Knee-jerk reactions to 2008 Detroit Lions draft class

How long does it take to fully evaluate a draft class? Two years? Three? Well, 48 hours later I can't help myself. Here's my take on each pick the Lions made over the weekend:

Round 1, Pick #17: Gosder Cherilus (RT, Boston College)

• Measurables: Good size, supposed mean streak, solid run blocker
• Expected Contribution: Starter at RT.
• My Spin: The Lions had a chance at the versatile Brandon Albert at 15, and decided to trade down for a guy I assume they had rated fairly close to Albert. With the rush on Offensive Line in the first round, probably a smart pick. All he has to do is not jump offsides and he's already a large improvement over False Start Foster.

Round 2, Pick #45: Jordon Dizon (ILB, Colorado)

• Measurables: Nice quickness, brings the wood, racked up eigth most tackles in NCAA history in his college career.
• Expected Contribution: Starter at MLB as soon as he learns the Tampa Two.
• My Spin: The kid is a tackling machine, but it's not as easy to bring down NFL players as it is some shmuck from Baylor. Plus, the real key to playing linebacker in The League is shedding blocks, and the kid is pretty small. He's a Marinelli type player, let's hope he puts on about 15 pounds and doesn't lose his speed (which is very hard to do).

Round 3, Pick #64: Kevin Smith (HB, Central Florida)

• Measurables: Rushed for over 2,500 yards last year. Powerful, explosive.
• Expected Contribution: Shares the load with Tatum Bell at Running Back.
• My Spin: Smith was a great pickup, one of the best of the second group of running backs in the draft. The Lions made a solid choice here, and Smith should be the #1 back by Week 3 of the season if not sooner.

Round 3, Pick #87: Andre Fluellen (DT, Florida State)

• Measurables: Stops the run, loves Bobby Bowden
• Expected Contribution: Add depth to D-line
• My Spin: This guy was hurt much of the year but is billed as a run-stopper. The Lions need depth after trading Shaun Rogers. Fluellen will spell Shaun Cody and Cory Redding.

Round 3, Pick #92: Cliff Avril (DE, Purdue)

• Measurables: Rushes the passer (what else do you do in practice at Purdue?).
• Expected Contribution: Rush the passer (duh).
• My Spin: Kalimba Edwards, let's hope he's not. Avril was brought in to put pressure on the Quarterback. We'll see if he actually can do it.

Round 5, Pick #136: Kenneth Moore (WR, Wake Forest)

• Measurables: Great special teams player, valuable in the return game
• Expected Contribution: Return specialist, #5 receiver
• My Spin: Tom Kowalski (Lions Beat Writer) told me Detroit would draft a receiver to help in the return game, so Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you...Kenneth Moore! All he will have to do is beat out incumbent Avieon Cason. Good luck Ken!

Round 5, Pick #146: Jerome Felton (FB, Furman)

• Measurables: Scored a bunch in college, big, bruising back
• Expected Contribution: Goal-line touchdown specialist
• My Spin: He's T.J. Duckett-Lite. Or perhaps Duckett-Lite-Ice. Either way, he'll get the rock inside of 4 yards.

Round 7, Pick #216: Landon Cohen (DT, Ohio)

• Measurables: Another body on defensive side of ball
• Expected Contribution: Enjoying three-week stay in training camp.
• My Spin: He was brought in for depth, is a long shot to stick. With some good performances in practice and preseason games he could make the practice squad.

Round 7, Pick #218: Caleb Campbell (S/LB, Army)

• Measurables: High character, work ethic, ability to disarm a bomb.
• Expected Contribution: Special teams, listening to Marinelli tell old war stories.
• My Spin: I love the kid, I think he'll be a hard worker. If he can put on a little more weight, he could be an effective special teamer. Don't ever discount a serviceman, because you know he's going to put in twice as much effort as 90% of the team despite his meager salary. He's the kind of guy the coaches want around.

Terp's Final Take:

• The Lions addressed their positions of need. Which is good. The players they drafted have big question marks, which is bad. I think Kevin Smith was a great pick, and so were Fluellen, Avril, and Moore. That's the kind of depth you build in the later rounds. But Cherilus and Dizon HAVE to be starters, and there's some issues with both.

• For example. With Dizon (6'0, 229), Paris Lennon (6'2, 235), and Ernie Sims (6'0, 225), the Lions now have a trio of starting linebackers who are all as big as backup quarterback Drew Stanton (6'3, 230). Doesn't exactly strike fear into opponents' hearts.

• Cherilus will struggle early, but Right Tackle is easier to learn than LT. Dizon will not be a starter until mid-way through the season because of his inability to shed blocks (Paris Lennon's problem last year), Smith will enjoy a big year because of Roy Williams and Megatron. Moore upgrades the return game a bit, while Fluellen and Avril have their moments.

Well...the draft is over. For Lions fans, it was like Super Bowl Week. Except we were actually participating.