Detroit Lions Draft: Five Draft Trades to Consider

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Mississippi offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Mississippi offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Trade Up with the Cleveland Browns

The deal: Detroit trades No. 16, No. 46 and Gabe Wright to the Browns for No. 8 overall

On the premise of “doing whatever it takes” to land the most impactful player possible, this out-of-left-field stunner would allow the Lions to select Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. It’s highly debatable that a guy who was widely seen as the No. 1 overall pick just last month could fall so precipitously, but strange things happen behind the scenes.

Brainstorm! While writing that very paragraph I was struck with an even more grandiose, more egregiously speculative notion: Make the deal No. 8 and Joe Thomas for the Lions first and second rounders this year and first rounder in 2017. No, I haven’t been drinking…

With Joe freaking Thomas in the fold at left tackle, that eighth pick flips to the defensive side of the ball. Sheldon Rankins, come on down, you’re the newest Detroit Lions defensive tackle. On the Cleveland side, they use the picks to take Notre Dame WR Will Fuller and Texas Tech OT LeRaven Clark, after using their own second-round pick on Stanford QB Kevin Hogan.

Next: Deal with the Bengals