Now that you have read my title, let me be clear with my answer to my own question: no, they should not have. This post is going to be mostly a rant, so although I use this blog for practice and try my best to be as professional as possible, I will make an exception on this argument because I am tired of hearing about this. The Lions were in the right to not take a chance on the troubled Janoris Jenkins,even though he is talented and is having a solid season for the St. Louis Rams.
First of all, the arrests that Jenkins has on his record. Jenkins was arrested three times when he was at the University of Florida. The Lions endured seven arrests from four players combined on this roster. On top of Jenkins' arrests, the man has four children with three different women. Two things that I have heard as to reasons how the Lions could be in the mess they are in this season is the distractions from the offseason arrests and not taking a chance on the super-talented Jenkins. If Skittles still had those advertisements where they talk about contradictions, that last sentence would be one of them. Why would you argue both of these as a reason for this awful season, especially put in the same argument? Jenkins had way too many personal problems prior to the last draft for the Lions to take a chance on him.
Next, I will describe the meaning of best player available and needs. Analysts said through last year's draft process that the Lions needs were secondary help and offensive lineman. Many voices I have heard said the Lions should have selected Jenkins in the first round because he filled the most dire need for the team. Let me fully clear about this, cornerback was by far not the biggest need for the team, and Jenkins was not more talented and brought as much impact as actual first round pick Riley Reiff does. Reiff has only started one game this season, but he will be a stalwart at left tackle for the next decade or so while it is unknown how long Jenkins would have lasted with the team and in the NFL in general.
Since there was no way for the Lions to draft Jenkins in the first round, they could have traded up to take him in the second round right? Wrong again. For the Lions to trade up from the 54th overall pick last April to before the 39th (Jenkins was taken with the 39th pick by the Rams), they certainly would of had to trade at least three picks. Now, I know what you are saying, such as Ryan Broyles (who the Lions ended up taking in the 2nd round) was a luxury pick and Dwight Bentley and Ronnell Lewis (3rd and 4th round picks) haven't made much of impact anyways. Let me put it to you guys in two ways: 1. The Lions depth has taken a hit this season, so imagine if we didn't have every single draft pick we had in this draft, and 2.
Every pick Detroit had in the last draft is meant for the future. Sure, I would like to get better for this season, but I would prefer my favorite sports teams to be good for the next 10-15 years as well. So let this draft class develop before rambling on like somebody who has only gained knowledge of football from playing Madden every minute of every day and look at the logistics behind every play and every decision as well.
Is Jannoris Jenkins a good player? No question. Did I want the Lions to get him, especially at all costs? A very big hell no. Football, like every other sport, goes beyond just what players you have on a team, but it also involves the character of the players. With questions of the character on the Lions, the front office had every right to take Jannoris Jenkins off of their board and ignore him.
One single corner is not going to change an entire football team when this is a game that is won in the trenches anyways. So it is not very smart that this season hinges on not taking a guy like Jenkins. So, I will end the argument like this: please everyone, just stop about this subject.
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