The Detroit Lions are one of the league’s most exciting ascending teams. How many draft picks do they have in the 2023 NFL Draft, and will they be able to use those picks to take the next step in their evolution?
Want to see how the Lions graded out during the 2023 NFL Draft? Then come check out our full Detroit Lions draft grades. You can also see the entire 2023 NFL Draft results.
Detroit Lions Draft Picks Tracker by Round in 2023
- Round 1 | Pick 12 (from ARI via HOU)
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama - Round 1 | Pick 18 overall
Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa - Round 2 | Pick 34 overall
Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa - Round 2, Pick 45 overall (from GB)
Brian Branch, S, Alabama - Round 3 | Pick 68 (from DEN)
Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee - Round 3 | Pick 96 (from ARI)
Brodric Martin, DT, Western Kentucky - Round 5, Pick 152 overall
Colby Sorsdal, OT, William and Mary - Round 7, Pick 219 (from PHI)
Antoine Green, WR, North Carolina - Round 7, Pick 249
How Many Draft Picks Did the Lions Have Entering the 2023 NFL Draft?
The Lions have nine picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. Four of those picks are within the first two rounds, and five are well within the Top 100 selections — giving Detroit much early-round capital to work with.
Most notably, Detroit netted two very valuable picks by dealing two star players — quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams and tight end T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings. They also traded young CB Jeff Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons for a fifth-round selection.
The Stafford trade occurred in the 2021 offseason, and in return, the Lions received 2022 and 2023 first-round picks, as well as Rams QB Jared Goff. The swap has perceivably worked out for both parties. The Rams got the Super Bowl ring they desired, and Goff has taken a leap in a strong offensive system in 2022.
It remains to be seen how the Lions will deal with the QB position, given Goff’s recent strides. But the bottom line is this: Detroit has the capital to be flexible. The Rams struggled in 2022, and the draft pick the Lions acquired from L.A. is now No. 6 overall.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Team Needs
With that pick, Detroit will be able to add a premier talent to their roster, whether at QB or elsewhere. Anthony Richardson has been a popular match, given his raw talent and the presence of Goff as a high-quality bridge. But Richardson has been trending up the draft board throughout the offseason, and he’s now commonly mocked as a top-three selection.
Were the Lions to go with a QB at sixth overall, Will Levis might be the most realistic option at this point. Detroit would be a great fit for Levis, who’s talented, but still has room to keep developing and ironing out his mental game. With the Lions, he’d have time to sit behind Goff, and when Goff needs to be extended, Detroit could then pivot to Levis, with an already-established talent base in place.
Beyond their sixth overall and 18th overall selections, the Lions have two second-round picks, which they can use to potentially capitalize on fringe first-round talents falling down the board. They still have their original third-round selection but gave up their fourth-rounder in the Hockenson deal.
Rounding out their 2023 NFL Draft slate, the Lions have two fifth-round picks, as well as two sixth-round picks — one of which they acquired from the Broncos in a trade that also brought them wide receiver, Trinity Benson. They dealt their original seventh-rounder to the Rams for defensive tackle Michael Brockers.
What Are the Lions’ Draft Picks in 2024?
- Round 1
- Round 2
- Round 3
- Round 3 (from MIN)
- Round 4 (from PHI)
- Round 5
- Round 6
- Round 7
The Detroit Lions currently have seven picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. They have two three-round picks thanks to the T.J. Hockenson trade but also lost their fourth-round pick in that same deal.
