Grading The Detroit Lions Last 10 First Round Picks
2023 Jahmyr Gibbs A-
I will not forget being on the couch watching the NFL draft and just yelling at the TV as we draft a running back while we already had Swift and Williams with Williams leading the NFL with touchdowns. Why in the hell would we need another running back? I then see some pre season plays and just see how quick he is out running every linebacker during a pass play. I then wait for week one as I see him run only a few carries and one was him tripping with a wide open view to the endzone. I did not feel confident, but they starting giving him more carries, game by game, and finally he blossomed like a beautiful freaking flower. He was scoring touchdowns at ease and getting through holes like it was nobodys business. The confidence I have in him in the next years is very promising and the possibilities are endless.
2022 Aiden Hutchinson B+
I am a huge Michigan Wolverines fan as well so this was amazing to see Aiden Hutchinson to get drafted in Michigan. He has been very impressive since being on the Lions, pretty dominant in the run game, has given many quarterbacks difficulties when they are trying to pass, and even gotten some interceptions that I was not expecting. He struggles with getting pass the holding attempts at times which I understand, they should be calling a holding call, but they will not every time even if it is. The man gives hustle all the time, and with that, he creates a new energy on defense which I love.
2021 Penei Sewell A+
I personally believe that Penei Sewell has completely changed the Detroit Lions energy and created this, "we are not going to get pushed around" mentality. I loved watching him in Oregon and I knew if we got him, he would be dominant on the very first play in a Lions uniform. He has been apart of one of the best offensive Lions in the NFL the last couple of years, and now is a true leader for the team with it only been playing for 3 years. I hope he is a Lion for life and gets to keep this team a winning program.
2020 Jeff Okudah C
I feel bad because even though I hate Ohio State, I really thought he was going to be an incredible player. It was a top 5 pick, he was so dominant in college, and we NEEDED a player like this to stop everyone's top receiver. And when he got onto the field, nothing happens and he was struggling with injuries and lack of success. He has left the Lions and on the Falcons now, so I am hoping for the best for him, but he was not what was needed in Detroit.
2019 T.J. Hockenson B-
He was pretty successful when he was the Detroit Lions. He was pretty good with the years of Stafford being their quarterback. His rookie year only having 2 touchdowns but the next year getting up to 6 touchdowns. As a first round pick, it is not great, but I thought he was going to have such a greater upside than has happened. He is with the Vikings and I will be hoping him the best.
2018 Frank Ragnow A-
I have been a HUGE fan of Frank Ragnow being drafted on the Detroit Lions. He has been had some difficulties with injuries, but when he has been healthy when playing, he is a game changer on offense. He is one of the main veterans on the line, and a leader to the team. The Lions have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL and he is one of the big reasons why. I hope he stays as a Lion for life.
2017 Jarrad Davis D+
I was so pumped that the Detroit Lions were going to have a speedy linebacker to make big plays and can blitz to cause a pass rush. All of those things did not happen besides him being fast. He struggled with reading the holes, did not make many big plays, and lost his starting position pretty soon. Hoping him the best though.
2016 Taylor Decker B+
He has been a great lineman throughout the years and just like Ragnow, with him healthy, he has been dominant and another great reason why the Detroit Lions lineman are one of the best in the NFL. He also did report and no matter what his stats are... he should have an addition touchdown in his stats.
2015 Laken Tomlinson F
I am sorry... but I have no idea who this player is. I thought this was a great picture to represent my opinion on his draft pick. Reading into it, they traded him because it did not fit the right scheme for the Detroit Lions. Seems like a nice guy though.
2014 Eric Ebron C-
This is the best for last.... this man was a receiving only tight end from North Carolina who was supposed to be a key player for Stafford to throw it to. But the question I have his... if you have received a receiver type tight end and catch 1 touchdown, is he really that good of a receiving tight end? At least for some tight ends they can block and help out more into the offensive scheme, but if you can only do is go out for routes, how would he help when they need the team to run the ball? Thanks a lot, Eric.
I am happy to know that many of these players have stayed on the team and have still been very important parts to the team. With the Lions being one half away to going to the Super Bowl last year, they are only a couple of key players to make it to the main event. Hopefully the Detroit Lions Organization can do what they have been doing the last year with succeeding in the draft and get a huge pickup this year.
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