Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes is open to trading the second overall pick in the draft, and one of these four teams could make him an offer he can’t refuse.
Back at the Senior Bowl in early February, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes made it clear he was not married to keeping the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft. No general manager will ever shut the door on anything until it’s absolutely not possible, but Holmes was saying “hey call me” in Mobile.
At the NFL league meetings on Tuesday, via Kyle Meinke of MLive, Holmes said he has taken multiple calls about the second overall pick in the draft.
“Yeah, we’ve had dialogue with a couple of teams,” general manager Brad Holmes told a small group of reporters on Tuesday during a break at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. “I wouldn’t say it’s been a lot, but it has been a couple teams we’ve had some dialogue with.”
Holmes is not going say anything other than what he said. Draft smoke screen season is not quite in full-force yet for this year, but he’s not going to say no one has called–even if that was the case. As Meinke noted, Holmes said the same thing about fielding trade calls a year ago when the Lions had the seventh overall pick, and they were ecstatic to get Penei Sewell. It probably would’ve taken heaven and earth to get Holmes to move down and off that pick in 2021.
As for waiting until draft night to make a deal with the No. 2 pick, and perhaps seeing who the Jaguars take No. 1 overall, Holmes said he wouldn’t necessarily do that.
“Definitely we could pull that trade off, if the other team is willing, before the draft,” Holmes said.
Moving up to No. 2 overall is a glitzy idea, and too rich an idea for a lot of teams even if they want to. But which teams might be willing to do it?
Will there be an offer Holmes can’t refuse? An offer along that line to compel a move down for the Lions still feels more unlikely than likely, but if this NFL offseason has proven anything it’s that nothing is out of the question and deals might look bad for one end in the immediate aftermath.
Note: For hypothetical trades, I used Jimmy Johnson’s classic draft pick trade value chart as a reference point.
Detroit Lions 2022 NFL Draft: 4 teams who could make an offer Detroit can’t refuse for the No. 2 overall pick
4. Philadelphia Eagles-Three First-Round Picks
It seems the Eagles believe in quarterback Jalen Hurts, at least for his year. But they may find themselves in the quarterback market, via free agency or the draft, next year. They have three first-round picks this year to foster moves around the board (No. 15, No. 16 and No. 19), and for better or worse general manager Howie Roseman is not afraid to make deals.
It’s a huge hypothetical, but there may be someone the Eagles highly covet that will never reach them in the middle of the first round. So a bold move up, not unlike what they did to get Carson Wentz back in 2016, could be an order. Except this time, it might not necessarily be for a quarterback.
In an alternate universe that can’t be ruled out, maybe Roseman acquires the No. 2 overall pick before the draft and opens it up to trade offers when (or before) the Eagles go on the clock. Holmes will have to be keenly aware of possibly being that kind of enabler, but Philadelphia has the draft capital to get his attention.
Hypothetical trade:
Lions get: No. 15 overall (2022), No. 19 overall (2022), No. 51 overall (2022), 2023 second-round pick, 2023 third-round pick
Eagles get: No. 2 overall (2022), Fourth-round pick (2023 or 2024)
3. Atlanta Falcons, No. 8 overall
The Falcons are in state of transition, after failing to get Deshaun Watson and ultimately trading Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts as a residual of that. The eighth overall pick puts them in position to get someone like Willis as the quarterback of the future, or take a wide receiver to fill that significant void on their roster.
But it’s not out of the question for Atlanta to consider a move up to No. 2, likely to get Willis if they regard him that highly. But in some respect, the Falcons could want to move up for just about anyone (regardless of position) who they think won’t get to them at No. 8 and they’d not be wrong to consider it. Maybe they want Aidan Hutchinson that badly, if he’s there at No. 2, and the Lions are willing to pass on the University of Michigan product themselves.
Hypothetical trade:
Lions get: No. 8 overall (2022), DT Grady Jarrett, third-round pick (No. 74 overall, 2022), 2023 second-round pick, future third or fourth-round pick
Falcons get: No. 2 overall (2022), DE Michael Brockers
2. Seattle Seahawks, No. 9 overall
The Seahawks are also in a state of transition, with Russell Wilson gone and a few notables from the last chunk of years in Seattle perhaps not far behind if not already gone. But they did recoup a top-10 pick from Denver in the Wilson deal, which positions them to take a quarterback of the future if there’s an opportunity they like. And no, Drew Lock isn’t the long-term guy under center barring something unforeseen.
The Seahawks are in a position where they could offer a young, proven player (who they may not want to pay, given the market at said position) at a position of need for the Lions in a trade to move up to No. 2. That might be part of the ask on Holmes’ end, or talks with Seattle will be short-lived.
Hypothetical trade
Lions get: No. 9 overall (2022), WR DK Metcalf, first-round pick (2023 or 2024), second or third-round pick (2022, 2023 or 2024)
Seahawks get: No. 2 overall (2022), fifth or sixth-round pick (2022 or 2023)
1. Carolina Panthers, No. 6 overall
There is probably no more quarterback-thirsty team out there than the Panthers, having missed on Matthew Stafford, Deshaun Watson and others over the last couple offseasons. Owner David Tepper aspires to have a franchise quarterback, as he knows you can’t get anywhere lofty without one.
If the Panthers like Malik Willis enough to want make sure they get him, even if they keep Sam Darnold as a placeholder for next season, they may take heed of all the buzz attaching the Lions to the former Liberty signal caller and want to get up to No. 2. Holmes may be able to take advantage of some desperation here.
Hypothetical trade:
Lions get: No. 6 overall (2022), second-round pick (2023), first-round pick (2023 or 2024), second-round pick (2024), third-round pick (2023)
Panthers get: No. 2 overall (2022), future fourth-round pick