Detroit Columnist: Lions Will Pass on Stafford, Take a Left Tackle

Six weeks ago, a general consensus had emerged in the NFL that the Detroit Lions would use the first pick in the draft to select Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford.

But one Detroit reporter insists that the Lions have already ruled out Stafford and are set to pick a left tackle (either Baylor's Jason Smith or Virginia's Eugene Monroe) with the first choice.

In a column headlined "Lions will draft a left tackle with their No. 1 pick," Lions beat reporter Tom Kowalski of MLive.com makes it as clear as can be that Detroit has already made up its mind that Smith or Monroe will be wearing Honolulu blue and silver.

Kowalski writes:

I'm more and more convinced that the Lions are going to draft a left tackle. It's going to be Baylor's Jason Smith or Virginia's Eugene Monroe and the selection between those two will most likely be based on the contract negotiations leading up to the draft. ...

There are still six weeks before the draft and a lot of things are going to change. Players at the top of the board will see their stock ebb and flow but the one thing that won't change is the Lions' commitment to building their team in the trenches first. That's why it's going to be a left tackle at that No. 1 spot.

I'm not convinced that the Lions have already eliminated Stafford (or Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry) from their draft board, but I do think Monroe and Smith have to be considered the safer bets for the top pick. And the Lions are in desperate need of a first-overall pick who doesn't bust.