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After starting off the 2022 season with a 1-6 record, there was plenty of talk about the Detroit Lions potentially “earning” the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. But rather than throwing in the towel, the team rallied and ended up winning eight of their final ten games to finish with a 9-8 record. Because of that, Detroit just missed the playoffs, and rather than having the No. 1 pick, their selection will come at No. 18. That being said, GM Brad Holmes is not only going to have the No. 18 pick, but he is also going to have a serious chunk of house money to play with when the draft rolls around. Because of that, Holmes may just decide to roll the dice in the opening round.
Brad Holmes will have some ‘House Money' to work with
As noted above, by finishing with a 9-8 record, the Lions earned the No. 18 overall pick in the opening round of the NFL Draft. But, Holmes will also have some house money to work with.
- Detroit has the No. 18 pick
- Detroit will also have the No. 6 overall pick via the Los Angeles Rams (Matthew Stafford trade)
- The No. 6 pick could be treated as “House Money” for Brad Holmes
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Why it Matters for the Lions
Because Detroit will have an additional first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Holmes could decide that now is the time to roll the dice.
- The Lions are certainly on the rise
- They may not have a top 6 pick again for a long time
- Holmes could decide to select a QB to groom for the future
‘Rolling the dice' options
If Holmes does decide to use one of his two first-round picks as house money, he could have some options on the table, including the following:
- Use the No. 6 pick to select either QB C.J. Stroud or QB Will Levis (Or even Bryce Young if he somehow falls)
- Use the No. 18 pick to select QB Anthony Richardson
- Use the No. 18 pick to select RB Bijan Robinson (Move on from D'Andre Swift after this season)
- Use the No. 18 pick to select either WR Quentin Johnson or WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Let CJ Chark Walk)
Personally, I am on the ‘select all defense in the first round' train, but, the NFL Draft is all about building for the future, and not necessarily the now, and Holmes could just have the itch to let his house money ride!
