Lions Make Modest Progress

Team-By-Team Offseason Roundup

Detroit Lions

Players Released:
Ross Verba, G
Marcus Pollard, TE
Marcus Bell, DT
Tyoka Jackson, DT
Craphonso Thorpe, WR

Free Agents Lost:
Terrence Holt, S
Cory Schlesinger, FB
Jon McGraw, S
Rick DeMulling, T/G
Jamar Fletcher, CB

Traded:
Dre Bly, CB
James Hall, DE
Josh McCown, QB
Mike Williams, WR

Traded For:
Tatum Bell, RB
George Foster, T

Free Agents Re-Signed:
Corey Smith, DE
Cleveland Pinkney, DT
Aveion Cason, RB

Free Agents Added:
Dewayne White, DE
T.J. Duckett, RB
Shaun McDonald, WR
Travis Fisher, CB
Edwin Mulitalo, G
Marcus Robinson, WR
Cliff Russell, WR

Draft:
Rd. 1 (No. 2 overall) Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
2 (43) Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan State
2 (58) Ikaika Alma-Francis, DE, Hawaii
2 (61) Gerald Alexander, S, Boise State
4 (105) A.J. Davis, CB, N.C. State
4 (117) Manuel Ramirez, G, Texas Tech
5 (158) Johnny Baldwin, LB, Alabama A&M
7 (255) Ramzee Robinson, CB, Alabama

Analysis:

The Detroit Lions, believe it or not, have made a series of sound moves this offseason.

Think what you want about the decision made by the Ford family, which owns the franchise, to retain Matt Millen as team president. Millen has improved the roster.

Trading cornerback Dre Bly to the Denver Broncos for tailback Tatum Bell and offensive tackle George Foster was a good maneuver. Bly didn't fit into the Lions' defensive scheme, and they ended up with two players who should be solid contributors.

It might have been nice to trade down from the second overall choice in the draft and end up with more picks. But when the Lions didn't--or couldn't, if you believe their version about the lack of reasonable offers to come their way--then using the selection on Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson was the right move. Never mind that it was the fourth time in five years that they'd used a top-10 pick on a wideout. LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell was off the board, and Johnson was clearly the top player available.

His presence won't be enough to turn this team into a winner. But at least the Lions, for a change, didn't spend the offseason regressing.

By Mark Maske |  May 14, 2007; 2:10 PM ET  | Category:  Lions
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Posted by: pack4life | May 14, 2007 5:53 PM

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