Entering the first season with new head coach Dan Campbell and a new starting quarterback at the helm, the Detroit Lions are beginning to head into a multi-step rebuild process. Having held the seventh overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, there were plenty of viable options for them to address their many needs.
A dismal 5-11 record put the Lions in that spot for this year’s draft, and they decided to address their offensive line first by selecting Oregon left tackle Penei Sewell. Widely regarded as the best offensive line prospect in the draft, adding OL protection was a great first step in that progression, even with the multitude of holes this team has on both sides of the ball.
But this team’s needs vastly outweigh its additions from this year’s draft. The Lions failed to come out of the NFL Draft with upgrades in a few key areas.
Here are two mistakes by the Lions from this year’s draft that could prolong their rebuild process.
Still no long-term solution at QB for Lions
While the defense for Detroit is below average across the board, it is the offense which is worse than it should be after the draft, even with the addition of Sewell.
With the offseason trade of Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams, the Lions understood that moving on from the Georgia Bulldog would result in needing to plan for the future at QB, something they partially addressed by receiving Jared Goff from the Rams in that trade. While not turning 27 years old until this upcoming October, Goff struggled with the Rams and is on an extremely bloated contract that runs until 2024.
Having signed his current four-year, $134 million deal back in 2019, Goff’s production dipped under Sean McVay to the point where moving on from him was L.A.’s best bet, especially with the chance to add Stafford into the mix. While the draft picks DET received (2021 3rd, 2022 1st, 2023 1st) will help with the rebuild, this position still does not have a solution on the roster.
Goff has a potential out in his deal after the 2022 season, a perfect timeline for a player like Kyle Trask, Davis Mills, or Kellen Mond if the Lions would have grabbed a QB this year. Not having that long-term option in Detroit will set this team’s rebuild clock back, something it cannot afford to do in the super-competitive NFC North.
Not adding any starter-caliber WRs
Having lost stud wideout Kenny Golladay to the New York Giants this offseason, the Lions were devoid of any real WR talent heading into the NFL Draft, an element they easily could and should have addressed.
Instead, they decided to wait until the 4th round (112th overall) to select USC’s Amon-Ra St. Brown, whose older brother Equanimeous is currently suiting up with the Green Bay Packers as a WR.
Detroit’s St. Brown is not known for his athleticism or his speed, but his sure-handedness and physicality stand out as two solid traits for the former Trojan. Surprisingly enough, the fourth-rounder is not highly regarded, with some worried about him making the roster, even with the current state of the receiving core in shambles.
Two undrafted free agents, Jonathan Adams Jr. and Sage Surratt, were brought in for camp competition, but these mid-tier additions will not do enough to improve the current WR depth chart, which has Tyrell Williams and Quintez Cephus as Goff’s top two options.
Reports of the Lions having wanted to move up to the fourth draft pick, held by the Atlanta Falcons, and select LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase show the front office’s lack of faith in their current depth chart. However, since it did not happen, they were then stuck scrambling for bodies, hence their three mid-tier additions.
The Lions will be stewing at the bottom of their division for the next few seasons, trying to get their rebuild right. This year’s draft class could have been so much more impactful if these two areas of need were better addressed.
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