Author: Monojit Mandal
The Detroit Lions are preparing for the NFL draft, hoping to capitalize on their recent success. For the first season since 2017, the club finished with a winning record, largely due to quarterback Jared Goff, who led them to eight wins in their last ten games.
Goff expressed his enthusiasm and confidence for the 2018 draft, in which the Lions will have the No. 6 and No. 18 overall picks, a pair of second-round picks and five additional picks. This provides general manager Brad Holmes with a plethora of alternatives in his third season with the team.
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The Lions have struggled for decades, failing to win a division title since 1993 and winning just one playoff game since winning the NFL title in 1957. His poor draft record has been one of the reasons for his problems.
However, Holmes, a former Los Angeles Rams executive, helped transform the organization in its first two years by bringing in the right players.
Last year, Holmes had success from top to bottom in the draft, selecting defensive player Aidan Hutchinson in the second round, as well as linebackers Malcolm Rodriguez and James Houston.
The Lions have nine picks in this year’s draft, including a fifth-round pick acquired from Atlanta as part of the trade for CB Jeff Okudah. With four of the top 55 selections, Holmes has the resources to make a risky move, such as moving up to select Alabama standout Will Anderson and putting him in a duo with Hutchinson.
The Lions have a significant gap at defensive tackle, which could make Georgia standout Jalen Carter a strong candidate if the organization is satisfied with his character investigation. Carter visited the Lions this week, indicating that the team is considering picking him.
Despite the Lions’ problems over the years, there is a renewed sense of confidence around the team, which enters the draft with a winning record. With Holmes at the helm, there is optimism that the Lions can continue their upward trajectory and build a club capable of bringing a division title and more postseason triumphs to Detroit.