2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Pick 34

The second round of the 2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft rolls along. We're having each SB Nation blogger make selections for their respective teams. Sean Yuille, lead blogger at SB Nation's Detroit Lions blog, Pride of Detroit, checks in to make the No. 34 overall selection in this year's mock. Take it away, sir!

With the No. 34 overall pick in the 2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, the Detroit Lions have selected Jahvid Best, RB, California.

Sean Yuille says: The Lions’ first-round pick of Ndamukong Suh solidified the defensive line, but there are still many unaddressed needs on the roster, including at cornerback, offensive guard, and running back.  Those are probably the three biggest needs, as there are less-pressing holes at other positions.  Let’s run down each of the big three needs.

Cornerback: The Lions are in desperate need for help at corner even after signing Jonathan Wade and trading for Chris Houston.  Those moves were steps in the right direction at cornerback, but the Lions could use a young talent to build around at that position going forward.  This draft has many talented corners, but unfortunately the top-level guys have already been selected.  While the Lions could certainly select a corner with the #34 pick in this situation, I don’t think any of the corners still on the board can be considered the best player available, which is the focal point of the Lions’ draft strategy.

Offensive guard: The same goes for the offensive guard position.  There is certainly talent at this position, but I have a hard time believing the Lions would draft a guard if the first round plays out like it did in this mock draft.  Actually, I can only see the Lions selecting a guard with the #34 overall pick if Mike Iupati is still around, but that didn't happen in this mock draft and it doesn't seem likely in real life, either.

(Side note on the offensive line: There is a misconception that the Lions must draft an offensive tackle to protect Matthew Stafford, and it has been greatly overblown.  Do the Lions need to draft an offensive lineman?  Yes, but the need is at left guard, not left tackle.  The coaching staff thinks very highly of Jeff Backus, and the numbers seem to support that Backus played better last season than he is being credited.  I realize many think that Backus is at the end of his career and the Lions need to look towards the future, but I don’t think we’re at that point just yet.  Maybe in a year or two that will be the case, but for now it would be a much better idea to draft a true guard and then worry about replacing Backus at left tackle down the road.)

Running back: Kevin Smith is healing from shoulder injuries and a torn ACL, meaning his status for next season is up in the air.  What’s more, running back by committee seems to be a very effective strategy in the NFL nowadays, so even if Smith is healthy I think there is a need at running back for the Lions.  Considering he isn’t healthy, that need is much larger, which is why I ultimately decided on Cal running back Jahvid Best. 

The running back position is fairly deep in this year’s draft, but I see Best as a playmaker both in the running game and the passing game.  Many Lions fans have compared him to a better version of Aaron Brown, a back already on the roster, but I think that is slighting Best’s talent.  If he joined the Lions, I believe he can be a starter with or without a healthy Kevin Smith, and if Smith is healthy, then the two can complement each other, which would benefit the offense as a whole.

There’s no doubt that the Lions need help on defense and on the offensive line, but following the Lions’ best player available strategy, I think the best (no pun intended) pick in this situation is a running back, and the top player remaining at that position in my eyes is Jahvid Best.

Mocking Dan reacts: I don't have Best rated higher than Jonathan Dwyer, but if running back is the pick, he's a better choice. Dwyer is too similar to Kevin Smith and wouldn't give Detroit the same dynamic.

Mocking the Draft's Top 5 remaining prospects: 1 - Golden Tate/WR/Notre Dame, 2 - Bruce Campbell/OT/Maryland, 3 - Jonathan Dwyer/RB/Georgia Tech, 4 - Damian Williams/WR/USC, 5 - Rob Gronkowski/TE/Arizona

Sound off, SB Nation! What say you of Lions' selection of Best? Please be sure to check out Pride of Detroit for all of your Lions needs.