Lions Taking OT Jason Smith With First Pick?
 

So says KFFL by way of PFT...

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/...tled-on-smith/

I guess they're going to ride Daunte Culpepper to the moon and back.

You don't get to 0-16 by being competent.

That info is early, and I agree with what Florio was writing - it shouldn't surprise that they're speaking with Jason Smith's agent, but to have nailed the decision to the floor just doesn't make sense.

They'll do what anyone in that spot does, and try to negotiate a deal against the other candidates. However, it also wouldn't surprise me if they've made their decision behind closed doors (meaning quite literally that 2-3 people know that answer).

I think it's a smart move if they aren't in love with Stafford or Sanchez. They may also think that Sanchez may fall to them at #20. Freeman will definitely be there at #20 and may be there at #33.

They drafted Gosder Cherilus last year who's playing the right side. They'd have bookend tackles for the next decade.

They're shoring up the line for Cutler since they might not have another pick until the 2nd day.

There's no way they give up the #20 AND the #33 for Cutler.

I think they just might. They are the Detroit Lions.

I would love to see it happen. That would mean Simms the starter and Freeman backing him up for 2009. Oh gawd how the implosion in Denver makes me giddy.

I think it's plausible

Dungver drafting Freeman in the first would complete this offseason. It'd go down as the greatest ever for Chiefs fans.

I don't.

The Chiefs just gave up #34 for two players, including Matt Cassel. Cutler hasn't had a winning season since high school and while he's got a great arm, he's certainly not at the point in his career where he's worth two picks in the top 34.

Detroit Lions in contract talks with several first draft pick prospects

by Tom Kowalski Monday March 23, 2009, 4:12 AM


AP File PhotoBoston College's B.J. Raji, left, may be one of the players the Lions are in talks with.
DANA POINT, Calif. -- The Detroit Lions still are not saying who they might select with the first overall draft pick, but they are getting closer to putting that player's name on the dotted line.
Lions president Tom Lewand, who is attending the annual owners' meetings with several members of the team's front office, said the team already have started initial contract negotiations with several No. 1 prospects.
Because the Lions have the first pick, they are allowed to begin negotiating before the April 25 draft.
"By the rules, we could agree to terms with somebody tomorrow if we wanted to," Lewand said.
The top four prospects for that first pick are believed to be Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, Baylor left tackle Jason Smith, Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry and Virginia left tackle Eugene Monroe.
Lewand indicated he has been in contact with the agents of other players as well. One of those might be Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji who made a visit to Allen Park last week to interview with Lions officials.
The Lions want to begin negotiations early because contract language will be different than previous years because the 2010 season does not have a salary cap.
"We have to have robust dialogue with the agents of the players we're interested in. We've started that process, and we've made it very clear to all of them that we have to have that as this month draws to a close," Lewand said. "Because of the complexity of the rules, we've already started discussions. I don't see any reason we can't advance those discussions with multiple parties as we're narrowing the decision-making."
The Lions have indicated they want their No. 1 pick to be signed before they officially select him, but Lewand said there's no timetable on when that will happen.
The first order of business is the Lions making the decision; coach Jim Schwartz will have heavy input, but the final say will come down to general manager Martin Mayhew.
"There's no timetable one way or the other. If we make the decision, and Martin and Jim and everybody else is comfortable with it and we can come to a contract with the guy, there's no reason we can't do that tomorrow," Lewand said. "If we can't -- and any one of those pieces isn't in place -- and it doesn't get done until the night before the draft, that's fine, too."
The Lions want the draft pick signed prior to the draft because it eliminates any possibility of a holdout in training camp. If the Lions select a player who is unsigned, the leverage immediately shifts to the player, because he can withhold his services, much like LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell did with the Oakland Raiders two years ago. Russell missed all of training camp in a contract dispute.
The Lions have the leverage by negotiating with several players before the draft. Last season, the Miami Dolphins were in talks with four players and eventually signed Michigan tackle Jake Long before officially selecting him at No. 1. The Lions want to put themselves in the same position -- as soon as possible.


http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf...ract_talk.html

SOOO do we trade down once Stafford falls to #3? :shrug:

While Cutler doesn't have the record, many teams view him as a legit future franchise QB. Those don't come cheap, and it only takes 2 teams to drive up the price.