ESPN insider names perfect draft choice for Lions in first round
The Detroit Lions are a franchise that's generating a lot of buzz ahead of the 2023 season. Detroit narrowly missed the playoffs in 2022 (they fell short of the postseason, but they kept the Green Bay Packers out of the playoffs via a head-to-head win in Week 18), showing dramatic improvement in Dan Campbell's second […]
The Detroit Lions are a franchise that's generating a lot of buzz ahead of the 2023 season.
Detroit narrowly missed the playoffs in 2022 (they fell short of the postseason, but they kept the Green Bay Packers out of the playoffs via a head-to-head win in Week 18), showing dramatic improvement in Dan Campbell's second season leading the franchise.
The Lions went 8-2 in their final 10 games last season after getting off to a 1-6 start.
Detroit's made some nice roster upgrades this offseason — specifically in the secondary. The Lions signed cornerbacks Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley to free-agent deals earlier this offseason. They also signed safety CJ Gardner-Johnson — one of the more underrated defenders in the NFL — to a one-year deal.
ESPN NFL insider Jordan Reid thinks the Lions should continue to upgrade their secondary in the 2023 NFL Draft. Reid said this week that he thinks the perfect choice for Detroit at No. 6 overall (a pick the Lions received from the Los Angeles Rams) is Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
From ESPN: Devon Witherspoon to the Detroit Lions at No. 6 overall. GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell instilled a toughness factor in this team and they've added a bunch of players who plays with passion. That fits with Witherspoon, who plays the game with a chip on his shoulder. He is without question the most physical cornerback in the class, and the Lions still need help at the position. So the Illinois product makes a lot of sense as an addition to an already impressive young core.
Detroit's draft plan is dependent on what happens with the picks in front of them. The Lions' roster is already in a spot where they should compete for the NFC North division title this season, so they can afford to go with a "best player available" approach.
Continuing to beef up the secondary isn't a bad idea. The quickest way to find success in the NFL is to land an elite quarterback, find a consistent pass rush and have a lockdown secondary. The Lions probably won't find the elite quarterback at No. 6, but landing Witherspoon would be a nice consolation.
