The Detroit Lions theoretically have a lot options with the second overall pick, but Todd McShay has offered a frank assessment of the circumstance.
With the second overall pick, two first-round picks and another pick early in the second round, the Detroit Lions are broadly in a good position for the draft later this month. General manager Brad Holmes is open to all options, including trading down from No. 2 if an opportunity presents itself.
But from another view, the Lions aren’t in a great spot having the second overall pick. There is not an elite quarterback prospect in this draft class, so taking one at No. 2 isn’t see as an ideal option and teams in a similar position to find a quarterback of the future won’t necessarily be compelled to trade up.
The Lions can just stand pat, and pick from whoever’s available that fits a need at No. 2 (Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Kyle Hamilton, Travon Walker…). But some of the other top-end players in this class (Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu, Charles Cross) are offensive tackles, and the Lions are well-situated there with Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker under contract for the next three seasons.
Todd McShay frankly assesses Lions less-than-ideal position at No. 2
In a video conference on Thursday, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, ESPN’s Todd McShay acknowledged the tougher than usual circumstance the Lions sit in with the second overall pick.
It sucks for Detroit this year because there’s … no elite quarterback where they can solve that problem moving forward,” “And then there’s, knowing the quarterback situation, there’s no — the next two best players on a lot of teams’ boards are the offensive tackles, and they’re in really good shape there moving forward. I just think it’s tough how it plays out.”
McShay also acknowledged the lack of premium other teams would place on the second overall pick, making a trade-down for the Lions less likely.
I don’t see it happening, man. I don’t,” “If you think about just moving up just one, two, three spots, how much you have to give up in order to do so because of the importance of those top picks, I just don’t see a team being willing….I’d be surprised if Detroit got a legitimate, respectable offer to move out of that No. 2 spot. If they did, I would jump at it because the same player you’re going to get at three, four or five is what you’re going to wind up taking at No. 2 anyway, especially without that big need at offensive tackle.”
The Lions have enough holes that almost anyone they take with the second overall pick won’t be immediately seen as wrong. It’s just that having the pick this year doesn’t carry the cache’ it does in many other years, with a bunch of closely regarded prospects at non-glamour positions and no quarterback prospect everyone loves.