Detroit Lions could land No. 2 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft

Depending on how Week 17 shakes out, the Detroit Lions could emerge with the number two overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Detroit Lions clearly have some major needs going into next year. Coming off a disappointing season where new head coach Matt Patricia was unable to reproduce the results of his predecessor in Detroit, Jim Caldwell, the Lions now face the difficult task of rebuilding.

Although there has been recent speculation about his future in the Motor City, quarterback Matthew Stafford figures to still be the centerpiece in which Patricia and company will build around.

What could really help in that effort is landing a high selection spot in the 2019 NFL Draft. And depending upon the results following this Sunday’s action in the NFL, Detroit could find themselves possessing the second overall pick … or the tenth.

Justin Rogers of the Detroit News broke down the Lions’ possible landings spots in the upcoming draft depending upon the outcome of Week 17.

"“With the weakest strength of schedule of the five teams with 5-10 records, the Lions score a valuable tie-breaker, netting the highest selection from that group … If the Lions lose [to the Packers], the team could technically be selecting as high as No. 2, but would most likely slot into the No. 5 spot. A win in Green Bay could drop the Lions as low as 10th in the first round … “"

That’s a pretty wide gap between the second overall selection and the 10th overall pick. The Lions currently have a 5-10 record. Only four other teams have a worse record, and five have a matching record. In order for Detroit to secure a possible top-five selection, they would have to lose to the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau on Sunday.

In order for the Lions to jump up to the coveted number two spot, the San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders would all have to win their Week 17 matchups. That seems unlikely considering the Niners play the 12-3 Los Angeles Rams, the Jets play the 10-5 New England Patriots and the Raiders play the 11-4 Kansas City Chiefs.

As all three of these opponents are already playoff bound, the hope has to be that each will opt to rest their star players in Week 17.

If the Detroit Lions are able to upset the Packers on Sunday, their draft status will be determined by the matchups involving the other 5-10 teams. Those include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New York Giants, the Buffalo Bills, and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Buccaneers play the 6-9 Atlanta Falcons, the Giants play the 9-6 Dallas Cowboys, the Bills play the 7-8 Miami Dolphins while the Jaguars will face the 10-5 Houston Texans.