http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...604270559/1049
Drafting a QB? It could happen
Millen: Lions will consider it at No. 9
Believe it or not -- and be careful what you believe this time of year -- the Lions could take a quarterback Saturday with the ninth pick in the NFL draft.
President Matt Millen insisted Wednesday they were giving it a lot of thought.
"Rod and I have talked about this a bunch of times," Millen said, seated next to coach Rod Marinelli at a pre-draft news conference. "In fact, that particular thing, we were just talking about it not five minutes ago. And the reality of it is, do you consider it? Absolutely you have to consider it."
The Lions drafted Joey Harrington third overall in 2002. But their quarterback of the future is now another quarterback of the past.
And according to Millen, of the top three QBs available this year -- Southern Cal's Matt Leinart, Texas' Vince Young and Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler -- the Lions like one above the others.
So if they consider that guy the best player on the board, you never know. The Lions just might add him to a depth chart that already includes free-agent signees Jon Kitna and Josh McCown, not to mention 2005 fifth-round pick Dan Orlovsky.
"We have three quarterbacks on our roster that we like, but yeah, we'd consider it," Millen said. "We consider all options."
Most analysts expect the Lions to take a linebacker or defensive back at No. 9. Texas defensive back Michael Huff is a popular choice.
A team that has gone 21-59 over the last five years seems to need someone who can fill a void and make an impact right away, not someone who will sit on the bench and take time to develop.
But Millen has a history of going after offense in the first round (all of his six picks in five years) and doing the unexpected (three wide receivers the last three years), and he seems to have security as he enters a five-year contract extension.
Asked how much serious thought the Lions really were giving to taking a quarterback at No. 9, Millen said: "Honestly, a lot of thought. It would be the right spot for a guy."
The Lions could do with a quarterback what they didn't do with Harrington: Let him learn. Millen said the Lions would have the luxury of carrying four quarterbacks.
"We have good players here now," Millen said. "We could afford to bring a guy in and bring him along, not just throw him right in. That's a good position to be in for a young quarterback."
Told people would think this was just a smokescreen to entice other teams to trade up, Millen said: "Well, I would expect them to think that. That's good. You know, the great thing about now is, you can tell the truth and everybody thinks you're lying, you can lie and they think you're telling the truth, so they can think what they want to think."
Asked if he was telling the truth, Millen said. "I always tell the truth."
He smiled, then added: "That's a lie."