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Detroit Lions 3.0
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Laione97 DRAFTING FOR THELions
Draft Selections
Draft Picks Received
Draft Picks Traded
Players traded away
Draft Grade — Lions
Overall
C+
ValueC+
NeedB
TradesD
FutureC+
Flashes of a plan, unevenly executed. Lions: C+. You can fall in love with a player. You are not supposed to marry him in the wrong round. The Lions did exactly that with Jacob Rodriguez in pick No. 118. Fine in stretches, shaky in others: a C+.
Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall. Green at that cost is the sort of edge that compounds over a roster. They gave back a little on the phones for the right to move.
They left with cornerback solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.
So much rides on Caleb Lomu that the real verdict is a season or two away.
Pick Analysis
Pick24
Rnd1
Caleb Lomu
In pick No. 24 they get a long-term starter on the line, though they paid up to get him. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Pick50
Rnd2
Jake Slaughter
Jake Slaughter at pick 50 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick76
Rnd3
Keionte Scott
Fair-plus on Keionte Scott, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick88
Rnd3
Keon Sabb
Keon Sabb at the 88th pick is a conviction pick that outran the value. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick106
Rnd4
D'Angelo Ponds
D'Angelo Ponds in slot 106 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick118
Rnd4
Jacob Rodriguez
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Jacob Rodriguez well ahead of where he belonged. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick121
Rnd4
DeMonte Capehart
They reached into another round for DeMonte Capehart, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Pick123
Rnd4
Chase Bisontis
They paid sticker price for Chase Bisontis in slot 123, and that is fine. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick155
Rnd5
Kage Casey
No drama and no debate, Kage Casey went about where he belonged in the Round 5 slot. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick165
Rnd5
LJ Martin
LJ Martin in the 165th pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick180
Rnd5
Davison Igbinosun
Davison Igbinosun at No. 180 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick188
Rnd6
DJ Campbell
No edge and no loss on DJ Campbell in Round 6, Pick 7; it is a wash and a sensible one. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick209
Rnd6
Taylen Green
A quiet steal in the 209th overall pick: Taylen Green for less than the market said. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Pick222
Rnd7
James Smith
They left a pile of value on the table to take James Smith this early at pick No. 222. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
















