Kevin Seifert writes about how the Detroit Lion's choice to draft Matthew Stafford three years ago was controversial at the time, but panned out:
Was it just three years ago when we were all arguing about who the Detroit Lions should select with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2009 draft? The Lions narrowed their options to Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, Baylor offensive lineman Jason Smith and Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry.
Curry was the choice of Lions fans wary of highly-drafted quarterbacks and desperately hoping for an improved defense.
Traditionalists wanted to draft Smith to replace what seemed to be an aging Jeff Backus.
The Lions, as it turned out, were sold on Stafford for months before the draft and negotiated with Smith and Curry only to aid their leverage with Stafford's agent.
I was reminded of those times this week when the St. Louis Rams, who drafted Smith No. 2 overall, demoted him to second-team right tackle. Curry, drafted No. 4 by the Seattle Seahawks, moved to the Oakland Raiders last season and is sidelined for the moment by a knee injury he reportedly sought stem-cell treatment for.
Stafford, I'm told, threw for 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns last season.
To be clear, there weren't many people arguing from a public perspective that Stafford was the slam-dunk choice, myself included. It's hard to argue with it now.Stafford so far has only played one full season, so it is still too early to tell exactly how his career will pan out. However, he has a young and talented receiver corp that includes Calvin Johnson, probably the best wide receiver in the game. His health is still a concern, since in this year's preseason he already injured his hand with a broken blood vessel. Luckily, doctors say that he will be ready to play by the start of the regular season.
I'm cautiously optimistic with the Lion's future, especially if their running game and secondary improves, which it must if they wish to make a strong run to the post-season.
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