With the ninth pick in the NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected safety linebacker Ernie Sims of Florida State. Sims stock has risen the past few weeks, but like Donte Whitner, he wasn't expected to be selected until the second half of round one. Sims was selected before linebackers Chad Greenway, DeMeco Ryans, and Kamerion Wimbley.
The Lions originally wanted Michael Huff, but the Raiders selected him. Sims was apparently their next best player on their board, sticking with defense. They could have selected Matt Leinart, but instead are staying with Josh McCown or Jon Kitna.
Scouting Information on Sims: Ernie Sims is a linebacker coming out of Florida State. He could have stayed in college for another year, but he has decided to leave a year early to enter the NFL draft. He has followed the same roots as his father, who also played for Florida State back in the late '70s. This past season, he had 72 tackles with 2.5 sacks and 2 interceptions.
Sims has been a starter for the Gators the past two years. He has played in every single game possible during his college career, showing that he has not been prone to injury in his career. Sims has good speed for his position along with quickness to catch up with offensive players. His instincts are fairly sharp and its difficult to take him out of a game. He also has strength to go along with his speed, which allows him take the ball carrier down most of the time. His size isn't the most ideal for a linebacker though, which is his only downfall. He will sometimes overpursue the ball carrier, allowing them to pick up a few extra yards. He also had some character issues regarding his girlfriend last year, but most teams are overlooking that and are focusing on his talent.