccaneers to grab USC wide receiver Marqise Lee, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter). They feared that the Jaguars would take him and that’s exactly what happened.
  • The Jaguars attempted to trade with the Browns, hoping to move up to pick No. 35 and select Lee, reports Vito Stellino of Jacksonville.com (via Twitter). Lee, of course, ended up falling into Jacksonville’s lap at pick No. 39.
  • General manager Martin Mayhew says the Lions, worried that another team might pick Kyle Van Noy, spoke with several teams about trading up, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Detroit eventually acquired pick No. 40 from the Seahawks and selected Van Noy.

Lions Acquire Seahawks’ No. 40

May 9th, 2014 at 6:42pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks have traded down again, this time sending their No. 40 pick to the Lions, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). With the pick, the Lions grabbed linebacker Kyle Van Noy out of BYU (link).

Josh Katzowitz of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) has the goods: Seattle sent the No. 40 and their fifth round pick (No. 146) for Detroit’s No. 45, No. 111 (fourth round), and No. 227 (seventh round).

Van Noy was highly coveted by several teams, including the Broncos. By vaulting up the draft boards, Detroit was able to leapfrog all of the other potential suitors.

Lions Notes: Ebron, Watkins, Mayhew

May 9th, 2014 at 8:31am CST by Zachary Links

After the Lions drafted North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron with the No. 10 pick, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com passes along some numbers to help put it all in perspective. Ebron is now just the third tight end to go in the top 20 picks in the last ten drafts. The other two? Vernon Davis and fellow Lions pick Brandon Pettigrew. There’s also a number the Lions desperately would like to forget: 10. That’s the number of times they’ve picked in the top 10 since 2000. More from Detroit..

  • If Sammy Watkins had fallen to No. 5, the Lions feel they would have been able to trade for him, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Instead, the Bills beat them to the punch by moving to No. 4 and taking the Clemson star.
  • The Lions were busy last night and tried to trade both up and down, General Manager Martin Mayhew told reporters (video link via the Detroit Free Press). Detroit didn’t wind up moving, however. The team stayed an No. 10 and grabbed Ebron, whom Mayhew says he expects immediate results from.
  • The Lions got themselves a nice weapon in Ebron, but Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press wonders why they didn’t look at guys who could help bolster the defense or offensive line. Michigan tackle Taylor Lewan and Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller were both on the table when Detroit picked at No. 10.

Draft Rumors: Bills, Texans, Fisher, Clowney

May 8th, 2014 at 5:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest draft talk as we wait for the Texans to get things started..

  • Tim Graham of the Buffalo News (Twitter link) hears it’s all quiet right now for the Bills in terms of trade talks. The Bills are ready to hold their draft position at No. 9 but they’re ready if talks heat up while they’re on the clock.
  • Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter) hears there’s still a chance for a trade at No. 1 with the Texans.
  • Jeff Fisher told the NFL Network that there are “four to six” players the Rams feel good about taking at No. 2, tweets Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. That’s down from the “six to eight” number Fisher gave reporters earlier this week. Fisher added (link) that the phone is starting to ring a little more as the draft draws near.
  • Fisher also said that if Jadeveon Clowney was available at No. 2, the Rams “wouldn’t complain,” tweets Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch.
  • Two people who know Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff well expressed doubt he would meet the Texans‘ high demands for the No. 1 overall pick, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.com. While that kind of deal could be tempting, Dimitroff knows that the team needs depth.
  • If the Lions don’t trade up for a wide receiver, UCLA pass rusher Anthony Barr is a player worth keeping an eye on as a fit, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, adding that the Lions “love” Barr.
  • Sources close to UCF standout Blake Bortles tell Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer that the QB wouldn’t be surprised to see the Browns take him at No. 4. Bortles has been mentioned as a dark horse possibility for Cleveland.
  • Agent Scott Bergman tweeted to Pro Football Rumors (@pfrumors) to pass along word that client Essray Taliaferro received a call from the Colts earlier today. The running back out of Marshall ran for 1,140 yards off of 221 carries last season, good for a 5.2 yards per carry average.

North Rumors: Browns, Ravens, Lions, Steelers

May 8th, 2014 at 4:15pm CST by Luke Adams

Could it be the Browns, rather than the oft-rumored Texans or Rams, that end up moving down in a deal with the Falcons tonight? Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) believes that’s a possibility if Khalil Mack is still available at No. 4. Mack remains a strong potential candidate to go to Jacksonville at No. 3, but there are certainly feasible scenarios in which he remains on the board at No. 4, and if Cleveland is eyeing another player, moving down a couple spots and picking up an extra pick or two could be worthwhile.

Here are a few more draft-day updates on AFC and NFC North teams, among others:

  • Unsurprisingly, given the familial connection between the two franchises, the Ravens and 49ers have engaged in some trade discussions, per Rapoport (via Twitter). San Francisco has frequently been cited as a team that would like to move up in the first round and has the ammunition to do it.
  • Finding help for their respective quarterbacks seems to be a focus for both the Lions and Bills, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter). That suggests to me that if either team was able to trade up it would be for a wide receiver or an offensive tackle, rather than a defensive player.
  • It’s worth keeping an eye on the Steelers and tight end Eric Ebron in the first round tonight, says Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter).
  • Tight end Jordan Cameron has signed with CAA Sports and will be represented by agents Tom Condon and R.J. Gonser, tweets Liz Mullen of the SportsBusiness Journal. The Browns are reportedly hoping to lock up Cameron before he reaches free agency in 2015.
  • The Lions intend to waive linebacker Jon Morgan with an injury settlement soon to free up space to sign undrafted free agents, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Morgan signed a futures contract with the team after the season, but injured his knee during a voluntary workout last month.

NFC North Notes: Vikings, Lions, Watkins, Barr

May 7th, 2014 at 7:02pm CST by Zachary Links

Whatever Vikings GM Rick Spielman‘s plan is, he has a lot of options heading into this weekend, writes Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. Through draft-day trades, the Vikings have managed to make 29 selections across the last three seasons. Tomasson looks at some of the Vikings needs this time around, including quarterback and linebacker. More from the NFC North..

  • While there’s talk that the Lions could trade up for standout wide receiver Sammy Watkins, Jeff Seidel of the Detroit Free Press says Detroit needs to stick to defense. The temptation to pair Watkins with Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate is understandably strong, but Seidel says the Lions should go with a cornerback at No. 10, even though it’s not the best value. He argues, however, that if they can get a starting CB, no one will be concerned five years down the line if he was taken five picks too soon.
  • While the Lions didn’t give UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr any indication of how they’d use him when the two sides met, he told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press it would be “very enticing” to play in the same defense with Ndamukong Suh and Ziggy Ansah. “They’d probably give me a lot of one-on-one matchups,” Barr said. “You got to win those, so I think we would complement one another very well.”
  • The staff at CSNChicago.com looks at offensive tackle Jake Matthews and his potential fit with the Bears. The Bears appear to be set at the O-Line but if Matthews falls to No. 14, he might have to give it some thought.

Draft Updates: Lions, Texans, Watkins

May 7th, 2014 at 12:02pm CST by Luke Adams

While the ability to contribute on special teams may not be the deciding factor when the Lions decide which players to draft this week, it certainly doesn’t hurt, as GM Martin Mayhew tells Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

“It factors in,” Mayhew said. “It factors in more when you don’t have a competent returner, which we do. But it’s certainly something you take into consideration. If somebody can be a backup punt returner, he has more versatility.”

The Lions GM went on to point out that special teams contributions are something the club considers more and more as the draft goes on. In the sixth or seventh round, or even when pursuing undrafted free agents, having the input of area scouts on which players they think could become strong special-teamers is a key factor, according to Mayhew.

More on the draft from around the NFL:

  • Asked about the possibility of being drafted first overall, Johnny Manziel said the Texans are “holding their cards close” and that he hasn’t been told anything, while Jadeveon Clowney told reporters with a smile that he doesn’t think Houston will pass on him. Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle has the quotes from Manziel and Clowney.
  • Meanwhile, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com says (via Twitter) “no one is buying” that the Texans are locked in on a specific player at No. 1, adding that he believes the asking price for that first overall pick will drop tomorrow.
  • Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk passes along word that NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport said on the NFL Network this morning that the Lions have told Sammy Watkins they’re considering trading into the top three to draft him.
  • Former agent Joel Corry and ex-Packers executive Andrew Brandt each provide articles detailing some of their experiences in past drafts, which are illuminating and worth reading. You can find Corry’s piece at CBSSports.com and Brandt’s at TheMMQB.com.
  • Notre Dame defensive tackle Kona Schwenke visited the 49ers and Chiefs in the weeks leading up to the draft, and also had a private workout and meeting with the Niners prior to his Pro Day, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.

Draft Updates: Cowboys, Watkins, Ealy, Pryor

May 6th, 2014 at 4:22pm CST by Luke Adams

As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk pointed out last month, since Jerry Jones have overseen Cowboys drafts, the team has traded up or down in the first round in 20 of 25 instances, or 80% of the time. That would suggest there’s a good chance Dallas won’t stand pat on Thursday, but it doesn’t sound like the club is too engaged in trade talks yet.

“We haven’t heard a lot from other clubs,” Jones said today, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “We haven’t found that to be particularly productive. That’s day-of-draft type dynamics. I’d be surprised if there are not trade opportunities by the time you get to where we’re going to be picking or certainly afterwards.”

Here’s more on the 2014 NFL draft, which is now just a little over 50 hours away:

  • The Lions have frequently been linked to wide receiver Sammy Watkins, and Watkins confirmed today to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (Twitter links) that Detroit was the only team to meet with him more than once. “That sounds like they really want me, but you never know,” said the Clemson wideout.
  • If two meetings are a signal of legit interest, count the Cowboys, Falcons, and Bears among the potential landing spots for defensive lineman Kony Ealy. As Hubbuch tweets, all three clubs met with Ealy multiple times.
  • The Jets‘ interview of Calvin Pryor was extensive, the Louisville safety told Hubbuch (Twitter link). “They really seemed interested,” according to Pryor.
  • Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post passes along updates on Florida State running back Devonta Freeman and Utah cornerback Keith McGill. According to Wilson, Freeman met with the Steelers and worked out for the Falcons, Patriots, and Dolphins, while McGill either visited or worked out for the Cowboys, Buccaneers, Redskins, and Raiders, among other teams.
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