The Importance of the Number 1 Pick

As the 2009 NFL Draft vastly approaches, there is always the question of who will be taken number 1 overall. This year that decision belongs to the Detroit Lions. Every year a team is faced with a decision that could change the face of there franchise or could set the organization back many years. The question I ask today is "has there ever been a more important pick than the one that faces the Lions?" I ask this question because this is a team that is coming off the worst season in the history of the NFL; a perfect 0-16 record. This franchise has a history of bad pick after bad pick going back to guys like Andre Ware and more current picks like Charles Rogers and Mike Williams. If you know football then you know how Matt Millen has single handily destroyed this franchise. Now, I am not saying that this franchise was great before Millen arrived in 2000, but they were at least somewhat respectable (oh, the days of 9-7). Matt Millen is out and not a moment to soon. Martin Mayhew is in and coincidentally he was Millen's assistant. Since Mayhew has taken over he has made a few moves that seem to be a bright spot for this organization. He was able to get 3 picks including a 1st rounder from the Cowboys for Roy Williams, who was probably on his way out anyways. After the season he fired Rob Marinelli which had to be done and he has put together what seems to be a solid coaching staff with Jim Swartz, Gunther Cunningham, and Scott Linehan. He also brought in "Shack" Harris who has some experience as being a personnel guy in this league. There were also rumors that he tried to bring Jay Cutler over from the Broncos and even though that plan fell through (for the time being anyways) you have to give him some credit for trying. He seems to be committed to turning this thing around. Now the Lions will struggle to bring in respectable free agents due to the fact that nobody really wants to play for a team that could not even win 1 game last season. So Mayhew and his staff are faced with the biggest decision they may ever face. Who to take at number 1!

Lets look at there options.

1. Matthew Stafford/Quarterback/Georgia: Everywhere you look has Stafford going number on and becoming the face of the franchise. This is a difficult decision because if you are a Lions fan you have to think about guys like Andre Ware, and who could forget "piano boy" Joey Harrington. Now Stafford has all the tools to be a great Quarterback in this league and he has one of the best wide outs to throw to in who he called a "freak" Calvin Johnson. The fact that Mayhew made a strong push for Cutler makes me wonder if he has his doubts about Stafford; but with their history who could blame him.

2. Jason Smith/Tackle/Baylor: Jason Smith has risen to the top of the tackle board for this years draft. Andre Smith has all but played his way out of the first round with his antics over the past 2 months. There is some question about Eugen Monroe's knees and Micheal Oher's intelligence. If the Lions want to address this spot early, Jason Smith is the way to go. He has all the potential without any real baggage to go along with it. This brings me to my final option at number 1 and in my opinion the safest pick in the Draft.

3. Aaron Curry/Linebacker/Wake Forest: This kid is a complete animal and without doubt the best player in this Draft on either side of the ball. This kid will come in and start from day one and probably be a great player for many years to come. The only real question is the value of the position at number one. He did nothing at the Scouting Combines to hurt his stock and we all know Detroit needs defensive help.

With that all said you probably want to know who I think the Lions are going to take. I cannot answer that because I honestly have no idea. What I can tell you is that this pick is more important for the Lions than any Draft pick has ever been for any team. If they get it right (and history shows they probably won't) they could start there way to being a respectable team again. If they get it wrong it could set them back another 10 years and I don't think that Lions fans can take another 10 years of this mess. The only advise I can give to Mayhew, Harris, and Swartz is "choose, but choose wisely!"

The optimistic side is that the Lions were 0-16 last year so unless they add another game to the season they can't do any worse!