After putting together one of the best free agency classes of any team in the NFL, the Detroit Lions are going into the 2023 NFL Draft with more freedom that most.

The offense should stay intact in all the ways that matter, and the defense has taken massive strides forward with some excellent signings by Brad Holmes.

Now, the only question that remains is which positions do the Lions need to target with their highest-value picks?

There is no right or wrong answer.

The Lions have already addressed all of their main needs, and this team is in a perfect position to compete for a deep run into the playoffs in a still-weak NFC.

Who they use their first two picks on changes this equation little.

So, while many people have predicted that the first player off the board for the Lions will be a defender (edge or corner), it would be wise to at least start preparing for the contingency that this front office feels comfortable taking a quarterback.

Fans will probably roll their eyes at this notion. The team is in a win-now mode after 30 years of failure. Why draft a quarterback that will do nothing to help with this push? 

Well, even if the Lions do spend the sixth-overall pick on a quarterback, they still have another at 18 where they can take a starting-caliber edge or corner to contribute immediately.

There are only so many spots that are open for new starters, and it is fair to reason that the team can address most of those with their other picks before Day Three while also finding a way to snag a quarterback talent to stash away for the future.

Jared Goff may be the answer for right now, but is he a long-term option? That much still remains to be seen, and putting all your eggs in one basket at the most important position in the sport is a dangerous prospect.

Regardless of what the Lions do in the first round, they are contenders in 2023. Little in the draft will impact this in one way or another.

Based on the re-signing of Nate Sudfeld and the other free agent signings at key positions, it seems like the Lions are starting to believe their freedom could offer them an opportunity to gamble a little, even if it takes some resources away from the present.