Randall Cobb vs. Titus Young Sr.

The Detroit Lions released wide receiver Titus Young

How organizations (sports or otherwise) acquire talent has always fascinated me, especially in sports. In the 2nd round of the NFL draft the Detroit Lions were looking for a wide receiver to complement Calvin Johnson.  The perfect player would be a 'slot' receiver.  A disciplined route runner with sticky hands, courage and elusive speed.  DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles has become the prototype.
The Lions selected Titus Young of Boise State in the 2nd round (44th overall).  Young had 71 catches for 1,215 yards in his senior season with the Broncos.
Young missed most of his junior season after being suspended by the team for a fight with a teammate.

The Lions must have considered drafting Randall Cobb out of Kentucky that day.  Cobb was a first team All American as a junior in 2010 with 84 catches.  While Young was sitting out his team suspension in 2009, Cobb was voted most inspirational player by his teammates. His coach at Kentucky, Joker Phillips called Cobb "one of the best leaders I've ever been around."

Athletically, they seem to be twins in all measurable categories.  Speed, size, hands, courage all seem equal.  They play the same position. Both are wonderful athletes.  Cobb was selected only 20 picks after Young by Green Bay, which in the world of the NFL draft isn't a real big difference.  But the difference in the end result should be embarrassing to the Lions.

What a stopwatch can never measure is character.  Cobb is one of the NFL's bright young stars after two seasons with the Green Bay Packers.  The Lions are finished with Titus Young Sr. after - slugging a teammate in pre-season and proving to be uncoachable.  Wikipedia can tell you which player had better character.  Why couldn't the Lions spot this?  There might be a legitimate answer to this question but it's something someone should be answering for.

What discussions did the Lions have about Young's character that day?  If he was such a unique talent and that's what they felt the team needed, fine.  Take a chance on a character concern.  I can find no evidence in any pre-draft analysis that there was a difference in the professional skills of Young vs. Cobb.  When two identical talents are available - character should have made this an easy mistake to avoid.