Evaluations and grades for each Detroit Lions pick in 2023 NFL Draft
By Zach Payne
Round 3, Pick 96: Brodric Martin, DT, Western Kentucky
To close out the second day of the draft, the Lions aggressively moved up, packaging three picks to select Brodric Martin. While it appeared to be a reach to some, the move made sense for Detroit, who needed help on the interior defensive line.
Martin is a huge hulking nose tackle who can eat up blocks and contribute significantly against the run. However, there is much to be desired from him as a pass rusher. He is a similar archetype to Isaiah Buggs, and will serve as his backup this season.
You can never have enough run defenders. And if Buggs had gone down the Lions did not exactly have a backup plan in place. Now they do, ensuring they have another run-stuffing nose tackle to plug the middle of the line.
Grade: B-
Round 5, Pick 152: Colby Sorsdal, OT, William & Mary
Picking up the action on the final day of the draft, Detroit opted to target a developmental offensive line prospect in Sorsdal. Given the fact he went to William & Mary in the FCS, not many people knew much about him. The ones that did know of him raved about him.
.@WMTribeFootball @colby_sorsdal is a day 3 prospect who wasn’t invited to the combine was has 4 critical components; he has size, he has experience , moves very well; and most of all he has toughness. Good looking prospect to me. #nfldraft #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/lB6DVyOGJV
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) April 8, 2023
Detroit heavily utilizes formations with six offensive linemen, so it is possible Sorsdal will compete with Matt Nelson for playing time right away as the extra tackle. If not, he should be a developmental tackle that could possibly kick inside to guard down the road.
The Lions needed a guy like this at some point in the draft. Someone that can sit and learn behind some of the veteran linemen and possibly start later in his career. Not a sexy pick, but a solid and necessary one for offensive line depth.