SideLion Report
FanSided

Detroit Lions top 15 draft picks from 2007-2021

By Brad Berreman

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 21: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions warms up before his game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 21, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 21: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions warms up before his game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 21, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images /

S. Quandre Diggs. Pick Analysis. 2015-2019. 8. player. 50. Scouting Report

Diggs proved to be a draft steal for the Lions (fifth-round in 2015), transitioning from corner to safety and becoming a productive player and leader in the secondary. But of course he was one of many veterans who hated playing for Matt Patricia, and he was traded to Seattle during the 2019 season.

Diggs seemed open to a return to Detroit in free agency this offseason, but it was not be as he returned to the Seahawks. But his place on this top-15 draft pick list for the Lions in the last 15 drafts is solidified.

2013-2019. Darius Slay. 7. player. 50. Scouting Report. CB. Pick Analysis

At his peak with the Lions, and frankly continuing lately with the Eagles, Slay provided an avoidable matchup if your fantasy WR1 was going to go up against him in a week (affectionately referred to as a “Slay Ride”).

Slay was a first-round caliber corneback coming out of Mississippi State in 2013, and the Lions were able to nab him early in the second (No. 36 overall). He led the league in interceptions in 2017 (eight), and earned  three straight Pro Bowl nods in a Lions uniform (2017-2019). Then, naturally, rather than pay him market value or low-ball him to pave the way fo his exit, former Lions general manager Bob Quinn traded Slay to the Eagles for third and fifth-round picks in 2020.

DT. 2010-2014. Ndamukong Suh. player. 50. Pick Analysis. 6. Scouting Report

The last time the Lions had the second overall pick, as they do this year, they landed Suh. A controversial figure at times, as he toed the line of dirty play and occasionally crossed it, there’s no denying how good he was in Detroit.

Suh was NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2010, as he had 10 sacks. In five seasons as a Lion he earned a Pro Bowl selection four times, and All-Pro honors four times as well.

Suh has remained a productive player into his 30s. Getting down to it, he was never going to last through a second contract with the Lions and he took a pay day when he could.

Home/Lions History