FanHouse LouisDelmas

As expected, the Steelers finally got around to releasing linebacker Larry Foote today. The team's 2002 fifth-round pick hadn't missed a start since 2004, but with the emergence of Lawrence Timmons, Foote became expendable. In fact, last season, Foote was a two-down player, coming off the field in passing situations. And that, along with Timmons' progress and Foote's $2.9 million salary for next season, was enough for the Steelers to make a change.

Foote never made the Pro Bowl during his seven-year career, but he was an integral part of the defense, particularly after Dick LeBeau returned as coordinator in 2004. He was one of the team's most consistent players, and that, along with his age (28), means he won't be out of a job for long.

Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.

Let's face reality. The Detroit Lions could have had ten picks in the first round and still not addressed every hole they had on their team. Instead, they had to make due with two first-rounders, then do the best they could to fill holes over the course of the draft.

There used to be a time when teams would use a first-round pick on a quarterback with the understanding that he would sit on the bench for two or three years, learn the offense, and then assume the full-time gig. Recently, with the proliferation of the pro-style offense in college, and the out-of-control salaries top-of-the-draft quarterbacks now command, more is expected sooner.

Since 2002, 20 QBs have been drafted in Round 1, and 10, for different reasons, played in at least nine games as a rookie. Results were mixed (Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Byron Leftwich and Ben Roethlisberger were all stellar; David Carr and Joey Harrington were not), but much of that had to do with the situation these young signal callers were thrust into.

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The Detroit Lions took all the suspense out of the first pick in Saturday's NFL draft by signing quarterback Matthew Stafford to a six-year contract Friday night. But the Lions made a couple of surprising picks later in the day, drafting Brandon Pettigrew with the 20th pick and Louis Delmas with the 33rd.

Pettigrew is a talented tight end from Oklahoma State who will be a good target for Stafford, but I'm not convnced he was the right pick at 20. I would have preferred a player like Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin or Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis.

With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.

To say the 2008 Dallas Cowboys season was tumultuous wouldn't really be giving credit to the word. The team had suspensions, Jessica Simpsons and the incredible absence of TD-ing. Dallas missed the playoffs after being a favored team going into the season and now has gone through a total redesign.

With Terrell Owens shipped to Buffalo, the passing game will go through Roy Williams, who has never been the player to take control of an offense. Balking on Ray Lewis and sticking with Tony Romo, this crew has a long way to go to be the best in their division, which is the toughest in the NFL. Along with all their obvious holes, the offensive line is a tad thin and the safety position could be improve drastically.

For most of the offseason, people who pontificate about such things had the Lions taking an offensive player with the first-overall pick. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was the popular choice, with offensive tackles Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe also in the mix. But maybe the organization should focus on fixing the defense, which, surprisingly, was the weakest unit on an 0-16 outfit last season.

Linebacker Aaron Curry has been described as the "safest pick of the draft," and has even been mentioned as a potential pre-draft Lions target. And today, after watching the team's final mincamp practice, MLive.com's Tom Kowalski has a suggestion: Detroit should use its first three draft picks to shore up the defense.

Just because you've never heard of anybody in the MAC Conference, doesn't mean there isn't anybody worth watching. With the college football season beginning soon, FanHouse gives you "MAC Daddies," a look at some players you may not yet know about but should.

Louis Delmas is the starting free safety for the Western Michigan Broncos. Odds are you haven't heard of the junior, but offensive coordinators in the MAC sure know who he is. He's caused so much havoc in the middle of the field that they've had to form entire gameplans around Delmas.

Delmas was slowed last season by an ankle injury and only played in 11 games, but still finished with 53 tackles, 4 interceptions and 5 passes defended. In other words, if you threw the ball against the Broncos defense, when it came down, Louis Delmas was in the immediate vicinity.

The thing that has most NFL talent scouts drooling when it comes to Delmas is his amazing closing speed, and his very good instincts. At times when you're watching Delmas it seems as though he knows where the ball is going before the quarterback does. It's not something you can teach, so when you find a player with that type of ability you're extremely grateful. It's also something that NFL teams take notice of come draft day.

When the upcoming season is coming to an end, Western Michigan will probably be sitting atop the West Division yet again. They'll also be one of the conference's top defenses again, if not the best. I also have the feeling that barring a huge season from somebody else, Delmas will be taking Defensive Player of the Year honors in the MAC.