Worst Lions Draft Ever?
There's a lot of material to work with here. Fair over Moss quickly comes to mind. Charles Rogers was a doozy. But this is unreal. Instead of taking Bijan they decide to take a lesser back at #12 that would have absolutely been available at 18. Then at 18 they take a MLB (least valuable position player in the NFL?) that would have absolutely been available at 34. Then at 34 they take the 3rd best TE in the draft instead of the best TE that was taken by the Raiders a pick later.
The lions are that guy in your fantasy league that drafts so poorly every year that you don't even make fun of him anymore. You just encourage him to keep putting his dead money in and keep trying. Or maybe it's just your drunk uncle....
Gibbs was an inch taller and 2lbs heavier than Barry Sanders at the combine.
I don't really care for the pro game, but I do watch the Lions if it's on and I'm not doing something else. But there's enough rumblings that Gibbs is gone at 14 or 15 and Campbell is gone before 34. If that's the players they want, you take them. I definitely wasn't taking Carter at all. Dan Campbell seems to like football players that love football. I don't see a guy who loves football with Carter. I think he's going to be a bust, but I'm a nobody.
April 28th, 2023 at 10:34 PM ^
It sounds like the Eagles may have a unique situation (several of his former teammates, an extremely strong veteran/star presence in the locker room, winning culture...) and seem to have a chance to bring about a more mature, productive character to go with the great physical gifts.) If anyone can it would be them.
But if he joined the Lions there would be no chance of that. In fact, there would probably be a better chance that he would disrupt the high level culture they are currently developing.
Holy shit, Keion White does not look happy to be a Patriot.
If the Lions picked Branch at 12, Gibbs at 18, Campbell at 34 and La Porta at 45, I think there would be far fewer complaints. People would say slight reaches for the first two but good on the other guys.
Disagree because I think Campbell isn’t the guy and will struggle in space against some of the best skill people in the world and they still passed on Mayer for LaPorta.
Mayer is not a good blocker. They traded Hock because he was never interested in blocking. Phenomenal receiver however. La Porta is a good receiving TE, ceiling not as high as Hock, but he is a willing blocker even if he needs improvement there. I doubt Mayer was very high on the Lions TE board. Think they probably liked Schoon based on their position preference.
He's the 6th most athletic linebacker ever tested, and his explosive testing numbers were similar to Devin Bush.
Every linebacker will struggle in space against some of the best skill players in the world.
They would, because they can't look at the results and say, "this is what the NFL thought," they can only look at the guesses and say, "this is what the media thought," and think the latter is "correct."
Strange mindset.
I can see why some are negging the OP, but there are some well tread rules of thumb for the draft that are clear for at least the last 15 years.
1. There is no good reason to take a standard old school linebacker in the first round. No reason whatsoever.
2. There are very very few good reasons to take a running back in the first round.
I'm not even a lions fan, but it raises a big red flag when they do both with two first round picks in the same draft. Who knows what the future holds, but I'm guessing that three years from now this draft looks pretty puzzling, like so many Lions drafts of the last 25 years.
He may look, and even play the part a bit, but "standard" Mikes don't have ball skills and hips like Campbell in coverage. He also was a hoop star in HS, dunking and all. Js
April 28th, 2023 at 10:10 PM ^
And, Gibbs is not your typical running back. If they had Flex position title, that’d be him.
April 28th, 2023 at 10:28 PM ^
Someone gets it…
April 28th, 2023 at 11:31 PM ^
A "standard" MIKE does not produce the 6th highest Combine score of all LB in the past 36 years! And Gibbs is NOT your "typical" RB.
Poor phrasing to make a bad point....
Originally I wasn’t happy about them not improving their defensive front, but 4 picks in now I’m confident that they have 4 guys who will play and make an impact.
They’re still obviously going to need to address the defensive front though and if Carter/Wilson/Van Ness become studs it’ll be frustrating knowing how important that position group as a whole is to winning.
my god, but the draft really is the biggest source of hot air and ass-pulled opinions there ever was. everybody is an expert.
Anyone slamming this draft, while ignoring the last two drafts, a 9-8 record and very good free agent class, has traded their Michigan BPONE for a double dose of Lions BPONE.
April 28th, 2023 at 10:29 PM ^
Next year is the year! We’re better than .500! Whoooooo’
The Lions took Jordan Dizon in the second round. So, no.
You're the drunk uncle.
April 28th, 2023 at 11:15 PM ^
He's the Irish drunk uncle, Mike Brey?
Bijan was already off the board
not if they had stayed at 6, is the implication
Yeah I think they wanted Witherspoon and when he went off early they turned their sights to Robinson who they figured would be available at 12, but then when he went off they probably just went with their 2nd best RB option. They definitely wanted Bijan over Gibbs, but their plans didn't work out.
April 28th, 2023 at 10:39 PM ^
I'm not so sure about all that but I think you might be right that they thought they could get Witherspoon in there slot.
I work in the Lions front office. Well the back office of their front office
The Lions are at it again! Head Scratcher Analysis says Campbell is probably a good Pick, Gibbs over Robinson is a serious mind fuck that make’s absolutely no fundamental sense; LaPorte is based on the Iowa track record, but isn’t there a case that Scooner is better; Branch runs a 4.58 and Turner runs 4.26??? So in the last 2 cases, is it form (School recognition) over substance?
Branch is a safety (top rated safety by most analysts) and Turner's a corner. I assume that's why took Branch.
Also, I'd take LaPorta over Schoonmaker, though I probably would've drafted a CB at that spot instead.
Robinson went four picks before Gibbs. There was no Gibbs over Robinson
April 28th, 2023 at 10:24 PM ^
Correct. My bad. Still don’t understand why they picked a RB when they picked up Montgomery and then there was other “Needs” talent 🤷
April 28th, 2023 at 11:22 PM ^
Because you also need a second RB and Swift is hurt for half the games and will not be extended as his contract is up after this season.
That "lesser" back is special.
I would not have drafted Gibbs that high. I wouldn’t have drafted any RB that high unless I knew that RB was the sole missing piece for a Super Bowl, but the Lions have a window of opportunity to win now. For the first time in decades.
Green Bay is about to take 3-4 massive steps back, Chicago is still a wreck, and Minnesota isn’t winning shit with good OL’ Kork Coupons. Guess it’s time to take a big swing and just see what happens.
Montgomery does down and Reynolds in our back if not . Were moving swift regardless
April 28th, 2023 at 10:33 PM ^
window of opportunity to win now
~ every loins fan since ‘22
the Fords are genius
Meyer didn’t test well . Laporta=YAC and what the lions love . We had 11 tds from TE after hock left and A lot of big plays YAC. Solid draft so far . Watch when swift trade is announced for Ed Oliver . They took DT off their draft board for a reason
April 28th, 2023 at 11:38 PM ^
While I like the idea of a Swift for Oliver trade. As I have been stating, the draft is far from over and now the Lions took a HUGE DT at 96 (3rd round). Brodric from Western Kentucky.... Shocking they used a draft pick to fill a need.
I love it when people jump to conclusions far too soon and act like they know all the answers BEFORE the product is done....
Did Jake Moody get picked by SF with the 99th overall.....Wow...Awesome!!
They haven't played a game yet buddy. What front office do you work for?
Is Hooker older than Goff?
Hooker to the Lions.
This is an awful post. Clearly life has been cruel lately.
Tell us you know very little about football without explicitly stating it.
They may have reached a bit in the first, but they also got what are likely to be at minimum solid starters. Look at each individually and it’s hard to see any of them flaming out. It’s a strategy — solid, disciplined, alpha players — and that’s more than previous regimes had.
And Hooker and Branch were late steals who were often projected as first-rounders.
April 28th, 2023 at 10:08 PM ^
I don't think this will go down anywhere near the worst Lions draft ever. They basically decided to buck nearly every trend in the league and say they're doing it their own way. Maybe it really works.
That said I think the ceiling for Hooker is Jared Goff and they could have gone to HS together so... yeah.
April 28th, 2023 at 10:11 PM ^
Hooker has a better arm and is mobile when healthy.
Need a good backup Qb so that if Goff gets hurt, you still have a chance to win some games, even if it’s a small chance. Had less than a 5% chances to win with Boyle, Blough and Sudfeld past couple years.
And if they really like him, they can let Goff go and save money for a few seasons with no drop off on play. And if they don’t like him, nothing stopping them from going up and drafting a Qb early next year.
April 28th, 2023 at 10:15 PM ^
Dont forget Millen and Barrett Green, Bill Swancutt.
These picks sting to us laymen. But Holmes should get the benefit of doubt. The Lions are favored to win division...let that sink in. He must be doing something right.
April 28th, 2023 at 10:16 PM ^
Lions could still get Morris or Bell. Think those would be smart late picks
April 28th, 2023 at 10:17 PM ^
Clearly this is the Friday drinking thread
April 28th, 2023 at 10:18 PM ^
It sure seems like the Lions are getting the players they wanted. Jalen Carter has got some issues and they clearly weren’t interested in a CB, probably because they addressed that position in free agency.
Other than a slight reach for Gibbs at #12, it’s been a rock solid draft addressing positions of need.
Sadly, this years draft is pretty light on DL.
My guess is they use a few late round picks on linemen.