Detroit Lions earn third overall selection in 2020 NFL Draft
With their loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the Detroit Lions secured themselves the third overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Detroit Lions entered their matchup against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 with nothing on the line other than their selection position in the 2020 NFL Draft. And although the Lions nearly pulled off an upset victory over their divisional rivals, the Packers would end up securing the victory with a last-second field goal, 23-20.
For the 3-12-1 Lions, it was their ninth-straight loss and Detroit will finish in the basement of the NFC North for the second season in a row. With both general manager Bob Quinn and second-year head coach Matt Patricia given a reprieve by Lions ownership for another year in the Motor City, this disappointing duo will get premium draft picks in 2020 to aid their efforts in what could be their final season.
Entering Week 17, the Lions possessed the third overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft with one game left to be played. With Detroit losing to the Packers, a Washington Redskins win over the favored Dallas Cowboys Sunday afternoon would have moved the Lions up to the second overall pick. And that would presumably give Motown a chance to draft Ohio State pass rusher Chase Young.
If the Lions would have beaten the Packers, Detroit could have dropped all the way down to the fifth overall selection as both the 4-11 New York Giants and the 4-11 Miami Dolphins could have leapfrogged them with losses in Week 17.
With the Cincinnati Bengals locking up the number one overall selection with a record of 2-14, the battle for the number two pick was between the Lions and the Redskins. Unfortunately for Detroit, the Cowboys blew out Washington on Sunday afternoon, 47-16, cementing the Redskins as the owners of the second overall selection in the 2020 draft.
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The Detroit Lions now have the third overall selection in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. And that high-status trickles down to the rest of the rounds as well. Although it seems unlikely Detroit will be able to draft Ohio State’s Chase Young, they are in a position to obtain a high-end prospect. The Lions could also look to trade down for more draft ammunition, perhaps to a quarterback-needy franchise.