The Detroit Lions announced their presence as legitimate contenders in the NFC during the 2023 season. The plan of general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell is bearing fruit, as they have turned the once downtrodden franchise around.
Veteran quarterback Jared Goff, who was acquired in the Matthew Stafford blockbuster, has been excellent. The team rewarded him with a massive extension as a result. He has been a calming influence and leader for a team loaded with young talent.
It is one thing to pick near the top of the NFL Draft continually, as the Detroit Lions did when they were struggling. But selecting the right guys and developing them is the challenging part, and they have hit that out of the park.
As a result, Lions players are littered among PFF’s Top 25 Under 25 list. Coming in at No. 1 is offensive tackle Penei Sewell. Like Goff, Detroit rewarded him with a huge contract extension earlier this offseason.
Turning only 24 in September, Sewell already has three seasons of NFL experience under his belt. He is one of the best offensive linemen in the league, recording an overall PFF grade of 92.8 last season, with a 95.1 run-blocking grade. Both were the highest in the NFL.
At No. 6, edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson was picked. In the NFL, if you want to have sustained success, you need to play well in the trenches. The Lions have built their team from the inside out, having two stars to build around on each side of the ball.
Coming in at No. 11 is wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. A fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the USC product is one of the most productive offensive players in the league. Finding gems like that on Day 3 is a fast way for a team to rise into contention.
Like Goff and Sewell, St. Brown was rewarded with a huge contract extension by the Detroit Lions this offseason. He has performed on par with superstars Tyreek Hill and Justin Jefferson the last two seasons.
Another one of Goff’s weapons, tight end Sam LaPorta comes in at No. 19. He was a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and had a record-setting rookie season. In the first round, one of the players the Detroit Lions picked was running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who comes in at No. 21.
Five players on the under-25 list is incredible. That is the most of any team in the NFL as the Detroit Lions are built to succeed for years to come as their core is made up of players who haven’t reached their prime yet.