While they weren’t able to bring home the first Super Bowl trophy in franchise history, the Detroit Lions had a very successful season last year. But now Lions GM Brad Holmes is tasked with making an already good Detroit team even better.
We’ve already seen some impactful additions in free agency, but building this roster for the long haul will happen during the 2024 NFL Draft. Being that the draft is being hosted by the city of Detroit for the first time in NFL history, there’s a bit more excitement brimming out Motor City this year.
Yet, with the Lions not picking until 29th, fans in attendance will have to wait several hours before learning who Detroit adds to the roster. Then again, the Lions GM also hinted that he might even trade out of the first round altogether, meaning fans in attendance wouldn’t even get to see who Detroit picks until the second day of festivities kick off on Friday instead.
“That’s something that, we have to do the right thing for the organization. If it makes sense and it lines up and it’s the right thing to do, then we have to do the right thing and so, say that happens, where the fans have been waiting there all night for this pick and we get an offer that we really can’t turn down, we’ve got to do the right thing. And hopefully our fans will forgive us. We won’t expect immediate forgiveness right then and there, but hopefully when the season starts and that player selected is out there, we can get past that. I totally understand that.”
Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes on team’s NFL Draft plans
Ultimately, fans should not be upset if the Lions do decide to trade back. They only have seven selections in this draft, and moving back could present the perfect opportunity to add more depth to the roster.
Plus, it’s very possible a team eyeing a quarterback or another premier position prefers to jump back into the end of the first round to secure the fifth-year team option on rookie contracts. This way, if a prospect lives up to his potential, the team has their young, talented player under contract for an additional year at a fraction of the typical cost to pay high-profile athletes.But again, it all depends on what other teams are willing to offer Detroit for their first-round pick.
Related: 2024 NFL mock draft: 6 QBs in Round 1 with Raiders, Vikings and Broncos trades