NEWSLETTER
The Lions had a surprising season in 2022 after going 9-8 and barely missing the playoffs with quarterback Jared Goff. Rookie Aidan Hutchinson had a solid year with 9.5 sacks for head coach Dan Campbell as the team now turns its focus to the 2023 NFL Draft.
Here’s what you need to know about the Detroit Lions draft picks for 2023.
Detroit Lions Draft Picks in the 2023 NFL Draft
The Lions have two first-round picks including No. 6 overall thanks to trading quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021 offseason. The Lions got a first-round pick and QB Jared Goff in return. Goff had a strong season throwing 29 touchdowns while making the pro bowl for the NFC. Here’s a quick look at the Lions’ draft picks for 2023.
– 1st Round: 6th overall (from L.A. Rams)
– 1st Round: 18th overall
– 2nd Round: 48th overall
– 2nd Round: 55th overall (from Vikings)
– 3rd Round: 81st overall
– 5th Round: 152nd overall
– 6th Round: 183rd overall (from Broncos)
– 6th Round: 194th overall
The second-round pick comes from the Vikings after a mid-season trade of tight end T.J. Hockenson. It falls at No. 55 in the 2023 NFL Draft order. Plenty of options are available for the Lions with their two 2023 first-round picks. But what the team will do with the two picks remains to be seen.
Lions 2023 Mock Drafts and Team Needs
The Lions have made some moves in free agency. The team struck deals with free agents Cam Sutton, David Montgomery, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Sutton and Gardner-Johnson will boost the secondary while Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is glad the team brought in a running back after losing Jamaal Williams to the Saints.
Several mock drafts have the Lions kicking off their eight picks by adding another player to the secondary at the No. 6 overall pick. One option could be cornerback Christian Gonzalez from Oregon.
The Lions could also add another edge rusher to help out defensive end Aidan Hutchinson by drafting Nolan Smith from Georgia. Smith had 20 career sacks as part of a strong defensive front for Georgia in his career.
As for the pick at No. 18, the Lions have options on both sides of the ball in defensive tackle Bryan Bresee from Clemson, tight end Michael Mayer from Notre Dame, and more. The team has playmakers at wide receiver in Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Adding Montgomery in free agency is a nice addition to the skill players helping out Jared Goff.
2022 Lions Draft Recap: Jameson Williams and Aidan Hutchinson
The Lions also had two first-round picks in 2022. They selected Aidan Hutchinson with the second-overall pick. They added wide receiver Jameson Williams at No. 12 overall. It was a solid Round 1 as they were one of the best teams coming out of Round 1.
Hutchinson went on to have a great rookie season as the team finished second in the NFC North. They just missed the playoffs but had their best campaign since 2017.
When is the 2023 NFL Draft?
The upcoming 2023 NFL Draft is an eagerly anticipated event that will take place in Kansas City, Missouri. The draft is scheduled to run for three days, starting on April 27th with the First Round selections, which will air live on NFL Network and ESPN at 8 p.m. ET.
The second and third rounds of the draft will take place on April 28th, beginning at 7 p.m. ET, while the last rounds of the draft will commence on April 29th, starting at noon ET. NFL fans can expect an exciting few days as teams choose the next crop of football talent to join their ranks.
Detroit Lions Draft FAQs
The 2023 NFL Draft takes place on April 27-29. The event runs from Thursday to Saturday. It begins with the first round on Thursday at 8 p.m. eastern time.
The Lions have eight draft picks including the number six overall pick. Their picks include two first, two second, one third, one fifth, and two sixth-round picks. The Lions don’t have a fourth or seventh-round pick in the draft.
General manager Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions have two first-round picks in this year’s draft. They select the 6th and 18th picks in April for the 2023 draft.
