Empty the Bench

Some call him embattled, others say he’s rotund, while still other NFL observers simply refer to him as Sideshow Matt. To folks like you and me, he’s simply known as Detroit Lions GM Matt Millen, and if there’s one thing (literally, there’s only this one thing) he’s done well at his job is stay in the news. Whether he’s calling a former employee of his a “faggot,” calling out an unnamed current employee (at the time) of his a “coward,” or leading the charge of one of the worst draft-pick streaks in NFL history, a headline and a chuckle with Millen involved is never too far off.

With his team possessing the second overall pick in the draft–and, likely, the keys to the best prospect of the year, one Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech–Millen will probably have the luxury of picking and choosing from a number of suitors eager to trade up into Detroit’s slot. Personally, I’d like to see Johnson line up across from Roy Williams for the Lions, but Millen has a respected reputation to uphold, after all, and it’s widely assumed that he wouldn’t spend a fourth top-10 pick on a wide receiver. As such, much of the speculation has centered on Tampa Bay swapping the four spot for the two spot in exchange for a few extra picks in rounds two and/or three. That would give Jon Gruden a big-league wide receiver, and give Millen a chance to make the wrong pick.

If there’s any truth to a rumor mentioned today by Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks involving the Atlanta Falcons, however, the Bucs would be forced into a bidding war if they were really serious about drafting Johnson. That means that three teams’ fate–Detroit, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay–would rest in the decision-making skills of, that’s right, Matt Millen. Go ahead, cringe with me:

Sources say Falcons owner Arthur Blank has pretty much ordered Atlanta general manager Rich McKay to do everything he can to put the team into position to land Johnson at No. 2. Blank wants Johnson for a couple of reasons. First, Johnson played at Georgia Tech and would help sell tickets to disillusioned Falcons fans who have endured two non-playoff seasons after Atlanta went to the NFC title game in 2004. Second, the Falcons still have their long-standing need of a reliable big-play receiver for quarterback Michael Vick to play pitch and catch with.

With seven picks in the first four rounds (including two second-rounders and three in the fourth), Atlanta definitely has the ammo to make the deal with Detroit. The Falcons could send the Lions their picks at 8, 39 and 44 for the No. 2 spot, and still have a third-rounder and three fourth-rounders to fill other needs.

The Lions are known to covet middle linebacker Patrick Willis of Mississippi and would be perfectly situated at No. 8 to select him. Picking up at least two extra second-rounders in the process would meet Matt Millen’s goal of turning the No. 2 slot into a first-day package of picks. Detroit is likely to draft a quarterback with its own second-round pick at No. 34. Stanford’s Trent Edwards remains slightly favored over Michigan State’s Drew Stanton.

That’d be a great situation for Detroit. By dropping down to eight, they’d still have a shot to fill voids at middle linebacker (Patrick Willis or Paul Pozluszny), safety (LaRon Landry), or tackle (Levi Brown), or even to trade back a bit further and amass even more picks (though the Lions probably want to stay in the top 10 in the first). Either way, four more picks over the next two rounds would give them 10 of the top 154. With those odds, we’re confident he’ll land at least one guy that can be a backup for Detroit. At least.

**UPDATE** Click here for a follow-up interview with Banks on Sports Radio 1130.

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