DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – The tides are turning in favor of the Detroit Lions after the 2022 season and the latest NFL Draft. Mel Kiper, who critiques all the NFL teams after the draft, gave the Lions a ‘B’ on their 2023 draft class.

General Manager Brad Holmes said, “We don’t want to take a step back and we don’t wan to stay stagnant. So, we got to get to the point where we can put ourselves in a position where we can get in the postseason and ultimately make some noise.”

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Detroit traded down their no. 6 pick to no. 12 and took Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs. They then took Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell at the no. 18 pick. Holmes believes both players will make immediate impacts on the team.

In round two, Detroit took tight end Sam LaPorta from Iowa at no. 34 who is the all-time leader in receptions for a tight end at 153. Safety Brian Branch was the no. 45 pick coming out of Alabama as the Lions traded up three spots to get him. He was a second-team All-American. A headline pick was Hedon Hooker at no.68. The former Tennessee quarterback are taking a chance on him after he tore his ACL towards the end of the season. He had 3,135 passing yards in 11 games played.

Brodric Martin, a defensive tackle from Western Kentucky, was the only pick in round three. He had 31 tackles and 1.5 sacks in one year at WKU after three years with North Alabama. In the fifth round, Cobly Sorsdal was taking at no. 152 out of William and Mary as an offensive tackle. The final pick was Antoine Green, a wide receivers from North Carolina in round seven at no. 219.

The Lions addressed their needs in this draft and are gearing up for a playoff run in 2023.