Coach: Dan Campbell (second season, 3-13-1 in 2021)
Offensive Coordinator: Ben Johnson
Defensive Coordinator: Aaron Glenn
Offensive scheme: Once Dan Campbell started calling the plays in the Lions offense, the team put a lot more emphasis on an old-school pro-style offense, which leans towards running the ball on early downs more often than passing. This trend is likely to continue this year, as Ben Johnson has never been a coordinator or play-caller at any level in his coaching career.
Defensive scheme: With the hiring of Campbell, the Lions went from a Base 4-3 defense to a 3-4 look last season. Following the season, Campbell told reporters that the Lions would revert back to four-down linemen, with some three-down fronts. In the secondary, the Lions use both man and zone, but appear to gravitate towards a two-high zone defense.
The Lions, as of April 12th, hold nine draft picks, including the second overall selection. The Lions hold 3 of the draft’s top 34 picks, and five of the first 97. The Lions received three compensatory picks, one each in rounds three, five, and six, after losing Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Jamal Agnew, Jarrad Davis, and Matt Prater in the 2021 free agency period.
Lions Draft Picks:
| Round | Overall Pick | Value (JJ) | Value (RH) | Notes |
| 1 | 2 | 2600 | 717 | |
| 1 | 32 | 590 | 184 | From Rams (Matthew Stafford trade) |
| 2 | 34 | 560 | 175 | |
| 3 | 66 | 260 | 76 | |
| 3 | 97 | 112 | 38 | Compensatory Pick |
| 5 | 177 | 19 | 7 | Compensatory Pick |
| 6 | 181 | 17.4 | 7 | |
| 6 | 217 | 3 | 3 | Compensatory Pick |
| 7 | 234 | 1 | 2 | From Cleveland (2021 Draft pick trade) |
Total Draft Points:
Jimmy Johnson model: 4162.4
Rich Hill model: 1209
About Draft point models
The first model for assigning a point value to draft picks was designed by Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson during his time with the Dallas Cowboys. The valuations are designed to be used as a benchmark when determining the value of draft picks being traded between teams. The values are not hard coded and teams may have different valuations based on need or organizational philosophy. The Rich Hill model was derived, at least in part, due to a differing philosophy of pick value by Patriots coach Bill Belichick. As you may see in the chart above, the revised model puts an added emphasis on early picks and smooths out the value later on in the draft.
What Will the Lions do at the draft?
With the second overall pick, and three in the first 34, the Lions have a strong opportunity to add talent to their roster.
What to do with the second pick:
1. Take an edge rusher, Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson (if available), Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, or Georgia edge rusher Travon Walker.
2. Take Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton
3. Take a QB, potentially Liberty QB Malik Willis.
In an ideal world for the Lions, the Jaguars opt to take an offensive lineman at 1 or otherwise opt against going for Hutchinson. Hutchinson is a perfect a fit as you can get with the Lions Base 4-3 and can step in from Day 1. Thibodeaux would also be a fine consolation prize, as he plays a similar style to Hutchinson and has a higher ceiling due to his athleticism; however, questions have been raised about Thibodeaux’s motor, which may cause his stock to drop out of the top five picks.
Either Hamilton or Willis would be reaches at 2, but both could satisfy needs. Hamilton is a 6’4″ 220 lbs hybrid who would excel at free safety but could play anywhere from slot corner to passing down linebacker. Willis would be a significant risk-reward pick at two, as he has the potential to be a great dual threat QB, but he is very raw and would require refinement, much like Niners QB Trey Lance.
The Lions also have two picks at the turn, the 32nd – last of the first round – and 34th selections. There is growing chatter amongst pundits that the Lions would go best player available at 2, then take the best QB available at 32, with the additional year of control, and again go with BPA at 34 (a safety or receiver potentially). If taking a quarterback, the Lions would need to determine whether that QB is a future cornerstone player, or if they will be back at the same place next season, which a much better crop expected in the 2023 draft. If the front office believes that they will be in the running for Bryce Young next year, it wouldn’t make sense to commit to a starting QB this year.
Roster Analysis
The Lions were quiet in free agency, content to retain members of their team and a few free agents, largely on one-year deals. They brought LB Jarrad Davis back to the team (he left for the Jets last season), and signed CB Mike Hughes, WR DJ Chark, LB Chris Board, and TE Garrett Griffin. DE Trey Flowers and LB Jalen Reaves-Maybin were the biggest names to leave the club this offseason.
The Lions have significant needs everywhere on the defensive side of the football, with really only EDGE Charles Harris, CB Amani Oruwariye, and S Tracy Walker really acquitting themselves to any real credit. On offense, there is a lot to like, with the exception of the QB position, and possibly the top end of the WR room.
Depth Charts
Quarterback
Starter: Jared Goff
Reserves: Tim Boyle, David Blough, Steven Montez
Expected Draft Action: QB will be taken. The Lions are locked in with Jared Goff for the 2022 season, as they would be on the hook for a $30.5 million dead cap hit if they were to release him prior to June 1st. The Lions may opt to use one of their first round selections on his replacement, or opt to take a lower risk backup type QB with a later selection and roll the dice on being able to take a blue chip QB in the 2023 draft (which would, of course, mean hard times are ahead of Detroit).
Potential Fits: Malik Willis, Liberty (if using the 1-2 pick); Sam Howell, UNC (if using the 1-32 pick); Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky (if using a later pick).
Running Back
Starters: D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams
Reserves: Craig Reynolds, Jermar Jefferson, Godwin Igwubuike
Expected Draft Action: None or depth. The Lions are pretty well situated in the run game – Swift ranked fourth in the league in receptions by a RB in 2021 with 62, while rushing for 617 yards and 5 TDs. Jamaal Williams is an underrated back as well, he ran for 601 yards and caught 26 passes of his own. When Williams and Swift were both injured late in the season, journeyman RB Craig Reynolds played very well, rushing for 83 yards against the Broncos in Week 13 and 112 yards in an upset win over the Cardinals in Week 14. The Lions may take a RB with a late pick or search the free agent bin post-draft to fill any outstanding RB spots in camp.
Wide Receiver
Starters: DJ Chark, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds
Reserves: Kalif Raymond, Quintez Cephus, Javon McKinley, Trinity Benson, Tom Kennedy
Expected Draft Action: Depth. The Lions signed DJ Chark on a one-year bet-on-yourself deal following four injury-plagued seasons in Jacksonville. There is potential here, Chark had 73 catches for 1008 yards and 8 TDs in his relatively healthy season, 2019. His ability to stretch the field will help, if healthy, which is a significant IF. 2021 fourth rounder Amon-Ra St. Brown was a relevation late in the season, after Dan Campbell took over play-calling duties and focused on getting his rookie WR more involved in the offense. There is some depth here, but the Lions could use a pick in the middle rounds to shore up their receiving corps.
Potential Fit: Christian Watson, North Dakota State; Skyy Moore, Western Michigan; Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama; Wan’Dale Robinson, Kentucky
Tight End
Starter: TJ Hockenson
Reserves: Griffin Garrett, Brock Wright, Hunter Bryant, Jared Pinkney, Shane Zylstra, Matt Sokol
Expected Draft Action: None. In TJ Hockenson, the Lions have a player that can be a safety valve in the passing game, and is a good blocker (though results have been mixed, largely due to injury). A decision is to be made on whether to lock him in to the fifth-year option by May 2nd, and the draft will go some way in determining whether the Lions will lock him in or go another route. The best guess here is that the Lions will lock him in for the fifth season. The Lions may seek to find some insurance for Hockenson in the mid-to-late rounds, as there are no real pass-catching options on their roster as is current situated, though with the sheer number of TE on their roster, it would appear unlikely that they’d look outside the organization past this group at this time.
Offensive Line
Starters: LT Taylor Decker, LG Jonah Jackson, C Frank Ragnow, RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai, RT Penei Sewell
Reserves: T Matt Nelson, Dan Skipper; G Logan Stenberg, Tommy Kraemer; C Evan Brown, Ryan McCollum
Expected Draft Action: None or depth. For a three-win team, the Lions have a very strong offensive line, with solid bookends in Decker and Sewell and a Pro Bowl C in Ragnow. Decker and Ragnow each missed significant time in 2021, and they’ll both need to be healthy for this unit to be one of the stronger ones in the league, but they do have serviceable backups in Evan Brown and Matt Nelson. While it never hurts to bring on more linemen, this is not an area of need for 2021.
Defensive Line
Starters: DE Michael Brockers, NT Alim McNeill, 3T Levi Onwuzurike
Reserves: DE Romeo Okwara; NT John Penisini, Jashon Cornell; 3T Bruce Hector, Eric Banks
Expected Draft Action: Picks across D-line.
Potential Fits: DE/5T Joshua Paschal, Kentucky; DE George Karlaftis, Purdue; DE/5T/3T Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina; DE Cameron Thomas, San Diego State; DE Zach Carter, Florida; NT Travis Jones, UCONN; 3T Phidarian Mathis, Alabama; 3T Matthew Butler, Tennessee; 3T Kalia Davis, UCF
Edge Rushers/Rush Defensive Ends/Outside Linebackers
Starters: Charles Harris, Julian Okwara
Reserves: Austin Bryant, Jessie Lemonier, RaShod Berry
Expected Draft Action: Starter, possible 1-2 pick. While Detroit will play mostly in a Base 4-3 set, the edge rushers will likely be expected to play both standing up and with their hand in the dirt. Michigan DE/EDGE Aidan Hutchinson and Oregon DE/EDGE Kayvon Thibodeau are perfect fits for this defensive scheme and Detroit is likely to take a long look at each of these players in the pre-draft process.
Potential Fits: Hutchinson; Thibodeaux; Boye Mafe, Minnesota
Inside/Strong-Side Linebackers
Starters: Alex Anzalone, Jarrad Davis
Reserves: Shaun Dion Hamilton, Derrick Barnes, Chris Board, Josh Woods, Anthony Pittman, Curtis Bolton, Tavante Beckett
Expected Draft Action: Starter(s). Davis and Board were both signed to compete for one (or both) of the starting ILB spots, but both are on one-year deals and should not be considered a hindrance to the Lions taking a linebacker in the draft. In fact, it would be surprising if the Lions don’t take at least one. If Nakobe Dean or Devin Lloyd were to slip into the bottom portion of the first round, the Lions should jump at the opportunity.
Potential Fit: ILB Quay Walker, Georgia; ILB Damone Clark, LSU (if he slips into Day 3 – he requires a year to recover from back surgery); SLB Chad Muma, Wyoming; SLB Jesse Luketa; ILB Leo Chenal
Cornerbacks
Starters: Amani Oruwariye, Jeff Okudah, AJ Parker
Reserves: Ifeatu Melifonwu, Mike Hughes, Will Harris (slot), Mark Gilbert, Bobby Price, Parnell Motley, Saivion Smith
Expected Draft Action: Depth. With the emergence of CB Amani Oruwariye as a bona fide starting corner, Jeff Okudah and Ifeatu Melifonwu will likely battle it out for the CB2 spot this coming season. Both suffered season-ending injuries early in the 2021 season and will be looking for bounce-back seasons, while Mike Hughes is in from Kansas City to add depth at the position. AJ Parker and Will Harris will likely be in a battle for the slot. For the Lions, they’ll look for someone to challenge for the second corner spot and/or add depth to the unit, along with a steadier nickel/slot option.
Potential Fit: CB Joshua Williams, Fayetteville State; CB Zyom McCollum, Sam Houston State; SCB Damarri Mathis, Pitt; CB/S Joshua Jobe
Safeties
Starters: Tracy Walker, Will Harris
Reserves: CJ Moore, Brady Breeze, JuJu Hughes, Jalen Elliott
Expected Draft Action: Starter, Depth. Harris may be competing for the slot corner job, which would open up a starting spot at safety for the Lions. There are a number of options that will be available to the Lions at 32 or 34, should they look to use one of those picks from one of the (non-Hamilton) elite safeties in the class, including Dax Hill, from down the road in Ann Arbor.
Potential Fits: Dax Hill, Michigan; Lewis Cine, Georgia; Jaquan Brisker, Penn State
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