The Lions entered the 2023 NFL season with high expectations for the first time in decades. They lived up to them and are now in the midst of their best playoff run since the 1991-92 season.
One of the main reasons that Detroit has been able to do that? They have consistently won the NFL draft during Brad Holmes' tenure as general manager, finding mid-round steals and high-upside starters outside of the first round.
The Lions' 2023 draft class wasn't exactly met with fanfare after the picks were made. Some questioned why Detroit wasn't focused more on landing players at key positions while armed with two top-20 picks. Others wondered if they had reached with a couple of selections, in particular the team's two first-round picks.
However, Detroit's rookies have more than proven that they belong in the NFL. Four have already developed into high-quality starters, and they could even have a few perennial Pro Bowlers among the group.
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Here's a look at Holmes' draft history with the Lions, starting with the epic haul he and his staff landed in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Lions draft picks 2023
After trades, Detroit had two first-round picks, two second-round picks, two third-round picks, a fifth-round pick, and a seventh-round pick as it looked to fortify a roster that had narrowly missed the playoffs the previous season.
Below is a look at the players the Lions selected with each pick.
| Round | Pick | Player |
| 1 | 12 | Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama |
| 1 | 18 | Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa |
| 2 | 34 | Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa |
| 2 | 45 | Brian Branch, DB, Alabama |
| 3 | 68 | Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee |
| 3 | 96 | Brodric Martin, DT, Western Kentucky |
| 5 | 152 | Colby Sorsdal, OL, William & Mary |
| 7 | 219 | Antoine Green, WR, UNC |
All told, the Lions ended up getting four starters out of their picks and a couple of key role players. Only Hooker failed to appear in a game for the Lions this season, as he largely used his rookie campaign to recover from a torn ACL he suffered during his college days.
Detroit's first four picks emerged as potential long-term starters, playing key roles immediately and helping fuel one of the best seasons in Lions' history.
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Lions rookie starters 2023
Jahmyr Gibbs
The Lions surprised some when they selected Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Few thought the team would go after a running back given some of the team's other defensive needs, but the pick has proven smart.
Gibbs generated 1,261 scrimmage yards and 11 total touchdowns for the Lions as a rookie. He did that despite splitting duties with David Montgomery and playing in just 15 games because of a nagging hamstring injury.
Gibbs has continued to play well in the postseason, with his 114-yard outing against the Buccaneers catalyzing the Lions' victory. The 21-year-old looks the part of a threatening, three-down back and will be a featured part of Detroit's offense moving forward.
Jack Campbell
Campbell was another pick that was viewed as a mild surprise. The Iowa product was thought to be a fringe first-rounder, but the Lions liked him enough to take him 18th overall.
Campbell hasn't been perfect in his first season with the Lions. He allowed a passer rating of 124.2 in coverage, but he was much better as a run defender and downhill playmaker. His 95 tackles were good for the second most on the team behind Alex Anzalone, and he racked up a couple of sacks, as well.
Like Gibbs, Campbell should emerge as a three-down playmaker as he develops at the NFL level. He was probably the rawest of Detroit's rookie starters, but the upside is there with the Iowa product.
Sam LaPorta
Speaking of Iowa products, LaPorta has been nothing short of spectacular during his rookie season. He served as Jared Goff's security blanket and caught a tight end rookie-record 86 passes for 889 yards and 11 touchdowns.
LaPorta's combination of receiving ability and blocking prowess make him one of the most complete tight ends in the league. He could be the league's best as he continues to grow, so this was a home run pick by Holmes and Co., especially with LaPorta going one selection ahead of the more highly regarded Michael Mayer.
Brian Branch
The Lions completed their top draft haul by landing Branch in the second round. Many believed that the Alabama defensive back would be chosen in the first round, but he ultimately slipped as some other prototypical cornerbacks went ahead of him.
Branch has more than proven himself as a do-it-all slot corner for the Lions. He racked up 74 tackles, a sack, three interceptions, and 13 passes defended while demonstrating a nose for the football and excellent skills in coverage. He may be best served to stay in the slot, but his versatility should allow him to play cornerback and safety as needed.
Between his versatility, playmaking skills, and penchant for being in the right place on defense, Branch has been critical to a Detroit secondary that has been leaky for most of the season. Without him, the Lions probably aren't playing for an NFC championship, so this was another home-run pick.
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Gibbs, LaPorta, and Branch have all quickly become the Lions' best players at their positions, and Campbell has been a strong starter alongside Anzalone. Without this quartet, the Lions would be significantly weaker at the skill positions and in the back seven.
Lions draft history under Brad Holmes
The Lions' performance in the 2023 NFL Draft was surely terrific, but that has often been the case during Holmes' tenure with the team. Detroit's general manager has unearthed numerous gems since he took over the team's front office in 2021.
Below is a look at the rest of Detroit's draft history under Holmes:
2022 NFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player |
| 1 | 2 | Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan |
| 1 | 12 | Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama |
| 2 | 46 | Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky |
| 3 | 97 | Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois |
| 5 | 177 | James Mitchell, TE, Virginia Tech |
| 6 | 188 | Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State |
| 6 | 218 | James Houston, EDGE, Jackson State |
| 7 | 237 | Chase Lucas, DB, Arizona State |
2021 NFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player |
| 1 | 7 | Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon |
| 2 | 41 | Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington |
| 3 | 72 | Alim McNeill, DT, Arkansas |
| 3 | 101 | Ifeatu Melifonwu, DB, Syracuse |
| 4 | 112 | Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC |
| 4 | 113 | Derrick Barnes, LB, Purdue |
| 7 | 257 | Jermar Jefferson, RB, Oregon State |
Impressively, all but one of 23 players that the Lions have drafted under Holmes remain on the 53-man roster or on injured reserve. The only one who isn't on either list is running back Jermar Jefferson, a seventh-round pick in 2021, who is on the team's practice squad.
Among the 15 picks made from 2021-22, Holmes and his staff found a whopping eight productive starters, including mid-round stars such as St. Brown, McNeill, Melifonwu, and Joseph. His first-round picks have had a high level of success, too, with Sewell earning an All-Pro nod and Hutchinson racking up 21 sacks in his first two seasons.
Jameson Williams is the only player with whom one could have an issue. The 2021 first-round pick missed most of his rookie season due to injury before posting 24 catches for 354 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games during his second season. The potential remains there for the speedster to break out.
Even with those minor gripes, it's clear that Holmes' hit rate is high, and that's one of the reasons that Detroit is loaded with a nice combination of star power and depth.
As long as he remains in charge in the Motor City, the Lions should remain a force to be reckoned with.
