Thursday night bring the start of the 2024 NFL Draft, and a merciful end to all the rumors, smoke screens, etc. when players are finally picked by their first NFL teams. The Detroit Lions are in the fortunate position of having a lot of options in the opening round. They could stand pat and take the best player available, trade up for someone they really love, or traded down and out of the first round if that makes sense.
According to Albert Breer of SI.com, the Lions are looking to trade up in the first round.
"Among the teams exploring a trade up are the Detroit Lions, who are sitting at 29,” Breer wrote. “After two consecutive years of multiple first-round picks (which brought them Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jack Campbell), the Lions are likely looking for an edge opposite Hutchinson, or perhaps another corner.”
Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report also had the Lions on a list of teams who've shown the most interest in trading up in the first round.
NFL Draft notes I’ve gathered after speaking with multiple team sources:
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 25, 2024
• As many teams expect a flurry of 1st-round trades, sources believe these are the teams who’ve shown the most interest in trading up: Giants, Jets, Vikings Raiders, Colts, Jaguars, Bills, Lions and… pic.twitter.com/5cAx6CWTsg
In the first round of the 2022 draft, the Lions made a bold trade up from No. 32 to No. 12 for wide receiver Jameson Williams. A lack of overall draft capital compared to past years could be a challenge for a trade up this year though.
NFL Draft rumors: Detroit Lions looking to move up from No. 29?
During his pre-draft press conference last week, Lions general manager Brad Holmes addressed the idea of trading up.
"If it’s the player that we want, we’re just going to go and get them,” Holmes said. “There are a lot of boxes that need to be checked. I think we kind of said it a little bit at the end of the season, everybody can’t play here. It’s got to be identified. That player has to be identified as, ‘Okay, he’s checked all those boxes. He’s the right pick and he’s the right fit.’”
On Wednesday, during an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket, head coach Dan Campbell suggested this year's draft has a drop-off after the top-15 picks.
"There’s good players all through this draft, just like any..... But look, I know that if you get one of these players in the top 15, you’re going to get a heck of a player. And then after that, there’s a good little run there of potential starters, guys you think can come in and compete to start, or grow into it," Campbell said.
Holmes and Campbell have both also talked about the possibility of trading down from No. 29. So what's clear is an embrace of the unknown, as expected, and all options are on the table.