DETROIT - How much can one draft-day deal mean?
This is bound to be confusing, so we'll go slowly.
Cleveland coach Butch Davis, whose team had the seventh pick in the NFL draft in the spring, really wanted to deal up to No. 2 to get Robert Gallery, probably the best offensive tackle prospect since Jonathan Ogden and/or Orlando Pace. But Oakland ignored his entreaties and snagged Gallery.
Next on Davis' list was Miami tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., and the Browns coach was so paranoid about going 0-for-2 that he made what many observers felt was an unnecessary deal with the Detroit Lions.
The Lions agreed to switch first-round draft spots - dropping one spot, from sixth to seventh - if the Browns sweetened the pot by throwing in a second-round pick.
Cleveland agreed. Detroit then later traded that pick to gain a second first-round pick.
The end result? The Lions took the receiver they were going to take all along, Roy Williams of Texas, with the early pick, and then got one of the two best running backs available in Kevin Jones of Virginia Tech.
Those two rookies will be key players as the Lions take the next step toward respectability under second-year coach Steve Mariucci.
Williams' addition to the receiving corps provides a very positive trickle-down effect.
He will team with Charles Rogers to give the Lions a 1-2 punch at wideout, with Tai Streets, signed as a free agent from the 49ers, providing yet another rangy outside threat. All are in the 6-3, 208-pound range.
Their presence allows 5-10 Az-Zahir Hakim to return to the slot position where he made a name for himself while playing for the St. Louis Rams.
Hakim, who has been injury-plagued in two seasons with Detroit, has never been as productive as a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver even when healthy. Now he moves back to where he can do the most damage.
"Az was incredible with the Rams when he had Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce around him," Lions quarterback Joey Harrington said. "Az is the kind of guy you can game-plan to put him in mismatches. You can put him on a linebacker or on a strong safety and he'll make those guys miss nine times out of 10."
Hakim won't have to block as much while being used primarily in pass-only situations.
"Hopefully this is perfect for everyone," Hakim said. "If everybody contributes this could be a special team."
Harrington certainly has been given the weapons to improve on a rather woeful 62.2 passer rating compiled during his first two seasons. Based on the talent around him, it would appear that this is put-up, shut-up time for the popular young quarterback.
Jones is a major weapon who rushed for 1,647 yards - a 5.9 per-carry average - and 21 touchdowns after following Lee Suggs, now with Cleveland, as the starter for the Hokies.
He was hampered first by a hamstring injury and then by a sprained foot during the preseason, a negative that was turned into something of a positive by the development of Artose Pinner as a contributor at running back.
Jones missed the first and last exhibition games, but in between carried 13 times for 63 yards against Cleveland and Baltimore.
With a couple tight ends who can catch and block equally well and an offensive line that is improved from the one that allowed just 11 sacks a year ago, the Lions appear to be capable of running up possession time - tremendously important, considering the defense is suspect - and points.
The key was the draft, with an assist from Cleveland's Davis.
Contact Dave Hackenberg at:
dhack@theblade.com
or 419-724-6398.
First Published September 10, 2004, 1:09 p.m.
