Hats off to the Detroit Lions. They’ve done what many didn’t believe would happen, and turned one of the NFL’s star-crossed franchises into one of the league’s best teams. The Lions’ locked up the NFC North for the first time ever and will host a playoff game as the third seed in the NFC.
What are the biggest reasons for this Lions turnaround? I wrote about the three main reasons Detroit has emerged as a contender in 2023.
When general manager Brad Holmes took over for Bob Quinn in 2021, the Lions were a drafting mess. The 2019 and 2020 drafts, outside of T.J. Hockenson and Jonah Jackson, had been a disaster. In fact, of the four drafts that preceded Holmes’ arrival, only two players – Jackson and Frank Ragnow – have been positive impact contributors for the Lions this season. Holmes inherited almost nothing to work with, and proceeded to launch one of the better three-year draft runs we have seen in a long time.
In 2021, Holmes drafted Penei Sewell at no. 7 overall, now one of the best right tackles in the NFL. Sewell is the offense’s vocal and emotional leader and has been the face of the aggression and physicality that has marked the current Detroit Lions. Second-round pick Levi Onwuzurike has battled injuries, but the rest of that draft has been remarkable. Defensive tackle Alim McNeill has been a breakout star this season, safety Ifeatu Melifonwu has been one of the stories of the second half of the season since being promoted to a starting spot and Amon-Ra St. Brown tied for second in the NFL in catches while earning an All-Pro spot. The team’s other fourth-round pick, Derrick Barnes, has become one of the more steady off-ball linebackers in the league during his impressive third season.
The 2022 class hasn’t been as impactful, but still looks like a winning draft. Aidan Hutchinson isn’t a tier 1 edge defender, but he’s improved in year two and is clearly the Lions’ best pass rusher. Without him, that front would be in real trouble. His motor and physicality are a defining feature of Aaron Glenn’s defense. Few players represent what a team wants to be about more than Hutchinson. Third-round pick Kerby Joseph led the team in interceptions with four. His increasingly stable play after some midseason foibles has been a lifesaver for a Lions defense missing Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
