Brad Holmes, the Detroit Lions’ general manager, is entering his fourth draft and has a very good track record, as seen by the team’s rise from 3-13-1 in 2021 to the NFC Championship Game in 2023. No general manager has a 100 percent draft success rate, but Holmes has done exceptionally well.
The Lions have had many of first-round draft busts in their history, and some may want to lump one of Holmes’ first-round picks (Jameson Williams) into that category already, after two less-than-ideal, abbreviated seasons.
Making a list with a negative meaning is becoming increasingly difficult for the Lions. As drafts progress and players are replaced, blunders no longer hampered the team’s hopes.
“Haunt” is a strong term, but the Lions’ three first-round selection blunders continue to linger.
Three first-round blunders still haunt the Detroit Lions, including the selection of TE T.J. Hockenson as the eighth overall pick in 2019.
Former Lions general manager Bob Quinn sparked the positional value debate (sound familiar?) by drafting a tight end in the top ten overall in 2019. While Hockenson proved too pricey to maintain on a second contract before Holmes’ rebuild was complete, he was reliable for three or more seasons before being traded to the Vikings at the 2022 deadline.
This one is about current roster needs and who was drafted after Hockenson, rather than a direct criticism of his selection.
Brian Burns got 16th overall to the Carolina Panthers, while Montez Sweat went 26th to Washington. Both have proven themselves deserving of large contracts (Sweat received his after being traded to the Bears, and Burns is set to receive one in March), so that may be an option for the Lions currently. However, either of those guys would look nice alongside Aidan Hutchinson.
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Detroit Lions’ Offensive Line Targets in Free Agency
The Detroit Lions’ offensive line could be restructured during the summer. Both starting guards, Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow, are free agents. Though each has already indicated a desire to return to Motown in the future, their contracts may be prohibitively pricey for the Lions to renew. As a result, the Lions may be forced to consider acquiring an external alternative this offseason. Given how strong the unit has been in recent years, general manager Brad Holmes may be better suited to use free agency to add an experienced veteran to the roster.
Here are four offensive lineman the Lions could look into when free agency opens in March. Robert Hunt Hunt was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, just like Jackson. According to Pro Football Focus, he improved year after year and finished the 2023 season with an overall offensive grade of 77.1. The four-year veteran was particularly successful as a pass-blocker, surrendering only five pressures during the regular and postseason. Only one pressure resulted in a sack.
He was also punished only twice. However, injuries played a factor in the final season of his rookie deal, as he missed time due to a hamstring ailment. Hunt’s durability has been demonstrated, however, as he has participated in every conceivable game prior to 2023. If the Lions are unable to keep one of their starting guards, Hunt would be an ideal replacement. Kevin Dotson Dotson, another young possibility, had a strong 2023 season. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ fourth-round pick spent last season with the Los Angeles Rams after being traded.
The right guard missed the first three games of the season but had a significant impact after that, starting every game the rest of the way. His effectiveness with the Rams improved, as he increased his run-blocking grade from 61.1 in 2022 to 88.3 last season. Dotson is a real mauler in the run game who helped lead the Rams’ potent rushing attack. Kyren Williams, a running back, burst out and rushed for 1,144 yards in just 12 games. This ability to dominate the ground game would be ideal for Detroit, which just had two running backs carry for 1,000 yards.
Cleveland, a former NFC North opponent of the Lions, was transferred to the Jacksonville Jaguars at the trade deadline. The left guard had been solid with the Vikings for the previous three seasons, but his effectiveness slipped after being acquired by the Jaguars. Cleveland has played on the left side, but the preceding two guards on this list are on the right. The Boise State product allowed 24 pressures in 13 games and finished with a pass-blocking grade of only 57.4. Throughout his career, Cleveland has been a good runner. In 2022, he received a career-high 79.7 PFF grade in this category. He contributed significantly to Dalvin Cook’s performance with the Vikings from 2020 to 22.
After signing a one-year contract with the Vikings in 2023, he rapidly became the team’s starter. His play at left guard finally contributed to Cleveland’s trade to Jacksonville. Now, the Vikings must decide whether to keep their 2019 second-round pick. Risner played 77 games for the Denver Broncos during his first four seasons of professional football. Risner has a proven track record as a pass-blocker, allowing only 87 pressures in over 2,000 snaps. His run-game performance has been inconsistent.
