Lions tried to trade up to get LSU's Patrick Peterson in NFL draft

[.infamous]

http://www.freep.com/article/20110504/SPORTS01/105040434/Lions-tried-cornerback-draft?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports

The Lions did not take a cornerback in last week's NFL draft, but it wasn't for a lack of effort.

NFL.com reported Friday that the Lions tried to trade up and draft Louisiana State cornerback Patrick Peterson, the top defensive back available, in the first round.

According to a person familiar with the talks, the Lions offered the Arizona Cardinals first-, second- and fourth-round choices for the Cardinals' pick, No. 5 overall.

The Cardinals declined the offer and selected Peterson, whom some analysts rated as the draft's top prospect regardless of position.

Though they missed out on Peterson, the Lions still ranked among the draft's biggest winners in most instant evaluations.

They took Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, a consensus top-10 talent, with the 13th overall pick, and added Boise State receiver Titus Young and Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure in the second round.

The Lions traded up to get Leshoure, sending third- and fourth-round picks to the Seahawks and exchanging picks in the fifth and seventh rounds. Had they landed Peterson, they likely would have missed out on Young and Leshoure, who probably would have been off the board at the Lions' original third-round slot.

"It was a big move for us," Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said after the trade-up to get Leshoure. "We feel good about this guy. He's one of the top guys on our board. He was the second running back on our board. He was right there with (first-round pick Mark) Ingram, and we feel great about him."

The Lions didn't address their cornerback needs with either of their final two picks -- they took Syracuse linebacker Doug Hogue in the fifth round and South Carolina State offensive tackle Johnny Culbreath in the seventh -- but will look to add help via trade or free agency whenever the new league year begins.

For now, pending free agent Chris Houston and third-year player Alphonso Smith, both coming off shoulder surgeries, are the Lions' top cornerbacks.

 

[RipCity32]

Kind of glad we didn't. Super happy with how our draft ended.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

While they would've gotten an awesome CB out of the deal, that's about all they would have got had they gotten Peterson. No Young or Leshoure would've happened.

 

[Hurricane Season]

I would argue that Peterson would have made a bigger impact, and would have been a much more valuable pick than both Young and Leshoure combined.

 

[Pugz]

he is that good of a player but those two players will compliment our offense a ton. im happy with what we did and i have all the trust that we will go out and sign the help we need... wheneer we can lol

 

[RipCity32]

I would argue that Peterson would have made a bigger impact, and would have been a much more valuable pick than both Young and Leshoure combined.

Fairley, Young and Leshoure > Peterson

 

[Lake Louise]

I read this yesterday and was just thinking glad that didn't happen. Would of been nice, but i'm happy with Young and Leshoure.

 

[Hurricane Season]

Fairley, Young and Leshoure > Peterson

Obviously. 3 is indeed greater than 1. I'm just saying, for the Lions, DB was (and still is) the Lions biggest weakness. Peterson is arguably the best cornerback prospect we've seen since Deion Sanders. Adding a player of that caliber at a position of great need far outweighs the value and/or impact a change of pace back, and a slot receiver.

Just my opinion. The Lions had a pretty solid draft regardless.

 

[elcheato]

Quite a few teams tried to trade up

 

[RipCity32]

Obviously. 3 is indeed greater than 1. I'm just saying, for the Lions, DB was (and still is) the Lions biggest weakness. Peterson is arguably the best cornerback prospect we've seen since Deion Sanders. Adding a player of that caliber at a position of great need far outweighs the value and/or impact a change of pace back, and a slot receiver.

Just my opinion. The Lions had a pretty solid draft regardless.

I know, but you said Peterson was worth Leshoure and Young, but we would of had to give our first too in the deal, so I just added Fairley.

 

[Mooche]

Detroit ended up doing just fine in this draft. You can't be made as a Lions fan with how it ended up, I really don't think.

PP would have been one hell of an add though, my goodness..

PP + Delmas secondary. <3

 

[cruzg24]

Patrick Petereson will be the missing piece to the trifecta.....