A look back as we get ready to add more players this week.
Grading the Detroit Lions’ 2023 draft as players hit 3-year benchmark
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In the moment, the Detroit Lions’ 2023 first-round draft haul was one of the most widely criticized series of moves in recent memory.
…..Lions general manager Brad Holmes, who went out on a limb to make these selections, has said it takes at least three years to grade a draft class. So while he was crushed by data-driven decision-makers turned NFL analysts at the time, it’s finally time for his day in the sun. It should be noted we’re grading the selections by Holmes and the Lions, not just the players and their careers in a vacuum.
Now, it wasn’t a perfect draft. But just how much do his hits outweigh the misses? Let’s dive in and grade Holmes’ 2023 draft class.
Gibbs A+
Campbell A+
Branch A+
LaPorta A+
Hooker D-
Martin F
Sorsdal D+
Green Inc
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(Conclusion:)
Total draft grade: A+
This draft featured the best and worst of Brad Holmes. He bucked consensus to “reach” on players at low-value positions in Round 1; both turned out to be stars. He bucked the consensus on Michael Mayer, ending up with Sam LaPorta in Round 2; it turned out to be the right choice. And he made a move when he saw Branch falling, executing one of the steals of the draft.
From the third round on, it was a dud. He gave up picks to take a developmental nose tackle (Martin) who never sniffed meaningful snaps and used a third-round pick on Hooker, who never made headway as an NFL player in Detroit and whose shortcomings were somewhat predictable.
That being said, there’s not much room for nuance when you draft four Pro Bowl- and All-Pro-caliber players with your first four picks. That’s an A+ draft.
