Free Press sports writer Tony Garcia gives an instant grade for the Detroit Lions‘ second second-round draft pick on Friday night, No. 45 overall:
Alabama S Brian Branch
Grade: A
For the second time in as many nights the Lions executed a trade, only this time they went up three spots — and gave up a fifth rounder, No. 159 overall, in the process — to grab Alabama safety Brian Branch.
Branch, like Campbell and La Porta, was a captain in college and a second-team All-American in 2022 who finished with 90 tackles, 12 tackles for loss (second most among defensive backs) three sacks and two interceptions. The Lions needed a defensive back who can play in the slot or the outside and get that in the defensive back who was long expected to be a first-round pick before he ran a 4.58-second 40-yard dash, dropping his stock.
ANOTHER GRADE: Iowa TE Sam LaPorta is a bold addition to offense
Branch is a similar style safety to Lions free-agent signee CJ Gardner-Johnson, which could allow defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to disguise coverages and mix and match personnel. The Lions made a strong move to ensure they got an athletic player in the secondary.