The 2024 NFL draft kicks off in two short days. It’s the anxious calm before the storm that will add a fresh dose of talent into the Lions locker room.
Detroit picks 29th in the first round, with two picks on the second night of the draft, followed by four on Saturday (no fourth-rounder, two sixth-rounders).
We’ve gone through a few scenarios about what the weekend could look like for the Lions. From trading up to trading back, from leading with OL to addressing CB early, it’s been an interesting draft period trying to figure out what Detroit GM Brad Holmes might do in the 2024 NFL draft. Picking so much later in the first round and not having extra draft capital in 2024 to help facilitate trades has made it an unpredictable ride.
As we get close, here are a few more quick scenarios exploring potential paths for Holmes and the Lions in the upcoming draft. Which one would you prefer the most?
The seven-round final prediction will come very early Thursday.
The Missouri special
Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
First round: Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri
Second round: Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri
Third round: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
Fifth round: Mason McCormick, IOL, South Dakota State
Sixth round: Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State
Sixth round: Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian
Seventh round: Ty’Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri
Building up the trenches
Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
First round: Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
Second round: Christian Haynes, IOL, UConn
Third round: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
Fifth round: Javon Solomon, EDGE, Troy
Sixth round: Christian Jones, OT, Texas
Sixth round: Willie Drew, CB, Virginia State
Seventh round: Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan
Building the perimeter early
Mar 20, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry does a standing long jump at the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility during the University of Alabama’s Pro Day.
First round: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Second round: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Third round: Christian Mahogany, OL, Boston College
Fifth round: Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida State
Sixth round: Logan Lee, EDGE, Iowa
Sixth round: Will Reichard, K, Alabama
Seventh round: Travis Glover, OT, Georgia State
Selling the farm
Quinyon Mitchell, University of Toledo
Trade: Lions trade No. 29, No. 73, No. 205 and a 2025 first-round pick to the Saints for No. 14 and No. 190.
No. 14: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Second round: Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
Fifth round: Isaiah Adams, IOL, Illinois
Sixth round (Saints): Trey Taylor, S, Air Force
Sixth round: Zion Tupuola-Fetui, EDGE, Washington
Seventh round: Frank Crum, OT, Wyoming
Athleting up
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
All players in this draft recorded an RAS (Relative Athletic Score) over 9.0
First round: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Second round: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
Third round: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Fifth round: Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice
Sixth round: Myles Cole, DL, Texas Tech
Sixth round: Jordan Magee, LB, Temple
Seventh round: Mark Perry, S, TCU
The ‘that guy will never be there’ edition
All of these are prospects generally expected to be off the board before the Lions make the respective picks.
First round: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
Second round: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Third round: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Fifth round: Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
Sixth round: Beaux Limmer, IOL, Arkansas
Sixth round: Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn
Seventh round: A.J. Barner, TE, Michigan
The ‘limo driver told me the LIons like this guy’ edition
Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson (44)
First round: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Second round: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
Third round: Zac Zinter, IOL, Michigan
Fifth round: Brenden Rice, WR, USC
Sixth round: Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest
Sixth round: Joshua Karty, K, Stanford
Seventh round: Qwan’Tezz Stiggers, CB, CFL
One last one…
Cooper DeJean Syndication: USA TODAY
First round: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Second round: Zach Frazier, IOL, West Virginia
Third round: Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
Fifth round: M.J. Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh
Sixth round: Evan Anderson, DT, FAU
Sixth round: JD Bertrand, LB, Notre Dame
Seventh round: Anim Dankwah, OT, Howard