The final four rounds of the 2023 NFL draft kick off on Saturday. For the Detroit Lions, it figures to be a much quieter afternoon than usual.
Detroit made four picks on Day 2, thanks to making five different trades. As a result of the frenzied Friday movement, Lions GM Brad Holmes brings just two picks into the final four rounds.
Fifth round – 152 overall
Seventh round – 249 overall
Factoring in the first two days of the draft, the Lions now have roster commitments for 74 players already on the 90-man limit. Given how active Holmes and his staff have been on the undrafted free agent market in their first two years in Detroit, don’t expect the Lions to do much in terms of trying to acquire more draft picks in the final four rounds.
Remaining needs
The biggest needs are depth across several positions. Most notably: offensive line. Detroit can add an interior offensive lineman with upside to start in a year or two. A reserve tackle prospect also makes sense. One that can be utilized as an extra tackle/blocking TE right away figures to be the priority.
No team can ever have enough cornerbacks, especially one with a longtime NFL CB running the defense. While second-round pick Brian Branch can (and likely will) play some cornerback, adding another young CB with athletic traits makes sense, too.
Another remaining need is wide receiver. The Lions can go in one of two directions at wideout. They need a replacement possession-type receiver to replace Quintez Cephus and prepare for life after Josh Reynolds, who is entering the final year of his contract.
The Lions also currently lack the quicker-than-fast, instantly open type of lot receiver in the middle of the field. Selecting one of those would allow Amon-Ra St. Brown to more freely move around the formation and better dictate matchups and angles.
Names to watch
Some of the players here fit more into the undrafted free agent signing range, a market the Lions figure to heavily attack once Saturday’s draft ends.
Adetomiba Adebawore, DL, Northwestern
Cameron Young, DT, Mississippi State
Isaiah McGuire, EDGE, Missouri
Jose Ramirez, EDGE, Eastern Michigan
Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State
Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati
A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest
Xavier Smith, WR/KR, Florida A&M
Jalen Moreno-Cropper, WR, Fresno State
Antoine Green, WR, North Carolina
Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue
Daniel Scott, S, California
Jason Taylor Jr., S, Oklahoma State
Clark Phillips, CB, Utah
Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford
Terrell Smith, CB, Minnesota
Mark Evans, OL, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Sidy Sow, OG, Eastern Michigan
Anthony Bradford, OG, LSU
Chandler Zavala, OG, North Carolina State
Carter Warren, OL, Pittsburgh
Nick Broeker, OG, Ole Miss
McClendon Curtis, OG, UT Chattanooga
Andre Szmyt, K, Syracuse
