With their first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions were able to get the top-rated offensive tackle in Penei Sewell out of Oregon.
You can pencil Sewell in as the starting right tackle but the Lions are going to need a lot more than that before they are truly ready to start contending for an NFC North title and eventually more.
In order to build a contender, a general manager has to be able to identify the talent he wants and he then needs to be able to acquire it.
Sometimes getting the player you identify as a future Pro Bowler means making a bold move and that is exactly what Lions GM Brad Holmes has to be considering right now as he prepares for Round 2 to begin on Friday night.
In a piece published in The Athletic on Friday, Nick Baumgardner listed a couple of players who might be worth trading up for.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
An off-ball linebacker who can move in space. The Lions are in desperate need of more speed and agility in the middle of their defense and Owusu-Koramoah would absolutely give that to Detroit. He’s small (6-foot-2, 221 pounds) but he’s a modern second-level defender. Not sure if he’ll make it to 41, but he might even be worth moving up for.
Azeez Ojulari, Edge, Georgia
The No. 16-ranked player on Dane Brugler’s big board, Ojulari is one of the top edge prospects in this class and arguably the most explosive edge rusher. He does not have ideal size at 6-t-2, 249 — it’s unclear what he’d be able to give Detroit from a coverage perspective. But in terms of pure pass rush, you can’t do better in this draft than Ojulari. The value would be outstanding if he makes it to 41. He also might be worth trading up for.
Nation, what do you think about the Lions potentially trading up for either JOK or Ojulari?
