Tyron Smith is being looked at as a potential first round pick for the Lions in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Lets make one thing clear before we began to write this article: The Detroit Lions will not be a playoff team in 2011 if they fail to address the offensive line position.
Matthew Stafford has been taking a beating in his first two NFL seasons, and if the Lions expect their franchise quarterback to get through a complete season, injury-free, then they have to get him some much-needed protection.
While this year's draft class does not have that one dominant offensive tackle like we have seen throughout past drafts, there are some good ones that should begin to fall off the board like rapid fire in the middle of the first round. One of those guys that many believe to be the first offensive tackle off the board, is former USC standout Tyron Smith.
When it comes to offensive tackles, Smith has a ton of great attributes, which make him such a highly touted prospect in this draft. He has good size for a tackle, standing at 6'5" and coming in around 310 pounds. He has the ability to play on either side, which is something that the Lions are looking for in a tackle. But the thing that makes Smith so special is that he still has so much room to grow as a player. His upside is greater than any other tackle in this draft.
Charles Davis of the NFL Network, has Smith falling to the Lions with that No. 13 pick.
"Lions have a RT in Gosder Cherilus, so the projection would be for Smith to move to left tackle in the NFL. If Lions aren't convinced, Anthony Costanzo could be the pick to replace longtime LT Jeff Backus."
That right there is the beauty of Smith being able to play both tackle positions. Backus is getting up there in age, which makes Smith an ideal candidate to replace him at left tackle in a few years. But on the other hand, Cherilus has not exactly set the world on fire with his play in his first couple NFL seasons, so if Detroit likes Smith better at right tackle, they can go in that direction as well.
If former Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara is available with the Lions' first round pick, it will be very hard to look past him, simply because he is a special talent. But the Lions know that they have to address the offensive tackle position one way or another.
Adding a guy like Smith is a long time investment- one that could pay out huge rewards in the future for this Detroit Lions team.
Lance Berkman Reegie Corona Juan Miranda Colin Curtis Kevin Russo Curtis Granderson
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