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2012 NFL Draft analysis: Detroit Lions

Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Now that the 2012 NFL Draft is over, we're profiling each team's draft. Who were the steals? Who were the reaches? We continue with the Detroit Lions.

The Detroit Lions have quietly been putting together a string of impressive drafts, and 2012 appears to be another in a long line of solid drafting to come for the new Lions regime.

The Lions have adopted a best player available philosophy, and in the first round, the best players happened to fill a huge need, as Riley Reiff became the newest member of the organization. The team then added a trio of former Oklahoma Sooners to go with three defensive backs before the draft was over.

Ryan Broyles was added to an offense that already features some of the most dangerous weapons in the league. Matthew Stafford now not only has weapons at his disposal, but the addition of Reiff should help improve his protection.

The defense should also continue to grow. The Lions spent six of the eight selections they had on defensive players.

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Ryan Tannehill impressive at Dolphins minicamp

Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

It's only May, but all of the talk of Ryan Tannehill not being ready to start in the NFL could be quieting down by the time the season gets underway.

Tannehill has impressed the Dolphins' coaching staff as well as his competition for the starting job, David Garrard and Matt Moore, during his first few practices at Miami's minicamp.

While Tannehill only started 19 games during his college career, his college head coach, Mike Sherman, is the new offensive coordinator for the Dolphins, which should ease his transition to the NFL a bit. He already has an understanding of a solid chunk of the playbook and has apparently been giving tips to Garrard and Moore.

Tannehill has a long way to go before he is ready to start and NFL game, but teams have been less and less patient with the quarterbacks they take early in the draft. Sitting at least part of the season may be ideal for Tannehill's future, but Moore and Garrard may force the Dolphins' hand on this one.

After all, if Tannehill wins the job, he wins the job. There's no way around it.

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Jim Brown thinks Trent Richardson is 'ordinary'

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

When the Cleveland Browns traded up to No. 3 overall to draft Trent Richardson, not too many people criticized the pick. There were some questioning the trade, but the pick of Richardson was viewed by most as a slam dunk of sorts.

Jim Brown was not one of those people, apparently.

Despite being considered by many scouts to be the best running back to enter the draft since Adrian Peterson, Richardson is just "ordinary" Brown told ESPN Cleveland.

"When you think of greatness and the great backs, they all had some individual traits that you can identify - quickness, balance, power, speed," Brown said. "I think the kid is a good working back, and if you've got everything else around him he can play his role. But when it comes to outstanding, I don't see anything outstanding about him. It's not said in a cruel manner. He's very efficient, and that's what you want."

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Hakeem Nicks Injury Opens the Door for Rueben Randle

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Hakeem Nicks fractured his foot at New York Giants minicamp and is expected to be sidelined for 12 weeks by the injury.

While Nicks is not expected to miss any regular season games with the injury, his absence in OTAs and training camp opens the door for rookie wide receiver Reuben Randle to get some important reps and gain the trust of quarterback Eli Manning.

The Giants certainly aren't excited about the prospect of playing without Nicks, but given the rapport he and Manning have already developed, missing the offseason won't have as drastic an impact on him as it might on another receiver.

After losing Mario Manningham to free agency, the Giants jumped at the chance to draft Randle in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. LSU receivers have been hit or miss in the NFL, but Randle's skill set aligns somewhat with that of Nicks. Although, Randle has a long way to go as a route runner.

But I guess that's where those all-important training camp reps come into play.

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Friday NFL Draft links to click

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - The architect speaks about the Packers draft
The NFL draft is to Ted Thompson what tax season is to accountants. It's his Mardi Gras, Tournament of Roses and Summerfest all rolled into one. And for the most part, Thompson's drafts have been cause for celebration.

CBS Sports - Does Brandon Hardin finally solve Bears' woes at safety?
Over the next several weeks, NFLDraftScout.com will be reviewing some of the more intriguing picks made during the 2012 NFL Draft through a series called "Finding the Fits." The goal of the steries is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and therefore more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.

Houston Chronicle - Keenum adjusting to taking center snaps, learning the language
Rookie quarterback Case Keenum is having to become re-acclimated with taking center snaps after almost always working out of the shotgun at the University of Houston.

National Football Post - Is Andre Ellington the draft's top third down back?
Wes Bunting breaks down the Clemson senior running back.

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Fantasy Football Rookie Bracket Match Up: Ryan Tannehill vs Bernard Pierce

May 22, 2012; Davie, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws a pass during organized team activities at the Dolphins training facility. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

We here at Mocking the Draft put together a bracket to match up the top 32 rookie quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends drafted in April. Put simply, it's a NCAA tournament style bracket to help us decide which rookie will score the most fantasy points this coming season. You're welcome to go back and see the original post here. Today's match up, Ryan Tannehill vs Bernard Pierce.

This could potentially be one of our first upsets. The Miami Dolphins drafted quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the eighth overall pick, while Pierce was taken in the third round by the Baltimore Ravens.

Why vote for Tannehill?

The Dolphins drafted Tannehill having already hired his head coach from Texas A&M, Mike Sherman as their offensive coordinator. This could mean that Tannehill will be up to speed on his offense a lot quicker than most rookie quarterbacks. Sherman will know Tannehill better than anyone else in the league, so he'll know how to best use him. Tannehill shows good ability hitting timing routes, which combined with a solid running game should see Tannehill be fairly successful if he sees the field.

More after the jump.

Poll
Who will score more fantasy points as a rookie?
Ryan Tannehill
49 votes
Bernard Pierce
49 votes

98 votes | Poll has closed

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2013 NFL Draft quarterback ratings

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We're beginning our look ahead to the 2013 NFL Draft. Today, we start with quarterbacks. At this point in the process, I'm keeping juniors and seniors separate. The seniors for next year are pretty clear cut with Matt Barkley of USC and Tyler Wilson of Arkansas at the top.

The juniors, however, are far less determined. Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas is the most physically gifted quarterback in next year's draft regardless of class. But he's inconsistent and unpolished. Tennessee's Tyler Bray is also packed with talent. The sleeper may be Washington's Keith Price who developed exponentially as last season progressed.

There are some notable names missing. That's partly by design and partly due to lack of knowledge. Since it's only May and these ratings will be fluid throughout the year (and even this summer), it seemed pointless to have a baseless list just to have a baseless list.

Some players, however, were omitted more intentionally. For instance, you won't find Zach Mettenberger of LSU in the top-five juniors. Mettenberger, although promising, only has 11 career college passes. If I wanted to rate him, I'd just regurgitate old rankings from Rivals or Scout. Brad Sorensen of Southern Utah is also highly touted by some. I'm not going to lie and rate a player I haven't seen.

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Thursday NFL Draft links to click

Tennessean - Titans DaJohn Harris determined to make roster
DaJohn Harris arrived at the NFL Combine as a likely middle- to late-round draft pick, but it took just one medical evaluation to change his future.

Bleeding Green Nation - Grading each draft from 1999-2009
It's easy to identify specific draft picks that have worked out especially well or poorly for the Eagles, but it's harder to objectively rank their overall performance in comparison with other teams. To provide one perspective for such comparisons, I used the Career Approximate Value (CarAV or CAV) as compiled by Pro-Fooball Reference.

Music City Miracles - Kendall Wright and 'space players'
Earth-shattering analysis: Kendall Wright was brought in to improve this offense, hopefully vaulting it into elite territory. Here's where it gets a bit more interesting though. Perhaps no receiver prospect in this recent draft can impact the offense in as many different ways as Wright.

Boston Herald - Patriots sign first-round pick Chandler Jones
The Patriots have locked up their first pick of the 2012 draft. Defensive end Chandler Jones, the 21st overall selection, signed with New England today.

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