| Larry Warford 3rd Round Pick in 2013 |
So I was reading some tweets from the Lions OTAs and Ebron's continued issues with drop passes, and started to think again about my objection of that draft pick. My objection really is not with Eric himself but where the Lions drafted him and that got me thinking about whether or not where a player is taken changes our feeling towards that player?
Lets start with DeAndre Levy, in my opinion the best pick Mayhew has made to date. A 3rd round 76th overall pick in 2009, Levy has played up to 1st round talent, but what if Levy was drafted in the 1st round? Would that change your opinion about him? And what about Stafford if he was a 2nd or 3rd round pick? Would he get less scrutiny?
Riley Reiff is an interesting player. A offensive tackle that fell in the drafted and was taken 23rd overall in 2012. Considered the second best OT in that draft right behind Minnesota's Matt Kalil who was drafted 4th overall. Given the fact that typically quality LTs are generally drafted at the top of 1st round does that skew the perception that Lions need an upgrade over Reiff? Even though Riley has only gotten better in his second season as starting left tackle.
Back to Ebron, and I am not trying to beat this topic to death, but after reading hundreds of comments both for or against drafting him in the top 10. If you are a pro the pick, is it because he was drafted as high as he was that you expect great things from down the road? Is you feeling more of the potential opinion? And if you in the no camp, is it simply because you have great expectations on any player drafted in the top 10 and so far he has failed to live up to that? Would your opinion change if he was drafted in the 4th round? How high of hopes would you have on him or how much of a pass would you allow him to have?
So my question is does a player's draft position change how you generally feel about the player?
So my question is does a player's draft position change how you generally feel about the player?
Nice article and read.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure you can separate one from the other. The right player at the right time in the draft is critical to building a consistently winning team. I am 100% in the "You don't draft a TE in the top 10" camp. It is wasting resources.
The two, off the top of my head, first round TEs that have been picked in the first round Davis (6th overall) and Gresham (21st overall) aren't exactly tearing it up. Davis had about a year and a half as a beast and has disappeared. Gresham is currently a Free Agent. Not exactly compelling company. The rest of the NFL stud TEs, 2nd round and later along with Gates, who was an UDFA.
To the idea that draft position affects our expectations of the player. Yes. Considering the impact first round WRs are making in the NFL today as pass catchers, a top 10 TE damn well better be a pass catching stud from day one. He wasn't but that isn't his fault. It is Mayillens fault. He loves his shiny baubles. Ebron's propensity, that is still a legitimate problem if reports from OTAs are true, to drop the ball just makes his pick all the more Mayillenesque.
If we would have waited and gotten him in the second or later, my expectations would be entirely different. No question. A top ten talent shouldn't have stunningly obvious flaws like the dropsies. To make it even worse. Lewan (OT), OBJ (WR), Donald (DT), Fuller (CB) and Martin (G) went directly after him. I guarantee you those teams loved seeing the Lions pick a TE instead of an actual difference maker at any of those positions of need.
Damn, digging this up just pisses me off. How did Mayillen fuck this up so bad? The next two picks in the draft both ended up as pro bowl players. 4 of the next 6 went to the pro bowl. And we got Edrop.
FMFandom.
I think for the most part I am in the "value" camp when I look at players and my fandom for them. I have never really touted Megatron to much because he was a 2nd pick overall, he has done about what he was suppose to given where he was drafted. On the other hand, I have praised Corey Fuller more cus he was a 6th round pick.
DeleteOk, if you are asking if I am a player or value person. My answer would be both but I can see your point clearly. CJ wasn't a bargain at the 2nd overall pick but Levy was in the 3rd.
DeleteI just know that consciously/subconsciously my fandom for players will have a lot to do with where they were drafted or how they came to be a Lion. Joique Bell seems to be a fan favorite but I think we can be honest about the fact that he really is just an average running back. But I think fans like him is because he is a local kid that went undrafted.
ReplyDeleteFor me, Ebron will probably never be one of my favorites. He will always in my mind be tried to Jimmy Graham and Jimmy was a 3rd round pick.
I'm pretty patient with draft picks.... however, I'm also of the opinion that 1st and 2nd round picks are starters. Put them together and ask... is Ebron a starter? He had a pretty weak rookie season... though he did show flashes in his limited role; but never proved more valuable than Pettirgrew.
ReplyDeleteAll this Ebron talk is meant to rile up the fan base and cause angst. Yes, the Lions whiffed with the pick... however, that doesn't mean the door is shut for Ebron to become a stud. (that door will start closing after his 2nd season)
Yeah, I really did not want to get into Ebron, but he seems to be the most polarizing Lions player from a fan's standpoint. The heart of what trying to get at is does where a player is drafted or how they come to be a Lion change the level of your fandom for that player?
DeleteDraft position really doesn't have an effect on my opinion of players... but certain 'overhyped' players by the fans can definitely have an affect.
DeleteLike Riddick... or your boy that we got from Denver, the cornerback that slips my mind....lol. The players that obviously are not starting material, but are cheered like they should be starting. It makes me less likely to root for Riddick.... and also makes me a bit more critical.
okay that is fair, and I am with you about Riddick. And Phonz Smith was the CB from Denver that had a cult following. By the way I was a huge Carpenter fan and still think he could be a valued player on the Lions roster...lol
DeleteDo you know who I miss... Zack 'pain train' Follett
Deleteinterested take censored lion fan
DeleteI tend to root for the guys that produce in limited roles with the hopes they'll expand on them until it is proven they can't do it… for that reason Theo holds great promise for me, that he earned because I was surprised when people predicted good things from him after he was drafted… much like they did with TJ Jones….
Fans still predict big impact from TJ Jones but he has yet to prove much on the nil level whereas Theo produced in limited opportunities.
also, how do we know what starting material is? The Lions have started people that aren't starting material for years. but they were starters for the Lions so it could also come down to being given a chance with a staff that plays to your strengths.
Most nfl rosters are filled with borderline starting guys forced to play
i think the draft spot plays to he expectations but there's lots of ways to build a tea. When an team drafts a player of a position high, that changes the perception of the pick. You could add Jason Hanson to that list as one of the best draft picks in NFL history given that rarely has a 2nd round pick covered one position at a high level - meaning the team never had to use additional real resources on the spot for 20 years - but as a 2nd round pick, he had high expectations and stood out. Janikowski stands out that way too as you don't see the best college kickers taken in the first round often.
ReplyDeleteone year is too soon to call a career, unless it was ended by injury - if the guy has the talent to be in the league. but Mayhew put a bullseye on Ebron by taking a "tight end" that high in the draft.
Here's a question or two. Who you like more Levy or Suh? Reiff or Warford?
ReplyDeleteLevy and Warford... though Reiff is my underdog fav.
DeleteSuh and Warford.
DeleteI liked Suh, but I think I'd go Levy and Warford overall but it is an interesting question since many have suggested Riley's best position would be guard so who is to say he wouldn't make a better guard than Warford if he wasn't asked to play tackle….
DeleteI think Suh's antics, while being dominant , made him a team liability to build around in Detroit but I do expect him to mostly escape that scrutiny as he's out from Detroit and further removed from Schwartz' rep