The Detroit Lions obviously do not know what a Pro Bowl quarterback looks like.

The last time a Detroit quarterback went to the Pro Bowl was 1972 (Greg Landry). The Lions have used a first-round draft choice on a quarterback three times since then and whiffed each time: Chuck Long in 1986, Andre Ware in 1990 and Joey Harrington in 2002.

Three strikes and you're out, right? Not when it comes to quarterbacks. If you don't have one in the NFL, you don't stand a chance. The Lions won three NFL titles in the 1950s in large part because they had a Hall of Fame quarterback in Bobby Layne. So the search continues.

Georgia's Matthew Stafford is the top-rated quarterback in the 2009 NFL draft, and the Lions have the first overall selection. Coincidentally, Stafford attended the same high school as Layne — Highland Park in suburban Dallas. So pencil in Stafford to the Lions at the top of this draft board.

This mock draft is based on my draft board of the top 32 players:

1. Detroit

Matthew Stafford. QB, Georgia

Lions are hoping Stafford can be their next Bobby Layne

2. St. Louis

Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

Huge hole at left tackle with release of Orlando Pace

3. Kansas City

Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest

The NFL's 31st-ranked defense needs a playmaker

4. Seattle

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Seahawks desperate for a threatening offensive weapon

5. Cleveland

B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

Success starts with run defense in AFC North

6. Cincinnati

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

Bengals need WR/KR to replace T.J. Houshmandzadeh

7. Oakland

Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Raiders need more weapons to give QB Russell a chance

8. Jacksonville

Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

Jaguars allowed 42 sacks last season

9. Green Bay

Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

Going to a 3-4, the Packers get best 3-4 DE in draft

10. San Francisco

Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

Success has always started at QB for the 49ers

11. Buffalo

Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State

The NFL's 29th-ranked pass rush needs help

12. Denver

Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

Without Jay Cutler, the Broncos need a quarterback

13. Washington

Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas

Like Buffalo, the Redskins managed only 24 sacks in 2008

14. New Orleans

Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

The NFL's 23rd-ranked pass defense needs a shutdown corner

15. Houston

Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee

Pro Bowler DE Mario Williams had 12 of Texans' 25 sacks

16. San Diego

Rey Maualuga, MLB, USC

Maualuga plays with same reckless abandon as Junior Seau

17. NY Jets

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

Jets need to replace the speed of Laveranues Coles

18. Denver

Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi

The NFL's 29th-ranked defense needs across-the-board help

19. Tampa Bay

Beanie Wells, HB, Ohio State

With Gruden gone, Bucs become power-oriented on offense

20. Detroit

Ziggy Hood, DT, Missouri

Detroit's two starting DTs gone from a year ago

21. Philadelphia

Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Okla. St.

Eagles lost TE L.J. Smith in free agency

22. Minnesota

Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

Vikes need a physical presence in 18th-ranked pass defense

23. New England

Clay Matthews, OLB, USC

Bill Belichick also coached Clay's dad at Cleveland

24. Atlanta

Brian Cushing, OLB, USC

The Falcons lost their two starting OLBs in free agency

25. Miami

James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio State

Give him a month and Laurinaitis will be running Miami D

26. Baltimore

Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

Another gift for the Ravens — great player, bad workout

27. Indianapolis

Knowshon Moreno, HB, Georgia

Joseph Addai can't stay healthy, so help is on the way

28. Philadelphia

LeSean McCoy, HB, Pitt

McCoy is a clone of Brian Westbrook

29. NY Giants

Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi

Gives Giants the luxury of moving Dave Diehl back to G

30. Tennessee

Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers

Deep speed eases pressure on Pro Bowl RB Chris Johnson

31. Arizona

Donald Brown, HB, Connecticut

NFL's worst rushing attack gets a boost

32. Pittsburgh

Alex Mack, C, California

Steelers need to re-establish identity as running team