Lions previous draft grade gets downgraded

Looking back, the Detroit Lions haven’t received much back from the seven selections made in the 2012 NFL Draft.

The draft was highlighted by first round selection, offensive tackle Riley Reiff and second round selection, wide receiver Ryan Broyles.

As if the Lions needed someone telling them this, ESPN’s “draft expert” reassessed the Lions draft and downgraded the performance from a B to C.

Tell me…How does a draft expert change their own grade a year later?

Regardless, he stated ”The big disappointment in this class is Ryan Broyles, who was starting to flash some of the ability that had him on my Big Board before an ACL tear at Oklahoma,” Kiper said. “Well, he tore an ACL again after catching 22 passes. Hopefully he comes back once again, because he has a ton of ability.”

Kiper continued stating the jury is still out on third-rounder Bill Bentley, while Jonte Green (No. 196 overall) “turned into the biggest contributor the Lions got out of the rookie class at cornerback.”

He also noted the Lions didn’t receive much of anything from fifth-round pick linebacker Tahir Whitehead (138th overall) and seventh-round selection linebacker Travis Lewis (223rd overall).

Lions 2012 draft

Round … Pick … Position … Player … College

(1) … 23 … T … Riley Reiff … Iowa

(2) … 54 … WR … Ryan Broyles … Oklahoma

(3) … 85 … CB … Dwight Bentley … Louisiana-Lafayette

(4) … 125 … LB … Ronnell Lewis … Oklahoma

(5) … 138 … LB … Tahir Whitehead … Temple

(5) … 148 … CB … Chris Greenwood … Albion

(6) … 196 … CB … Jonte Green … New Mexico State

(7) … 223 … LB … Travis Lewis … Oklahoma