Morning Lions Links for Wednesday 4-30-14

Lions Articles:

National Media:

A look at the Lions' RB cap since 2010: http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/7355/a-look-at-the-lions-rb-cap-since-2010

Lions NFL draft preview: Running backs: http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/7345/lions-nfl-draft-preview-running-backs

The only good option is to extend fifth-year options: http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2014-04-29/nfl-fifth-year-option-rookies-2011-contracts-trade-draft-picks-team-advantage-fairley-smith-pouncey

Pre-Draft NFL Roster Rankings (he ranks the Lions roster 11): http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/47034/59/pre-draft-nfl-roster-rankings?pg=2

Local Media:

Mathis: 'I feel like I will be better than I was last year': http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Rashean-Mathis-I-feel-like-I-will-be-better-than-I-was-last-year/b5ecbbb5-38f3-4c78-b726-f35cdc09afb7

Lions Gab: Let's stop vilifying Suh over voluntary minicamp: http://www.freep.com/article/20140430/SPORTS01/304300082/detroit-lions-gab-ndamukong-suh

Five reasons the 2-week delay of the NFL draft is a bad idea: http://oplions.blogspot.com/2014/04/five-reasons-2-week-delay-of-nfl-draft.html

Lions notes: The latest on Carlin Isles: http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2014/4/29/5661970/lions-notes-carlin-isles

2014 Draft:

National Media:

Five NFL draft surprise predictions (one of the predictions is that the Lions will trade up and draft Watkins): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000345266/article/five-nfl-draft-surprise-predictions

Better NFL career: Jernigan or Donald?: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000345295/article/will-timmy-jernigan-or-aaron-donald-have-bigger-impact-in-nfl

Davis: Clowney surviving, Bridgewater scuffling (Gilbert picked as one of the players knocked off course): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000345311/article/clowney-surviving-bridgewater-fading-in-nfl-draft-spotlight

Report: Medical issue knocks Wisconsin LB Borland off one team's draft board: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000345310/article/report-lb-chris-borland-off-one-teams-draft-board

Billboard lauds Tide DB Clinton-Dix as first-rounder a week early in hometown: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000345157/article/billboard-trumpets-ha-ha-clintondix-as-firstrounder

Mayock: Notre Dame's Martin could emerge as top 10 draft pick: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000345483/article/mayock-zack-martin-could-go-in-top-10-of-2014-nfl-draft

2014 NFL Draft: Amazing array of pro-ready talent at wide receiver: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/24544898/nfl-draft-amazing-array-of-pro-ready-talent-at-wide-receiver

Watkins leads a skilled, diverse class of receivers: http://q.usatoday.com/2014/04/29/top-five-wide-receivers-nfl-draft-sammy-watkins-mike-evans/

Safe or surprise? Breaking down Round 1 options for teams in 2014 NFL draft (For the Lions the safe route is CB Gilbert, the surprise route is LB Shazier): http://nfl.si.com/2014/04/29/2014-nfl-draft-safe-or-surprise/

Analyzing Khalil Mack's potential: http://mmqb.si.com/2014/04/29/nfl-draft-khalil-mack-university-at-buffalo/

The SI 64, No. 1: QB Teddy Bridgewater: http://nfl.si.com/2014/04/29/2014-nfl-draft-top-64-teddy-bridgewater/

NFL Draft Rankings: Is 2014 offensive line talent better than last year's draft?: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/nfl-draft-rankings--is-2014-offensive-line-talent-better-than-last-year-s-draft-203440510.html

Team-by-team Visits & Workouts: http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/47031/271/team-by-team-visits--and--workouts?pg=2

What the Lions should do in the 2014 NFL Draft: http://www.examiner.com/article/what-the-lions-should-do-the-2014-nfl-draft

Edge Rusher Final Big Board: http://www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2014/04/2987/

Local Media:

NFC North: 2014 Draft primer: http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/NFC-North-2014-Draft-primer/82ffd7f5-0702-4e9f-98fa-0d82b71b102e

Lions draft target Watkins thinks a team will trade up for him: http://www.freep.com/article/20140429/SPORTS01/304290152/detroit-lions-sammy-watkins-jon-gruden

Lions' NFL draft: ODU's Brown has uncanny knack for onside kicks: http://www.freep.com/article/20140429/SPORTS01/304290022/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-kicker-josh-brown

EMU's Coleman hoping to latch on with Lions after getting 'lost in the shuffle': http://www.freep.com/article/20140429/SPORTS01/304290127/detroit-lions-eastern-michigan-football

Exploring Lions' draft needs: QBs: http://www.freep.com/article/20140430/SPORTS01/304300064/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-quarterbacks

Lions' NFL draft: Gruden sees a couple of QBs could fit as long-term backups: http://www.freep.com/article/20140430/SPORTS01/304300067/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-backup-quarterbacks

NFL receiving prospect Sammy Watkins drops hints about team trading up for him: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140429/SPORTS0101/304290099/0/sports0101/NFL-receiving-prospect-Sammy-Watkins-drops-hints-about-team-trading-up-him

A new WR enters conversation for Detroit Lions in latest ESPN mock drafts: http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/04/a_new_wide_receiver_enters_con.html

NFL Draft 2014: Cody Latimer ascending, Falcons eye Clowney, plus more news and rumors: http://www.mlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/04/2014_nfl_draft_latimer_falcons.html

Jon Gruden: Clemson's Tajh Boyd, San Jose State's David Fales are QB options for Detroit Lions: http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/04/jon_gruden_clemsons_tajh_boyd.html

Detroit Lions 2014 NFL draft prospect: Buffalo LB Khalil Mack: http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/04/detroit_lions_2014_nfl_draft_p_23.html

Sammy Watkins Believes Team Will Trade Up For Him: http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/04/29/sammy-watkins-believes-team-will-trade-up-for-him/

Miscellaneous:

Ex-Detroit Lions receiver Titus Young in hospital as criminal case is delayed again: http://www.freep.com/article/20140429/SPORTS01/304290157/detroit-lions-nfl-titus-young

Uniquely detroit: inside the pontiac silverdome (That's sad to see what has become of it. I wish the Lions still played there): http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/live-in-the-d/uniquely-detroit-inside-the-pontiac-silverdome/25711274