I am not going to lie. Heading into Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers, I was rooting hard for the Detroit Lions to pull off the upset. By doing so, the Lions would have put themselves in a prime position to make a run at the final Wild Card playoff spot in the NFC.
But, the first-place Packers were just too much for the Lions to handle and when all was said and done, the Lions lost the game to move to 5-8 on the season, all but eliminating themselves from the playoffs. (Note: technically, they still have a shot if they were to win out and can get some help)
That being said, by losing on Sunday, the Lions actually put themselves in a different “prime position.”
With their loss, the Lions now hold the No. 11 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, but they are in striking distance of moving all the way up to No. 4 by the time the season is over. In fact, as you can see below, the Lions are just one game behind the Dallas Cowboys, who currently hold the No. 4 selection.
If the Lions end up losing out (very possible as they play the Titans, Buccaneers, and Vikings), they would finish the season with a 5-11 record and potentially a Top 5 draft pick.
Finishing 5-11 and earning a Top 5 pick, coupled with a new head coach and GM coming in for the 2021 season, may just be enough for the Lions to decide it is time to move on from Matthew Stafford and draft a quarterback. And with a Top 5 pick, the Lions would be able to get a good prospect. (More on that later)
