The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft has finally come and gone. It may not have gone the way that Detroit Lions fans planned it, but that is the way it goes sometimes.

Drafts aren't won on the first day. In fact, some years they aren't even won on the second day. There is still a lot that needs to happen for this team before it is time to say anything about this draft as a whole.

Regardless, here are the picks so far and where the Lions are set to pick over the next few days before they make any more changes.

Detroit Lions 2023 NFL Draft Class

Round 1, No. 12 overall: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

Brad Holmes and the Lions aren’t worried about positional value. They want the best players on the board to make their offense as dynamic as possible, and Jahmyr Gibbs absolutely brings that to the table. 

The Lions offense just became that much better, even if it did already have a good duo of starting running backs and was one of the best offenses in the NFL last season. Good luck stopping that unit with one of the best pass-catching running back prospects in years.

Round 1, No. 18 overall: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

Sticking with positions that may not be the best from a position value standpoint, Campbell is an obvious starter for a Lions defense that needed help in a major way in 2022.

Round 2, No. 34 overall: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa

You have to hand it to the Lions, they know what they want to do to win football games; score 100 points in almost every game. 

Sam LaPorta may not help the Lions keep their opponents from scoring points, but his addition to this offense will help it take the next steps towards becoming the best in the NFL. Great hands and athleticism are going to make this guy a problem in this offense.

Round 2, No. 45 overall: Brian Branch, S, Alabama

This will probably go down as the best pick of the draft for the Lions. The value for the player in the second round mixed with his extremely-high upside as a versatile defender that can play almost every position in going to help the Lions in a major way as they look to remake their defense.

Round 3, No. 68 overall: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

With very few needs remaining after the first two rounds, the Lions will be playing with house money for the remainder of the draft.

Based on this line of thinking, the Lions taking a shot on the very talented Hendon Hooker is an awesome move that puts next to no pressure on quarterback Jared Goff while also giving the team a potential option for the future in the talented Hooker.

Round 3, No. 96 overall: Brodric Martin, DT, WKU

The Lions need help on their defensive line. It may be a reach to select Martin so early, but the Lions were able to address a major need with their compensatory pick in the third round.

Round 5, pick No. 152: Colby Sorsdal, OT, William & Mary

Without a lot of pressing needs and a lack of valuable defensive players on the board, the Lions were able to secure one of the steals of the draft in Colby Sorsdal. Projected to make a move from tackle to IOL, Sorsdal is going to give the Lions a mountain of flexibility on the inside for the years to come.

Round 7, pick No. 219: Antoine Green, WR, UNC

The Lions had a chance to take on a flier before they started looking at undrafted free agents. They chose to go after Antoine Green, a wide receiver with a penchant for big plays that could be a depth piece or practice squad player in 2023.

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• Round 1, No. 12 overall: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
• Round 1, No. 18 overall: LB Jack Campbell, Iowa
• Round 2, No. 34 overall: TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa
• Round 2, No. 45 overall: S Brian Branch, Alabama
• Round 3, No. 68 overall: QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
• Round 3, No. 96 overall: DT Brodric Martin, WKU
• Round 5, No. 152 overall: OT Colby Sorsdal, William & Mary
• Round 7, No. 219 overall: WR Antoine Green, UNC