The Detroit Lions' selection of Auburn's Nick Fairley with the 13th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft is proof of why teams should draft for talent, not for need.
Ostensibly, the Lions didn't need Fairley. They already have Ndamukong Suh, one of the league's premier defensive tackles entering just his second NFL season. Another defensive tackle wasn't really a need or a priority.
But if top five talent lands in your lap, are you really going to argue?
Yes, in my book, Fairley was a top five player in the 2011 NFL Draft class. I don't care that he "only had one dominant year" at Auburn. All I need to know is: how dominant was it, and was it his most recent year? Is there any reason to believe he would regress? No. Okay, then. He's a top five player.
For some odd reason, though, teams like the Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings chose to make desperation picks instead of value picks, and Fairley slipped to the Lions at 13. It only seems appropriate that Detroit should start catching some breaks like these, though. How many years have the Lions been the butt of every NFL joke? How many years have they been embarrassed on Thanksgiving Day?
I like the direction Jim Schwartz has his team headed, and I love the pairing of Fairley and Suh. A lot of folks are comparing it to the old Williams Wall in Minnesota, but Kevin Williams and Pat Williams weren't major pass-rush threats. Both Suh and Fairley are. This wall won't just be on the defensive, it will go on the offensive at all.
Good luck, NFC North offenses.
Grade: A+
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