In the early stages of the 2022 NFL season, it looked like the Lions were going to be one of the worst teams in the NFL.
However, coach Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson helped spark a midseason turnaround that saw Detroit make an impressive playoff push.
The Lions went 7-2 in their last nine games and very nearly managed to make the postseason. The Seahawks managed to claim the No. 7 seed via tiebreaker over Detroit, but the Lions earned a massive, moral victory to close the season by knocking Aaron Rodgers and the Packers out of the postseason with a "Sunday Night Football" win.
Detroit has continued its positive momentum in the offseason, as it enjoyed a solid free agency and added a lot of talent to its defense. Now, its focus shifts to the 2023 NFL Draft, where the Lions will have two first-round selections, Nos. 6 and 18 overall.
These selections could be critical for the Lions, as they will be positioned to land at least one blue-chip player. They also will be in range to address some of their biggest needs, most of which come on the defensive side of the ball.
Additionally, the Lions will be one of the teams that controls the 2023 NFL Draft, as the team will have the buying and selling power needed to move up and down the board as it pleases.
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But if Detroit stays put, which players could it target with its first two picks? Here is a look at some of the Lions' top options with each pick and which combinations could help Detroit best improve its roster and fill its top needs.
Lions first-round draft options, ranked
1. RB Bijan Robinson and EDGE Nolan Smith
The Lions' major needs come on the defensive side of the ball, so many are presuming that the team will take a defender with the No. 6 overall pick. That may be the more likely scenario, but the possibility exists that they could pursue Robinson.
Detroit is looking for a do-it-all running back to pair with its elite offensive line, as D'Andre Swift hasn't been able to stay healthy during his career. Robinson is viewed by some as the best overall player in the 2023 NFL Draft class, and he would certainly provide the Lions with a dynamic, workhorse back for their offense.
Robinson racked up 1,894 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns during his final season at Texas, excelling as a runner but also showing off explosive pass-catching ability. He would be an ideal front-end player in a one-two punch with David Montgomery.
For those questioning whether Detroit would actually spend the No. 6 overall pick on Robinson, consider this: Lions general manager Brad Holmes was a part of the Rams' front office when they selected Todd Gurley with the 10th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Gurley helped take the Rams' offense to the next level, and Holmes may see similar potential for that to happen with Robinson.
And for those arguing that the Lions could wait until the 18th pick to take Robinson, there's no guarantee that he will make it there. There are several teams that could select Robinson before that juncture with the Eagles and Patriots standing out as the teams that may have a high level of interest in the Texas product.
If Robinson would be a blue-chip player addition for the Lions, Smith would check the character box that Dan Campbell tends to look for in players. He stood out during interviews and workouts at the 2023 NFL Combine and has the athletic ability needed to become a fearsome threat across from Aidan Hutchinson.
MORE: Nolan Smith lights up 2023 NFL Combine with fast 40, ridiculous vertical
2. DT Jalen Carter and CB Joey Porter Jr.
Mocking two defensive players to the Lions is en vogue, and with good reason. Detroit had one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season, allowing the most yards per game (392.4) and tying for the third-most points per game allowed (25.1). The Lions need to upgrade all three levels of the defense because of that, and they could choose to select the best defensive players available with each pick.
At No. 6 overall, that well could be Jalen Carter. The Georgia product was once considered to be an option for the No. 1 pick before the Panthers moved up to the top spot. Now, a draft-season arrest and a poor pro day workout have Carter's stock slipping, and there's a chance he could go at the bottom of the top 10.
Still, Carter had great tape at Georgia and will be the best pure player on the board at No. 6 if he's available. It would then just be a matter of whether Campbell believes that Carter can fit into the culture that Detroit has established. If so, he could certainly be the pick.
If the Lions land a defensive tackle at No. 6, then they would likely shift their attention to defensive end or cornerback at 18. The draft is stacked at both positions, so a top prospect, like Devon Witherspoon, could fall into their laps with that pick.
The Lions did a great job of adding talent to their secondary by signing Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson during the offseason. Still, they could stand to add some young depth at the position after trading Jeff Okudah to the Falcons, especially since the latter two players are on one-year deals.
Porter Jr. may come off the board before the Lions' second pick — the Patriots, Commanders and Steelers all stand out as great landing spots — but if not, the lanky, 6-3 athlete with NFL bloodlines would be a nice get for the Lions. He would be a long-term starting cornerback for the team but Detroit would be able to ease him into action given the veteran depth it has at corner.
Porter logged 27 tackles and 11 pass defenses during his final year at Penn State. The one concern with him as a prospect is that he had just one career interception to his name with the Nittany Lions, but Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn should be able to coach him up in that area.
3. CB Devon Witherspoon and RB Jahmyr Gibbs
As mentioned earlier, the Lions spent a lot of resources to upgrade their secondary during the 2023 offseason, so it seems unlikely that they would take a cornerback at No. 6. That said, if their top defensive end targets are off the board and they don't want to go after Robinson, Witherspoon could be the best player available.
Witherspoon comes with some speed concerns that could drop him a bit in the 2023 NFL Draft's pecking order, but he is a physical cornerback who put together an excellent senior season at Illinois. He logged three interceptions and 14 pass defenses for the Fighting Illini and could be the type of kneecap-biting presence for which Campbell is searching.
As for Gibbs, consider him the consolation prize if the Lions don't get Robinson. The Alabama product is considered a potential three-down workhorse at the next level and has the explosive ability needed to be a true game-changer. That's what separates him from the other backs in a solid 2023 draft class.
Gibbs racked up 1,370 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns at Alabama. He was one of the team's most consistent weapons working alongside Bryce Young, and he figures to be an Alvin Kamara-type player at the NFL level. Campbell may like that comparison, especially having worked with Kamara during his time with the Saints.
4. DE Tyree Wilson and DT Calijah Kancey
The caveat with the Carter scenario is that he might not make it to No. 6 if teams become comfortable with the off-the-field concerns surrounding him. If that happens, the Lions may have to pivot to target an edge rusher instead, as there should be at least one quality end on the board when they are picking.
That may seem strange to some, as defensive end isn't the biggest need on the Lions' defense. Hutchinson looked like a potential star totaling 9.5 sacks as a rookie and across from him, the Lions have a nice rotation of players. That includes James Houston — who had eight sacks in seven games as a rookie — John Cominsky, Charles Harris and 2022 second-round pick Josh Paschal.
Still, the team could use one more high-end pass rusher to pair with Hutchinson long-term, and Wilson fits that profile. He hasn't been able to build a lot of buzz during draft season because of a foot injury, but he racked up seven sacks in each of his last two seasons at Texas Tech. He is a good athlete and has a 6-6, 275-pound frame that should make him a solid starter at the NFL level.
As for Kancey, he could be a boom pick with Detroit's second selection. The Pitt product compares favorably to Aaron Donald as an undersized defensive tackle with a strong pass rushing presence. Nobody is predicting that Kancey will make seven All-Pro teams like Donald has, but he would certainly be an upgrade for Detroit's interior defensive line, which is presently a weakness.
Spending two first-round picks on the defensive line is certainly a possibility for the Lions. It may not be their top choice, but adding Wilson and Kancey would go a long way toward marrying their secondary improvements with a strong pass rush.
MORE: Why Calijah Kancey drew Aaron Donald comparisons at 2023 NFL Combine
5. QB Anthony Richardson and TE Michael Mayer
This scenario shouldn't be considered likely by any stretch. The Lions are comfortable with Jared Goff at quarterback and it's possible Richardson will be gone before the sixth pick anyway.
But let's just play along with this scenario anyway.
In this case, the Lions would land Richardson, a quarterback with a sky-high ceiling, and they could sit him for a year behind Goff. That would allow Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to work on Richardson's mechanics, processing and consistency while remaining competitive with Goff. That could be a win-win scenario for general manager Brad Holmes and his staff, too — provided that Richardson pans out.
Of course, this would require the Lions absolutely falling in love with Richardson. Again, that's possible, but would he last until the sixth pick? And even if he does, would the Lions not prefer to take a trade package from a team desperate to move up and nab him before the Raiders can at No. 7? These are both answers to consider when mocking a quarterback to the Lions.
While the front end of this scenario may require some imagination, the back end doesn't. Mayer is widely regarded as the best tight end in this year's draft class, and the Lions can afford to make a luxury pick with their second first-round pick. Sure, teams don't value tight ends all that much, but the Lions have drafted two in the top 10 over the last decade (T.J. Hockenson and Eric Ebron).
Mayer would be an upgrade over Brock Wright and Co., so this is something that the Lions will certainly consider doing if he's on the board at 18.
Still, this scenario isn't likely given Richardson's status as a potential top-four pick. And even if the Lions did take an offensive playmaker with the No. 6 pick, they almost certainly wouldn't double up on that side of the ball given the needs they have on defense.
