With the 2023 NFL Draft less than a week away, plenty of teams are looking around at making moves to either improve their draft positioning, or add more assets. One team to keep a very close eye on will be the Detroit Lions.
Amid what has been a crazy day of disappointing suspensions due to gambling, including 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams, the Lions may be eyeing a trade in the first round.
While they are expected to snag a key young piece with the No. 6 overall pick, the Lions also hold the No. 18 overall pick. That could be a pick that is very much in play when it comes to trade discussions.
Michael Gallagher of Yardbarker mentioned the No. 18 pick as one of the first-round selections that could be traded.
The Lions should get an instant starter with the No. 6 overall pick (likely on the defensive line), and GM Brad Holmes could flip the team’s second first rounder to add more picks in Rounds 2-3 or another first rounder next year for a team looking to move up for one of the top wide receivers or perhaps Texas running back Bijan Robinson. Detroit could also simply swap the pick to move back in the first round with a team wanting to come up for a player it loves. The Lions are the team best suited to make the draft work for them.
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Detroit would be smart to add more selections in the second and third round if at all possible. They are an up-and-coming team, but adding as much good young talent as they can should still be the priority.
Among the reasons that a team could trade up with the Lions at No. 18 include running back needy teams trying to get Texas standout Bijan Robinson. If he happens to fall to No. 18, Detroit would have to love their position.
All of that being said, it appears that the 2023 NFL Draft may be full of wheeling and dealing. Just like last year, there are plenty of teams working the phones heavily. The Lions could very well get in the middle of many trade discussions with their second first-round pick.
