Detroit Lions have traded for the top pick in the draft; Saquon Barkley?
The Detroit Lions are allegedly making a big move in the upcoming NFL draft, trading multiple picks to the Cleveland Browns for the number one overall pick.
Note: This article was originally published on April 1, 2018.
Unconfirmed breaking news coming out of the Motor City on Sunday, April 1st, indicates that the Detroit Lions are trading up for the first overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Prior to this news, the Lions owned the 20th overall pick in the first round. Now, they’ll trade multiple picks in order to move up 19 spots to presumably draft Penn State running back Saquon Barkley.
Detroit will give up their first round selection (20th), their third round pick (82nd) and their eighth round selection (277th) in 2018 plus their first and second round picks in 2019.
It’s certainly a high-price tag, all to secure the top pick in next month’s event. But the Lions have possessed a lackluster ground game for several years. In fact, the last time Detroit had a running back gain a 1,000-yards or more in a season was 2014. That being Reggie Bush, who gained just six-yards over the milestone that year.
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Running the ball has not been a cornerstone for the Lions’ success recently, having posted three winning records and two postseason appearances in the past four years.
Yet, Detroit certainly believes possessing a more balanced offense is key to getting them over the playoff hump. The last time the Lions won a postseason game was 1992, with a young third-year running back in Barry Sanders in their backfield.
This rumored move by the Lions shows their all-out commitment to improving on what was the NFL’s worst rushing offense last season. And there is little doubt that this unconfirmed trade was made to secure the services of the top-rated running back in this upcoming draft, Barkley.
The former Penn State star rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons with the Nittany Lions. Many consider Barkley the best running back prospect in a decade.
Next: Should the Detroit Lions trade for Odell Beckham Jr.?
Unfortunately, the Detroit Lions have not made this trade (but maybe they should). It’s April Fools fans! The above story is entirely fake! As is tradition, we like to have a bit of fun with our awesome fan base once a year. Tell us in the comment section below if we got you or not. And feel free to share this April Fool’s Day article with a fellow Lions’ fan and report their reaction.