3. CB A.J. Terrell
Terrell went 16th overall to the Atlanta Falcons in the 2020 draft, and he has vastly outperformed the two cornerbacks taken before him (Okudah and C.J. Henderson–ninth overall).
His performance dropped off in 2022, but in 2021 Terrell had Pro Football Focus’ second-best coverage grade for a cornerback (85.6).
The Lions may have still made some of the signings they did this offseason to bolster their secondary if they had taken Terrell instead of Okudah back in 2020. But there would be no question about Terrell’s future in Detroit, and cornerback would not be as much of a future need beyond 2023.
2. DT Derrick Brown
Brown was not awful over his first two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, he just didn’t stand out like a top-10 pick (seventh overall) would be expected to. Last season was a breakout though, as he had 67 total tackles and was one of six interior defensive lineman to post Pro Football Focus grades of 75.0 or better as a run defender and a pass rusher. PFF credited him with 10 tackles for loss, and he also batted down seven passes.
Defensive tackle is now the Lions’ No. 1 need as the 2023 draft approaches. Taking Brown at No. 3, or taking an opportunity to move down a little and get him if there was one on the table, wouldn’t have looked great for a couple years. But it would look pretty good now, with Brown and Aidan Hutchinson as centerpieces of the defensive line.