Initially, I didn’t think the Lions should select Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Now I believe they should - but only if they sign him before the draft.
Stafford has extraordinary talent. More as a pro prospect than other quarterbacks in recent drafts, this one or next year. He did pass all the tests under the microscope of being the consensus No. 1 overall pick in regard to his workouts, tests and conduct with flying colors. Some of the bashing of his college career is overdone. The bottom line is he was a very good QB in what is widely-regarded as the nation’s premier conference, and is potentially a great pro player.
Is he a sure thing? There is no such animal - especially at QB. Obviously, he won’t be welcome in this town. I’m pretty much alone on this one. The majority of fans are against selecting him, and most of the media is either dead-set against it or lukewarm to the notion.
Those chants "Don’t draft Stafford" when the Lions unveiled their new logo were indicative of a wide-spread feeling. It’s difficult enough to be the first overall pick in the draft. Can Stafford handle it being that it will be largely unpopular. Those type of intangible factors are the great unknown.
The Lions must use their pre-draft leverage on this to sign Stafford. They cannot take him if he is unsigned. Holdouts as a rookie will kill the career of any QB.
Stafford does have the highest ceiling of any player in this draft I don’t see anybody else that has a similar upside, although it might turn out to be a decent draft in terms of depth. A star or two will emerge. They always do. But who? Stafford is the most likely.
The Lions do have four picks in the next 81 to address their many defensive needs if they do take Stafford.

Random Thoughts

- Haven’t we already seen enough of Brandon Lyon to understand he is not the answer as a late-inning reliever for the Tigers?

- The home runs by Curtis Granderson Tuesday were important for the Tigers. Anytime they have done anything in recent seasons, it seems like Granderson has been the catalyst offensively.

- I know it doesn’t mean much to Pistons fans in their current state of disappointment, but you must give Will Bynum credit. He is their one player, who is always playing extremely hard, and mostly pretty well.

- Here is a interesting statistic: The Pistons lost by 12 Tuesday night, but were outscored by 30 points during the 40 minutes Richard Hamilton was on the floor.