Which positions are realistic targets for the Detroit Lions’ first-round pick?
The Detroit Lions are scheduled to select late in the 2024 NFL Draft thanks to an incredible postseason run. However, that has an unintended side effect: projecting their first-round pick is a toss-up.
Ignoring the potential that the Lions trade out of pick 29, picking late in the draft means multiple players across multiple positions become viable options. Back in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Lions held the second-overall selection, a pick with far fewer realistic possibilities. The Lions walked away from that class with Aidan Hutchinson, and while the 2024 class could be equally fruitful, predicting who the Lions will pick is a tough ask.
General manager Brad Holmes has not shied away from selecting his perceived best player available, and that is unlikely to change this year. Yet while the notion of “BPA” has its merits, it only goes so far. Could the Lions really justify taking a quarterback in the first round? The draft is about blending the best-available talent with organizational needs, not one or the other. As a result, some positions become more realistic than others.
Today’s Question of the Day is:
Which positions are realistic options for the Lions in the first round?
My answer: Let’s break it down by position.
Quarterback: Even if a top prospect slides to the Lions’ draft pick, I extremely doubt Detroit would select them.
Running back: After spending a first-round pick on Jahmyr Gibbs to pair with David Montgomery, spending another first on a running back seems unlikely, especially in a weak class.
Wide receiver: Receiver is a very realistic option following the departure of Josh Reynolds. In a stacked draft class, Holmes might even want to move up for his guy.
Tight end: Doubtful, given the success of Sam LaPorta and re-signing of Brock Wright.
Offensive line: An argument could be made for every position along the offensive line. They wouldn’t be a starter for 2024, but it would be a much-needed contingency plan for Taylor Decker, Kevin Zeitler, or Frank Ragnow.
Defensive end: The Lions added to their pass rushing group thing offseason, but do they have a sure-fire starter aside from Hutchinson? Picking an edge in the first is more than possible.
Defensive tackle: Some might overlook defensive tackle after signing DJ Reader, but given his age and injury, an insurance policy and heir would make sense—Jer’Zhan Newton would be a great fit.
Linebacker: Both the starters and backups are set, and while there might be room for a player or two, I doubt it comes via the first round.
Cornerback: The Lions are likely to miss out on the top prospects, but cornerback remains a very likely target.
Safety: Unless you consider Cooper DeJean a safety, this class does not have a lot of early-draft talent with Tyler Nubin and Javon Bullard the next-best prospects. Could it happen? Yes, but I don’t see it as realistic. A more likely option is to target a nickel to free up Brian Branch.
Special teams: No.
In total, there are six positions that I view as likely targets in the first round (eight if you want to split offensive line into tackle, guard, and center). Part of this is due to the Lions drafting late in the first round, but it is largely a result of excellent roster maneuvering under Holmes. The Lions have not painted themselves into a corner entering the draft. Holmes used free agency to top off their concerning needs, meaning the Lions can go any direction in the draft—there are no positions they need to draft for immediate help.
How many positions do you think the Lions could target in the first round of the NFL Draft? Let us know in the comments below.