Detroit Lions: The disturbing draft history of the third overall pick
The Detroit Lions own the third overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. But based on that pick’s history, landing an impact player is far from guaranteed.
The 2019 Detroit Lions earned themselves a top selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, which is scheduled for late April. The Lions posted a dubious record of 3-12-1 last season, losing their final nine games to earn the third overall pick.
The expectation is the Lions will able to retool quickly and make the team a playoff contender this upcoming season. And Detroit’s high first-rounder is expected to be the crown jewel of that resurgence to relevance this offseason.
Unfortunately, a dive into the history of the third overall pick reveals a troubling trend and one name that might disturb longtime fans of the Lions. Below is the list of those former third overall selections since the year 2000.
2019 – Quinnen Williams, DT – New York Jets
2018 – Sam Darnold, QB – New York Jets
2017 – Solomon Thomas, DE – San Francisco 49ers
2016 – Joey Bosa, DE – San Diego Chargers
2015 – Dante Fowler, LB – Jacksonville Jaguars
2014 – Blake Bortles, QB – Jacksonville Jaguars
2013 – Dion Jordan, DE – Miami Dolphins
2012 – Trent Richardson, RB – Cleveland Browns
2011 – Marcell Dareus, DT – Buffalo Bills
2010 – Gerald McCoy, DT – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2009 – Tyson Jackson, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
2008 – Matt Ryan, QB – Atlanta Falcons
2007 – Joe Thomas, OT – Cleveland Browns
2006 – Vince Young, QB – Tennessee Titans
2005 – Braylon Edwards, WR – Cleveland Browns
2004 – Larry Fitzgerald, WR – Arizona Cardinals
2003 – Andre Johnson, WR – Houston Texans
2002 – Joey Harrington, QB – Detroit Lions
2001 – Gerard Warren, DT – Cleveland Browns
2000 – Chris Samuels, OT – Washington Redskins
Obviously, the name that Lions’ fans will recognize most here is Harrington. The former Oregon passer lasted just four seasons in Detroit. And the team never finished with a record better than 6-10 while the former 2002 third overall pick was under center in the Motor City.
There are certainly some big names and possible future Hall of Famers on this list too. Players like Fitzgerald, Thomas, Johnson, McCoy, and Ryan. But you’d expect to see more All-Pros and Pro Bowlers with this high of a selection. In fact, only one player, Bosa, has even been selected to a Pro Bowl from this list who was drafted after 2011.
Instead, the draft busts seem very prominent here. Infamous names like Harrington, Richardson, Fowler, Bortles, plus a slew of other unknowns that should put fear into Detroit fans.
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There’s a growing sense that if the Detroit Lions have any chance of pulling themselves out of the NFC North gutter this season, they’ll need to hit a home run with their top draft selection. And that player will need to have an immediate impact.
But the history of the third overall selection combined with general manager Bob Quinn’s own mediocre history of first-rounders suggests that possibility is far from but guaranteed and bordering on unlikely.