NFL Draft Grades - Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions' 2025 Draft Selections

2024 Pick 24. (R:1 P:24) - Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Grade: A+
I bet the Lions were absolutely shocked that Terrion Arnold was still on the board at No. 24. He wasn't going to last until No. 29, so I like Detroit moving up five spots to land someone who was considered the top cornerback in the draft by some. Detroit desperately needed a cornerback in the wake of Cam Sutton's arrest, and Arnold seems like an instant upgrade.

2024 Pick 61. (R:2 P:29) - Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Grade: A+
The Lions may not have trouble stopping the pass much longer. I love that they're attacking cornerback, given how much of a weakness it has been in the past. Ennis Rakestraw provides amazing value because he was discussed as someone who could sneak into the end of the opening round. I'm surprised he lasted this long.

2024 Pick 126. (R:4 P:26) - Giovanni Manu, OT, British Columbia
Grade: MILLEN
Sorry, Lions fans, for giving you a Millen grade, but this isn't the best selection. Giovanni Manu is a late-round prospect, so had Detroit made this pick a round later, I wouldn't have minded it. However, surrendering a third-round pick in 2025 to get him is a huge mistake. A huge, kielbasa type of mistake.

2024 Pick 132. (R:4 P:32) - Sione Vaki, S, Utah
Grade: C
I don't think the Lions needed to trade up for Sione Vaki, who fits the range as a fourth-round prospect. Vaki is just a mediocre prospect, but he does fill a need, as Detroit needed to find more help for the secondary.

2024 Pick 164. (R:5 P:29) - Jaylin Simpson, S, Auburn
Grade: A+
I love Jaylin Simpson as a prospect. He's a highly instinctive safety who can challenge for a starting job right away. Simpson needs to bulk up, but this is a great pick, as I thought Simpson could be chosen in the third round.

2024 Pick 201. (R:6 P:25) - Micah Abraham, CB, Marshall
Grade: B-
I had Micah Abraham as my Mr. Irrelevant, so while this is a reach, it's not a very egregious one in the middle of the sixth round. The need makes sense for the Colts, who had to find another cornerback.

2024 Pick 205. (R:6 P:29) - Jawhar Jordan, RB, Louisville
Grade: A
I love this pick, as the Texans are adding an element to their offense they didn't possess. Jawhar Jordan is a small back who can't handle a full workload, but he has explosive ability and can go the distance, much like Keaton Mitchell.

2024 Pick 249. (R:7 P:29) - Ladarius Henderson, OT/G, Michigan
Grade: A
Here's a nice bargain for the Texans. LaDarius Henderson was projected to go a round or two earlier than this. He can play both guard and tackle, though he'll likely have to settle for the former in the NFL. Protection for C.J. Stroud had to be added.

Past Grades and Selections

2024 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2024 Detroit Lions - Prospect:TBD

2023 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2023 Pick 6. (R:1 P:6) - Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State A The Cardinals had to move up ahead of the Raiders to draft Paris Johnson. This is the prospect Kyler Murray wanted, so it's hard to hate this selection. Arizona had to find someone to protect Murray, given that Murray hasn't been able to play a full season in the NFL yet. No one could have hated the Cardinals for picking Johnson at No. 3, so moving down three spots for him was great management.

2023 Pick 18. (R:1 P:18) - Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa B- I had Jack Campbell going to the Lions in the second round. However, this is not like the Will McDonald selection because I've had Campbell going in the 20s on occasion, as we knew there was some interest from teams in that range. Campbell will also fill a huge need for Detroit. Still, I wish the Lions would have traded down for Campbell.

2023 Pick 48. (R:2 P:17) - Cody Mauch, G, North Dakota State B I'm not sure why the Buccaneers moved ahead of the Steelers for Cody Mauch, given that Pittsburgh drafted an offensive lineman yesterday. Still, this is a solid pick. The Buccaneers had a huge need on the offensive line, and Mauch is a rock-steady, plug-and-play guard.

2023 Pick 55. (R:2 P:24) - Rashee Rice, WR, SMU
C- The Chiefs traded up, so they must have gone after one of the Tennessee receivers. Apparently not. Rashee Rice projects as a solid No. 2 receiver in the NFL, unlike Jalin Hyatt. Given how many talented receivers were still available, I don't know why Kansas City thought it had to trade up, especially for this player.

2023 Pick 81. (R:3 P:18) - Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
B+ The rebuilding process is about to begin for the Titans, who could be trading Derrick Henry in the near future. Tyjae Spears is a complete back who could take over as the starter in the near future. He makes sense in this range.

2023 Pick 152. (R:5 P:17) - Colby Sorsdal, OT, William & Mary
C+ This is a bit early for Colby Sorsdal, whom I never had in my mocks. However, Sorsdal was a solid right tackle and a team captain. He could provide good depth on the offensive line.

2023 Pick 159. (R:5 P:24) - Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia
B The Packers obviously needed a receiver, and they're getting a decent prospect in Dontayvion Wicks. The Virginia product has some speed concerns, but he's a tall, lengthy receiver who could be a good weapon in the red zone.

2023 Pick 183. (R:6 P:6) - J.L. Skinner, S, Boise State
B- The sixth round is the right range for J.L. Skinner, who is a safety-linebacker tweener. He may not have a natural position in the NFL, but he should be able to play special teams well.

2023 Pick 194. (R:6 P:17) - Keondre Coburn, DT, Texas
C+ Keondre Coburn is not someone I had in my mocks because there is concern with him being able to keep his weight under control. He has potential as a solid run stuffer, however.

2022 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2022 Pick 2. (R:1 P:2) - Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan B+ Grade
The Lions did not expect to land Aidan Hutchinson a couple of weeks ago. Hutchinson was chalked to go to the Jaguars back then, but things changed since then. Jacksonville selected Travon Walker, allowing Hutchinson to fall to Detroit. Hutchinson is not an elite pass-rushing prospect like Chase Young or the Bosa brothers, but he's just a notch below. He's the best player available for the Lions, so this is the right choice. It would've been better had Detroit been able to trade down, but that wasn't really a possibility.

2022 Pick 12. (R:1 P:12) - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama B Grade
The Lions traded up from No. 32 to 12 for a quarterb- no, wait, that's not right. These are the Lions we're talking about. They've moved up for a receiver. The Lions using mulitple resources on a receiver ... where have we seen that before? Look, I love Jameson Williams as a prospect, minus the torn ACL, but surrendering resources to a divisional opponent for a non-quarterback is irresponsible. That said, the Lions aren't giving up as much as initially expected, so I don't hate this move at all! I don't know what the Vikings are thinking here.

2022 Pick 46. (R:2 P:14) - Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky C Grade
I don't hate this pick, but I think it could've been better. The Lions already addressed their edge rush with Aidan Hutchinson, and I thought Josh Paschal would go toward the end of the second round, so I don't love this value. There were better players available who filled bigger needs.

2022 Pick 97. (R:3 P:33) - Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois C+ Grade
I wonder if the Nick Cross pick influenced this because I think Kerby Joseph was a slight reach, though not really an egregious one. Joseph is talented, but is a one-year wonder, so there's some concern in that regard. Still, the Lions needed help in the secondary, and Joseph could help.

2022 Pick 177. (R:5 P:34) - James Mitchell, TE, Virginia Tech
A- Grade
The Lions are concerned about not being able to retain T.J. Hockenson past the 2022 season, so this pick makes sense from that regard. It's also a solid value choice, as James Mitchell could've gone in the fourth round with no complaints.

2022 Detroit Lions - Prospect:TBD

2022 Pick 235. (R:7 P:14) - Daniel Hardy, DE, Montana State
A Grade
I love this value for the Rams. I had Daniel Hardy pegged as a fifth-round prospect, as he was a highly productive player at Montana State. The Rams needed a replacement for Von Miller, so perhaps Hardy can contribute at some point.

2021 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2021 Pick 7. (R:1 P:7) - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon A+ Grade
I imagine the Lions are shocked that Penei Sewell made it past both the Bengals and Dolphins. This is a no-brainer selection. It could be argued that Sewell was the best player not named Trevor Lawrence in this class. Detroit has a huge hole at tackle, which Sewell will fill very nicely. Detroit's next quarterback - probably someone from next year's draft - go here for my 2022 NFL Mock Draft - will be thrilled to have Sewell blocking for him.

2021 Pick 41. (R:2 P:9) - Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington B Grade
The Lions maintained one of the worst run defenses in the NFL last year, so it's not a surprise to see them address that with this pick. I was never really a fan of putting Levi Onwuzurike in the first round because of his pass-rushing limitations, but he makes sense near the middle of the second round. This is a solid pick.

2021 Detroit Lions - Prospect:TBD

2021 Pick 101. (R:3 P:37) - Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
B Grade
This is a much better pick than Dallas' selection of Nahshon Wright. Like Wright, Ifeatu Melifonwu is a tall cornerback, but he's actually a good player. He'll be a liability in run support, but he could end up being a solid starter across from Jeff Okudah.

2021 Pick 112. (R:4 P:7) - Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
B Grade
Amon-Ra St. Brown was productive at USC, and he obviously helps fill a huge need for the Lions, who have nothing at receiver. However, I had St. Brown a bit later on Day 3, so I'm not wild about this value. Still, this is a fine selection.

2021 Pick 153. (R:5 P:9) - Tony Fields II, ILB, West Virginia
B+ Grade
Here's another linebacker for the Browns to help neutralize Lamar Jackson. Tony Fields is an undersized player, and he's not very athletic, but he was very productive at West Virginia. I had him in the fourth round in some updates.

2020 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2020 Detroit Lions - Prospect:TBD

2019 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2019 Detroit Lions - Prospect:TBD

2018 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2018 Detroit Lions - Prospect:TBD

2017 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2017 Detroit Lions - Prospect:TBD

2016 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2016 Detroit Lions - Prospect:TBD

2015 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2015 Detroit Lions - Prospect:TBD

2014 NFL Draft Selections and Grades

2014 Detroit Lions - Prospect:TBD