As I settled into my chair yesterday at noon I wondered how the Lions would fuck up the 2004 NFL Draft. They had the #6 pick and could possible get TE Kellen Winslow or S Sean Taylor (both from Miami) if they were still available. Taylor was picked just before them at #5, so I thought Winslow was the lock pick when the Lions were put on the clock.

Soon enough, the team on the clock switched to the Browns who made some kind of trade with Detroit. The Lions were given the #7 and #37 picks in the draft…just to move down a single spot. The Lions already had the #36 pick so now they would have two in a row. Not a bad trade, but who were they planning to pick at #7? Everyone knows they’ve needed a RB for years, but they surely wouldn’t pick one this high! The Commish walked up to the podium and announced WR Roy Williams from Texas.

Williams was rated as one of the top three receivers in the draft and some teams had him as the top one. Good pick. It’ll give Joey Harrington another speedy target to play opposite Charles Rogers, the Lions first round pick last year. So now I’m thinking, “Maybe they’ll trade one of those second round picks with some later picks to move down into the first round and get that running back they desperately need.”

As the hours flew by, the ESPN analysts kept referring to how far the draft had progressed without a running back being picked yet. All I can think is, “Why aren’t the Lions trading down for a steal of a pick?” Finally at #24, Steven Jackson was picked and then Chris Perry went at #26. I didn’t think Perry would go ahead of Kevin Jones, but crazier things had happened in the draft already.

A few more picks went by and then at #30 I saw the team logo next to the clock change from the Chiefs to the Lions. Kevin Jones was still available and I knew we had our man! A lot of teams had him rated as the #2 running back in the draft and others had him as the #1, so this was definitely the steal of the draft is you ask me. He slipped all the way down to the bottom of the first round! In order to move down, the Lions traded #36 (their original 2nd round pick), a 4th rounder, and a 5th rounder in next year’s draft. Is this the same Detroit team I’ve watched for years?

They also added a pretty decent LB from Oklahoma in Teddy Lehman and a CB named Keith Smith from McNeese State. From what I’ve read Lehman was another steal because he slipped down to the 2nd round. He was an All-American last year, won the Butkus Award (top linebacker), and also won the Bednarik Award (best defensive player). ESPN ranked Detroit #1 for their moves on the first day of the draft and I can’t remember that ever happening before.

With all of their moves in free agency this offseason and this great draft, I can’t wait for this season to start…GO LIONS!