Possible Trade Partners?

So this is the current draft order leading up to the Leos pick this Thursday.

1. Carolina
2. Denver
3. Buffalo
4. Cincinnati
5. Arizona
6. Cleveland
7. San Francisco
8. Tennessee
9. Dallas
10. Washington
11. Houston
12. Minnesota
13. Detroit

Now the going theory is always to trade down if possible.  Why?  Because the draft is a complete crap shoot and the more bullets you have the better chance you've got of hitting on some real players. I am almost always on the "trade down" bandwagon.

At least I was until this year.  This year, the Lions have a definite defined need.  Heck, they have two no arguing about it needs--CB and OLB.  Last year was the first year in the last four that the Lions did not finish dead last in pass defense, but the two corners that played the most down the stretch, Alphonso Smith and Chris Houston, cannot necessarily be counted on for next year.  Houston is a free agent and Smith flaked out the last few games.  The Lions need at least one new corner. 

As for OLB, last year the Lions started the season with Zach Follett and Julian Petersen.  Petersen is not coming back and Follett may never play again due to a brutal spinal injury.  Now, unless they get some kind of sweet heart deal to move back (which is not going to happen) they are currently in no man's land in regards to addressing their current needs.  There simply isn't an OLB in this draft worthy of the the 13th overall pick.  There are two CB's worthy, but who'll most likely be gone.  Patrick Petersen, CB, LSU and Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska are the two gold standard corners in this draft and both will likely be gone by the time the Lions are on the clock.

Now, I've seen a lot of mocks with the Lions getting lucky enough to have Amukamara fall to them, but I've seen just as many that have Houston, Dallas, or Minnesota snagging them up--and Minnesota is famous for stealing players the Lions desperately need. 

So they cannot count on getting lucky.  They could sit and wait and hope that the Prince is there...but it's very risky and if he's not the Lions will be stuck with taking an OT (which might be a pretty good consolation prize) or reaching for CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado, who has all the talent in the world but a rap sheet not unlike your average gang-banger.

There are other corners and linebackers that can be had in the second through fourth rounds, but the if you need starters, and the Lions do, you'd have to pick multiple CBs and LBs just to make sure you hit on one.  Might not be a bad idea to do that anyway, but the Lions only have six picks.

So here's what I think is going to happen.  The Lions have a history of making deals with Dallas, who is in need of offensive line help and hold the #9 pick.  Jim Schwartz has a very good relationship with the Tennessee Titans who hold the #8 pick.  I foresee Patrick Petersen getting picked up either by Arizona or San Francisco.  If 'Zona picks Petersen, most likely Frisco will pick the Prince...but if Petersen gets by the Cardinals that'll leave Prince on the board.  The Lions will need to jump ahead of Minnesota and Houston to get their hands on Amukamara, which is why I see the Lions giving the #13, a third rounder this year, and a second next year to move up from #13 to #8 and fill arguably the most pressing need on the team.