Detroit Lions drafts in the Matt Millen Era

A. Isaac Senior Editor

T1 1214 millen Detroit Lions drafts in the Matt Millen Era
Total Lions players Drafted in Matt Millen era(2001-2007): 53
Total Lions draftees still with the team: 26

By Position

Offensive Line
Total Offensive Lineman Drafted: 8
Total Offensive Lineman still with team: 4
Highest draft pick of a lineman after 2001: G Manny Ramirez, 4th round
Total Offensive Lineman drafted and kept after 2001: 2

Linebackers
Total Linebackers Drafted: 9
Total Linebackers still with team: 5

Secondary
Total Secondary Drafted: 11
Total Secondary still with team: 5
Highest Pick used on a player: Gerald Alexander and Daniel Bullocks, 2nd round

Skill Positions(QB,RB,WR,TE)
Total Skill Positions Drafted: 16
Total Skill Positions still with team: 7

Defensive Linemen
Total Defensive Lineman drafted: 7
Total Defensive Lineman still with team: 5

By Round
(players kept/total picks)

1st round-5/8
2nd round-10/10
3rd round-4/5
4th round-1/4
5th round-4/10
6th round-0/6
7th round-2/10

By Year
(players kept/total picks)

2001-3/6
2002-2/9
2003-2/11
2004-5/6
2005-3/6
2006-5/7
2007-6/8

Notes:

-Of the 8 first round picks by the Lions, 6 were at the skill position. Of those 6, 3 are still with the team.

-The Lions did not keep a offensive line draft pick from 2002-2006. Their 2007 pick Manny Ramirez will more than likely never start in the NFL. That will make 6 consecutive years without a starting offensive linemen from the draft.

-When many teams and their scouting department seem to flourish on second day draft picks(rounds 4-7), the Lions seem to flounder. Thirty draft picks on day two, 7 are still in Detroit. An astounding 23%. And even if we eliminate the sixth and seventh round picks from the equation, the Lions are at 36% for the the 4th and 5th rounds.

-The Lions best group of players resides on the defensive line. Its no wonder that this is where the Lions drafted best. 5 of 7 for 71%.

-The Lions worst group of players resides on the offensive line. Its no wonder that this is where the Lions drafted worst. 3 of 8 for 38%.

-You might think that the Lions drafts have gotten better the last two years, however, of the 2007 draftees, only Calvin Johnson and Gerald Alexander have seen significant playing time. Of the 2006 draftees, only Ernie Sims and Anthony Cannon will play on Sunday. The rest have been lost to injury or have been cut.

-In comparison to other teams drafts, the Indianapolis Colts will have 3 players on Sunday who were not drafted by them or signed as a free agent out of college. The New England Patriots will have 17. The Lions, 27.

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