The Detroit Lions are one of the few teams in this draft that seemingly were able to get significantly better at multiple positions, throughout different rounds, and across multiple days of the draft. Any team can make one or two good picks through simple luck, or with little research, relying on consensus evaluation to get them by. I am not saying the teams actually do that; however, my point is that it requires a certain finesse to improve across multiple positions in a single draft class. Detroit was able to do just this, despite trading down in the first round, a feat that makes their aforementioned improvement all that more impressive. To be fair, the Lions did have multiple first round selections, making this improvement just a bit easier, although that too increases the overall difficulty of what they achieved as they had to make the correct selection, from seemingly limitless options, with every one of their selections.
Who did the Detroit Lions Draft?
In the first round alone, Detroit was able to add two clear-cut starters to their roster, one on each side of the ball. Remember, they achieved this, despite the aforementioned trade down within the first round. The first of these two selections were the 12th overall pick in the draft, acquired from Arizona after trading the sixth overall pick and their third-round pick to the Cardinals in exchange for their first round, second round, and fifth round picks. With that 12th selection the Lions selected running back Jahmyr Gibbs – Alabama. The pick was a good one but, more than a bit surprising at the time given the fact that many Lions fans had assumed they had their starting running back in D’Andre Swift. There was the belief that Detroit might seek to add a running back as the team failed re-sign Jamaal Williams and he ultimately moved on and signed with New Orleans. The belief, though, was the team might wait until Day Three to make such a selection. However, the Lions threw quite the curveball as the team traded Swift on Day Three of the draft, as well as a seventh-round pick, sending him to the Eagles in exchange for a 2025 fourth round pick and a seventh-round pick from Philadelphia. By waiting to make this move later in the draft, the team was to keep the rest of the league off their scent in the pursuit of Gibbs.
Gibbs himself was always expected to be drafted in the first round but no one, or very few at least, saw his landing spot being that of the Lions. That said, with Williams gone, and Swift traded later, the selection of Gibbs now appears to present one of the most direct paths for a rookie running back to secure a massive amount of playing time out of all the running backs in this draft class. Keen NFL observers will, of course, point out that Detroit did also sign David Montgomery as a free agent this offseason. While this will certainly serve to limit the upside of Gibbs due to a likely time share, have no doubt that Gibbs will have a significant role in the Detroit offense immediately from the start of the season. He figures to be the speeder and more elusive option of the two players and could be brought in to pick up longer runs and on passing downs as a possible target out of the backfield or options out to line up as a receiver on plays. The more explosive option of the two running back options, the Lions will likely look to get him involved early and often throughout the game as any success he may have in the game is much more likely to translate into wins than that of Montgomery.
Jahmyr Gibbs showing OFF his skills in the receiving game 😳
Gibbs has reportedly “impressed many” with his receiving ability early into OTA’s.
Gibbs said in a recent interview that he expects to be utilized in the “same way” he was at Alabama.
The Lions rookie RB is the… pic.twitter.com/rkKJhZlGIu
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) June 8, 2023
If the Lions had simply made that one selection in the first-round they would have already been well ahead of most teams in their likelihood for improving their win totals next season, however, do not forget, as I mentioned earlier, Detroit had a second pick in the first round. With this additional pick, the 18th overall selection, the team sought to improve the other side of the ball as they selected linebacker Jack Campbell – Iowa. This move, too, was a bit of a surprise for me as I would have thought that linebacker was a bit further down their needs list than this. However, I do not hate the selection of Campbell, I just thought the team might seek to draft a cornerback with their first selection. The selection of Campbell brings the 2022 Butkus Award winner to a Lions defense that has been in desperate need of an infusion of talent. Last season Detroit allowed the third-most passing yards per game, the fourth-most rushing yards per game, and the third-most touchdowns allowed per game. Look for Campbell to help turn around the languishing squad and bring the defense closer on par with the red-hot offense.
After a huge Day One, the second and third round saw similar high-level additions that should quickly allow the Lions to be a competitive force. The first selection Detroit made in Day Two was the 34th overall selection and targeted the offense once again as the team selected tight end Sam LaPorta – Iowa. The addition of LaPorta brings an immediate starter the squad after the Lions traded T.J. Hockenson to the Vikings late last season for a second-round selection in this draft class, as well as a 2024 third round pick. While the selection may have been a bit early in my view, I cannot argue with the results and potential upside LaPorta brings to the team. The selection also addressed an immediate and pressing need, filling the vacancy with a player that will further add to an already incredibly potent offense.
Just eleven picks later with the 45th overall selection, Detroit again flipped back to the other side of the ball seeking to bolster their secondary with the selection of my top-rated safety in the class, Brian Branch – Alabama. In The ORANGE Report I felt Branch would fit on any team he ultimately landed on, as well as at any position he was placed at. With the Lions, Branch has the potential to immediately step into the nickel cornerback role, displacing the recently signed C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Long term, Branch will likely be the eventual starter at free safety when the team decides to move in from current starter Tracy Walker. That move could happen as soon as the conclusion of this season as the team could move on from Walker and his current contract provides just such an out for the team. In either case, Branch should be an immediate and significant contributor as a rookie.
The third round saw Detroit attempt to grab high-upside players a bit earlier than most teams as they used the 68th overall pick on quarterback Hendon Hooker – Tennessee. Hooker was arguably the top of the second tier of quarterbacks in this class and, some argued, he could have been considered the last of the first tier. Hooker had impressive upside and started to gather some nice hype behind him last season before tearing his ACL in November. This injury means he will likely be unable to play at any point in his rookie season. While it is unlikely that he would assume the starting role even if he were completely healed as current starter Jared Goff has quite the hefty contract still in place, all but locking the Lions into playing him in order to justify the money spent on him, Hooker could make a play for the starting role next season as that same Goff contract gets considerably more team-friendly at that point.
#Lions Hendon Hooker is reportedly “way ahead of schedule” in his recovery.
Hooker has looked really good so far early on. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/QefeJ55tPq
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) June 12, 2023
The second pick of the third round that Detroit possessed was the 96th overall selection. Continuing the back-and-forth pattern established over the prior five picks, alternating between one pick made on each side of the ball, the Lions again shifted to the defensive side, this time using their selection on defensive lineman Brodric Martin – Western Kentucky. In selecting Martin, Detroit finds a huge obstacle for opponents to avoid and to have to find ways to run the ball around. Standing 6’-5” tall and weighing 330 pounds, no offensive coordinator in their right might would view many runs up the middle as a viable way to gain much yardage. Initially he will likely rotate with Benito Jones as a rookie, but Jones is on a single year contract and the team may simply move on from him after the season is over, giving Martin a sizable boost in the snaps he could potentially see as soon as his second season.
After making two picks per round over the first three rounds of the draft, the Lions only made two picks total over the course of the final four rounds, almost completely vacating Day Three entirely. The two selections Detroit did make were offensive tackle Colby Sorsdal – William & Mary (pick 152) and wide receiver Antoine Green – North Carolina (pick 219). Surprisingly, these picks do represent some decent value as both Sorsdal and Green appear to be direct back-ups to the current starters and Green could work his way into some four wide receiver sets given the lack of depth within the wide receiver corps. I must admit, when a team finds players in the last round of the draft that could find their way onto the field as a rookie, even sparingly, that is quite impressive.
What grade did the Lions get on their draft?
Detroit had one of the most front-loaded drafts I can remember in recent years, with two picks in each of the first rounds, as such, they would need to fall flat on their face to receive any grade short of an A. Luckily for them, not only did they avoid that fate, they actually thrived and have been both awarded and rewarded with an A+ grade as it relates to short-term value. Conversely, with only two picks on Day Three of the draft, it would be very easy for any team to end up with a lesser grade, in terms of long-term value, due to how difficult it would be to hit on multiple selections. Nonetheless, the Lions did surprisingly well in this area as well, drawing a solid A grade due to their ability to find two players that will directly back-up the starters at their positions with the possibility to step into a starting role in the next season or two. While this draft was one of the most robust of all the teams this season, Detroit did exceptionally well not only identifying their team needs but in matching those needs to players that appear to be able to contribute at some point in the next couple seasons. I dare say that the Lions may have had the best draft in the league this year in terms of the volume of talent that was infused into a single roster. Amazing execution!
