ALLEN PARK — Draft grades have become a staple this time of year, as analysts and pundits weigh in on how the various teams fared.
They’re wrong almost all the time.
It drives decision-makers around the league bonkers. They’re being evaluated — called smart or stupid — without waiting for so much as a single practice rep.
Many say it takes three years to fairly grade a draft.
So in that spirit, the 2013 draft should now be fair game to evaluate. And it has become clear that the Lions blew that one out of the park, including netting a potential star in first-round DE Ezekiel Ansah.
This isn’t breaking news to anyone who has followed the Lions the past couple years. But just how good was it, as compared to other teams? Sports Illustrated took a stab at it, and ranked Detroit second in this piece that dropped today. Only the Chargers were more highly regarded.
Writes Greg Bedard: “The since-ousted power duo (of Martin Mayhew and Jim Schwartz) did well with its first five choices, who have all become starters, including an emerging star in Ansah and good players in CB Darius Slay, DE Devin Taylor and RG Larry Warford. (The fifth is punter Sam Martin).”
Bedard named Ansah the club’s best pick of the draft, and sixth-rounder Corey Fuller the worst. And that helps illustrate just how deep that draft was. Because when a sixth-round pick is still on your team three years later, and he’s your biggest misfire, you’re doing your job well.
Detroit found a star in Ansah in the first round, and a potential star in Slay in the second round. He’s coming off a season in which he was ranked as the second-best corner in football according to ProFootballFocus, and you can argue the advanced metrics all you want, but no matter which way you look at it, he’s an outstanding corner and one of the faces of the defense.
Warford has been a starter from Day 1 at right guard, and when healthy, he’s been the offensive line’s best player. Taylor is coming off a seven-sack season and should become a full-time starter in 2016. Martin has proven that a punter can be worth a fifth-round flier, after setting club records for net and total punting. His ability to flip field position has been critical for a team that has struggled to move the ball offensively the past two years.
And while Bedard correctly points out the first five picks all net starters, it would be a mistake to overlook what happened in the sixth round as well. The Lions took Notre Dame tailback Theo Riddick with the 199th overall selection in the draft, and now he’s coming off a season in which he set franchise records for catches and receiving yards by a tailback.
Riddick finished first league wide in catches, and was second in receiving yards.
With a few more drafts like that, Mayhew wouldn’t have had much of a problem keeping his job. But alas, 2013 proved to be the high-water mark for that regime.
Check out Sports Illustrated’s full 2013 draft grades here.
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