The Detroit Lions have a slight “dilemma” on their hands.
And in this case, to quote wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page, “that’s not a bad thing, that’s a good thing.”
When the NFL Draft kicks off this Thursday, the Lions have the 7th overall pick as of right now.
At No.7, there will be a bevy of premier talent available to them. If they want to draft a wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase or Devonta Smith could be there. And if they decide to go for a linebacker, expect Micah Parsons to be on the board.
Even if they wanted to select a quarterback to sit behind Jared Goff for a few seasons, either Justin Fields, Trey Lance, or Mac Jones should be there. And let’s not forget about their options at offensive lineman. Draft experts project either Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater to still be on the board. Outside of drafting a cornerback at No. 7, there aren’t many prospects their fans are against them selecting.
The possibilities are endless.
If you’re in the Lions front office, this is music to the ears. After all, pairing two newly-hired executives such as Brad Holmes and John Dorsey should signal success, given their track record.
All of this should signal great things for the Lions.
Well, as mentioned above, the Lions do have a slight “dilemma.” And that’s if they should stand pat at No.7 or trade down to a later pick in the first round.
After initiating an impressive overhaul of their front office and coaching staff, the Lions can continue their current streak of excellent moves by doing one thing.
The Lions must trade out of the 7th overall pick.
The Lions have two officials with proven track records of finding talent.
When the Detroit Lions hired Brad Holmes as the new GM and John Dorsey as a senior executive, football enthusiasts in the Motor City rejoiced. For the first time in a long time, the Lions hired some big guns to make football decisions. Both Holmes and Dorsey have proven track records of scouting talent in all draft rounds.
When Holmes was with the Los Angeles Rams, he scouted talents such as Jared Goff, Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, Tyler Higbee, Cam Akers, and many more. During his last seven years with the Rams, they had 25 Pro Bowl selections between the players he scouted.
In the case of John Dorsey, where do you begin? He scouted and drafted Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, and Greg Jennings with the Green Bay Packers. Then he went to Chiefs and did the same thing, drafting Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Kareem Hunt.
Heck, even look at what he did with the Cleveland Browns. Initially, draft experts mocked him for drafting Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward so earlier. It turns out he was right.
With those two sharp minds in the front office, the Lions should be able to find talent, whether it’s with the 7th overall pick or if they traded down. The team is currently going through a rebuild. The Lions need to acquire more bodies and grab as much young talent as possible. Getting draft capital is the best way to do that. If the Lions can trade down to the mid-teens in the first round while acquiring extra picks, it takes the pressure off needing to nail No. 7.
For this example, let’s say drafting an offensive lineman is their goal. If the Lions drafted Penei Sewell at 7th overall, that’s not a bad pick. That’s a tremendous selection. A player like Sewell falling to the Lions is a dream scenario. While their offensive line is the strong unit, passing on a guy like Sewell would be a mistake.
However, picture this.
If the Lions can trade down a few spots, draft Rashawn Slater, and acquire a first-rounder next year plus additional picks, how can a GM pass on that?
The NFL draft is quickly approaching. And the Detroit Lions have tons of options on the table. Now it’s all about which “dilemma” they plan to handle on Thursday.
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