When I saw the Lions had decided to trade Shaun Rogers to the Browns for Bodden and a third-round pick instead of to the Bengals for a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick, I was extremely happy and thought that this might be the beginning of a great off-season. Since then the Lions have released players at positions that they have little or no depth at, and in order to make an impact via the draft, the rookies would have to be drafted in the first two rounds. The Lions now have needs at DT, DE, RT, HB, MLB, and SLB. These positions call for a first or second round pick, and with six major needs and only 2 picks in the first two rounds, I don't see how they can fill all of these holes. They have tried signing 32 year-old Chuck Darby to replace Shaun Rogers and have tried to replace Damien Woody at RT with some guy who did not even play last year. What is going on? Check out my new Lions rounds in the mock draft center...

Believe it or not, the NFL draft hides starters deep into the third, forth, fifth, even sixth and seventh round, every single year. Their goal won't be to move up so that they can pick six times in 2 rounds, rather, drafting intelligently and taking guys who they think will thrive in their system. Leigh Bodden and Brian Kelly are both starters. At LB, there's still some talk that Al Wilson will be signed to start at MLB. Running back is a question mark still, after releasing Kevin Jones and having Duckett leave to Seattle, it's obviously a big need. Although, if the right guy is there in round 1, they might just pass on RB until round 2 or 3, and allow themselves to get the best player available. Whatever the Lions have been doing has not been working. It's a rebuilding year, and they need to focus on filling holes.

That being said, I don't think they've been nearly active enough in free agency, and I still think that they will try to round up 2-3 picks on draft day by trading Roy Williams (even though Marinelli has put up the smokescreen saying it won't happen). Either way, it's not really the players they need to worry about. They still have plenty of veteran leadership on both sides of the ball (Kitna, Williams, Furrey, Raiola, Redding, Alex Lewis, Kenoy Kennedy, and Shaun Cody). They just need to plug young guys in to revamp and re-energize their system. Chuck Darby is trash, but he fills a gap for a backup DT. Or at least a guy who can push a rookie out of a starting position.

The Detroit Lions can go several ways heading into this talented draft. If I was Millen, which im thankful im not, I would trade down into the 20's and pick up and extra 2nd or 3rd rounder and use that 1st to snag OT Chris Williams who should still be available in the 20's. And then use the 2 2nds to draft LB Jerod Mayo or Curtis Lofton or Adibi would all be upgrades from what they have. Actually they could use both picks in the 2nd to pickup a LB. A corne who drops would also be a good pickup, i could see Cason dropping into the 2nd round if the giants dont pick him up in the 1st. ANd then use the 2 3rds they have on two RBs, either chris johnson, matt forte, ray rice, ......... or use one on the best OT available. Now this is all good if everything falls into place but Millen has alot to work with and starters can be found in any given round, just ask the giants last year. Overall, no one expects Millen to darft well or for the Lions to be any kind of contenders this year but a slight improvement should give the lions some respect from some teams.

Hate to tell you Calvin but Chris Williams is gone as early as the Broncos and probably as late as Pittsburgh, Cason will not fall out of the top 5-7 in the 2nd round.

You just never know. Anything is possible. The main appeal to me in the NFL draft is its level of unpredictability. Every single year, some player gets grabbed ahead of schedule (Donte Whitner) or falls to a place he's never supposed to fall to (Brady Quinn). I could sit back and riddle off the names of literally hundreds of players I've watched slide into round 2, and become great value picks for the teams that have gotten them. Especially this year, with the emergence of small school CB prospects, ANYTHING is possible.

Exibit A.