Overall:
Sporting News (6. Detroit Lions - Grade: A. Draft picks: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, LB Jack Campbell, TE Sam LaPorta, S Brian Branch, QB Hendon Hooker, DT Brodric Martin, OT Colby Sorsdal, WR Antoine Green. Analysis: There's a tendency to knock the Lions for Brad Holmes, their GM, getting a little aggressive and perhaps over-drafting Gibbs and Campbell a little in the first round. But Detroit is in "win big" now mode and those players will have massive immediate impact, much like Aidan Hutchinson. LaPorta and Branch also were great values to fill two more voids. Getting Hooker to stash behind Jared Goff was gravy. Detroit is a lot more than strong NFC North favorite in 2023.): https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-draft-grades-2023-best-worst-classes/renlvvjn6ynaltohxjoz37yv
CBS Prisco (Detroit Lions: A. Best Pick: I love the pick of tight end Sam LaPorta in the second round. He's a playmaking tight end who can run like a receiver. Jared Goff will love him. The offense will be better with his skills. Worst Pick: Can you like a player and not like the pick? That's the way I see it with 12th overall pick Jamyr Gibbs. He is a running back who is more of an air back, but I still think he went too high. You don't take backs that high. The Skinny: The Lions and general manager Brad Holmes did some really good things over the weekend. They have positioned their roster for now and the future if third-round quarterback Hendon Hooker is good. I don't like taking a back high, but Gibbs might be more than that. Watch out for third-round defensive tackle Brodric Martin. He is a power player inside. Nice job.): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/priscos-2023-nfl-draft-grades-for-all-32-teams-eagles-cowboys-bengals-lions-get-as-4-tie-for-worst-mark/
Walter football (Detroit Lions: A- Grade. Goals Entering the 2023 NFL Draft: The Lions have the tools to make a Super Bowl run this year, so they need to acquire players who can help them win this year. This includes an elite running back, a talented cornerback, and an upgrade at linebacker. Going with the best player available in early rounds makes the most sense. 2023 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Detroit's draft class was panned by clueless members of the media, but I thought Brad Holmes did a terrific job of navigating through the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions were set on Devon Witherspoon at No. 6, but after the Seahawks unexpectedly drafted him, Holmes did a good job of moving down to No. 12. The Lions then shocked everyone who doesn't read WalterFootball.com by selecting Jahmyr Gibbs. While this was seen as a reach, Gibbs was projected as a top-five prospect in this class by several teams, as he possesses Jamaal Charles- and Alvin Kamara-type upside. The Jets would have drafted Gibbs if the top four tackles were off the board, which turned out to be the case. I think the Lions went a bit early on Jack Campbell, but then again, the Iowa linebacker had suitors in the 20s, as Charlie Campbell reported that the Giants had interest in Campbell if the top four receivers were gone, which was also the case. It would have been ideal had the Lions traded down a few spots and then gotten Campbell, but Detroit traded plenty of times on Day 2, acquiring numerous extra resources in the process. As for the actual picks, they obtained a talented tight end (Sam LaPorta), a gifted, versatile defensive back (Brian Branch), and a quarterback of the future (Hendon Hooker). The three picks scored "B," A+ and A+. Branch and Hooker were absolute steals. I didn't like a couple of picks the Lions made in the late rounds, but that won't hurt their overall score very much. The draft didn't quite fall Detroit's way, but Holmes still acquired talented prospects and extra picks with some timely trades): https://walterfootball.com/nfldraftgradesteam.php
CBS Trapasso (Detroit Lions - Dan Campbell and Co. took us on an espresso-fueled roller-coaster ride in this draft. Gibbs is my kind of back. Silky smooth and fast. Really, really fast. That doesn't mean picking him at No. 12 overall was a good idea -- although being after a trade back helped. Jack Campbell is a stud. Contrary to the masses, I believed he was worthy of being a middle-of-the-first-round pick. LaPorta and Branch were tremendous finds in Round 2. Hooker is a strange long-term option at quarterback given his age -- I was much lower on him than most anyway -- and Martin is a monstrous specimen with tentacles for arms but doesn't have the athleticism to be a pass-rushing presence in the NFL. Loved the Antoine Green selection in Round 7. He'll outplay that draft position. Grade: A-): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-draft-2023-team-by-team-grades-broncos-lions-colts-earn-high-marks-and-state-of-pennsylvania-cleans-up/
PFF (Day 1: Gibbs is the second-ranked running back on the PFF big board, but he is also just the 34th-ranked prospect. Viewed as a potential late first-round pick, this is a big reach with the 12th overall pick. He can make an impact in the passing game, though, as he hauled in 103 passes for 1,215 receiving yards over the past three seasons. Campbell is the top linebacker on the PFF big board but was just 39th overall. It’s not a good value pick, but he produced a 91.9 PFF grade, which led all linebackers. At 6-foot-5 and 249 pounds, he has impressive size and NFL-caliber range. Day 2: Detroit shocks the football world once again by taking tight end Sam LaPorta over Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer at Pick 34. The Iowa product plays an incredibly physical game, something head coach Dan Campbell covets at every position. LaPorta is a high-quality athlete and an after-the-catch weapon. His 368 yards after the catch and 20 missed tackles forced were both top-three marks among FBS tight ends in 2022. The Lions have made several big “reaches” already in this draft based on PFF and consensus big boards, but they get one of the better values here with Branch. He’s the best nickel prospect in this draft class and one of the best tackling defensive backs since PFF began tracking college football in 2014 (2% missed tackle rate). Lions QB Jared Goff has two years remaining on his contract, so the Lions are wise to draft a potential successor behind him. Hooker fell in the draft after an unfortunate ACL tear at the end of the 2022 season that took him out of a Heisman race, but he earned a 93.4 passing grade on deep throws and is great in a clean pocket. If he can improve under pressure once healthy, he could prove to be a great pick. The 163rd overall player on the PFF big board, this is a bit of a reach for the Lions, but Martin is a big player who can fill a role in the middle of their defensive line at 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds. Despite his size, he graded out better as a pass-rusher than a run defender in college and won 9.4% of his pass-rushing snaps in 2022. Green brings size at 6-foot-2 and earned a 75.1 receiving grade in 2022 with 2.34 yards per route run. Detroit is smart to continue to add depth at receiver, and Green’s 18.1-yard average depth of target could make him a good student for veteran Marvin Jones Jr. to take under his wing as the downfield contested catch option in Detroit. DRAFT GRADE: B+): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-draft-grades-for-all-32-teams
Fox sports (Detroit Lions - B+. If you don't look at where each prospect was taken, the draft in totality was solid. First pick Jahmyr Gibbs was a head scratcher until the team traded away D'Andre Swift on Saturday. The team also filled needs in the secondary and tight end with players who should contribute right away, especially Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta. Quarterback Hendon Hooker was a sneaky good value in the third round. He'll be under no pressure to start right away and the Lions can figure out how much longer they want to be tied to Jared Goff over the next couple seasons. —Carmen Vitali): https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-draft-grades-analyzing-all-32-teams-classes-with-eagles-leading-the-way
ESPN Kiper (ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. - Grade: B. The reason: "They flipped the script in Rounds 2 and 3, however, and I thought they had a really nice Friday. Tight end Sam LaPorta (34) is going to help as a pass-catcher as a rookie, while Brian Branch (45) is my top-ranked safety. He can cover like a cornerback, and he's not afraid to tackle. I would have been harsher on a team taking quarterback Hendon Hooker (68) in Round 1, but Detroit was able to land him at the top of Round 3. I was surprised he dropped that far. Hooker has some holes in his game, but this is good value, even if he never develops into a high-end starting quarterback. ... I still have a few questions about this Detroit defense, but Holmes' Day 2 saved a C here."): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2023/04/30/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-grades-2023/70167268007/
2023 NFL Draft: Grading all 8 of the Detroit Lions’ picks (Overall Grade: B. Though the Lions did not use their premium picks to draft players at premium positions, when you look at the draft as a whole, it turned out to be a really nice class. They went out and drafted players who clearly fit their culture and addressed some big areas of need. The Brian Branch pick to me is the best of the bunch, and while I do not love selecting a running back as high as the Lions did, if they give Gibbs some time as a receiver, the pick makes a lot more sense in hindsight. My trust is in Brad Holmes.): https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/4/30/23702390/2023-nfl-draft-grading-all-eight-detroit-lions-picks-jahmyr-gibbs-jack-campbell-sam-laporta
SI Draft Bible (OVERALL = B): https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/2023-nfl-draft-tracker-serritella-grades-every-pick
Athlon Sports (Detroit Lions - Biggest Steal: QB Hendon Hooker (3rd Round, No. 68 overall), Biggest Reach: DL Brodric Martin (3rd Round, No. 96 overall). Say what you want about taking a running back at No. 12, but Jahmyr Gibbs was ranked 16th overall on our board, and fans won't be complaining when he's torching opposing defenses for long touchdowns. It was a little early for Jack Campbell, but he'll be a great fit and make an instant impact. Sam LaPorta is the perfect replacement for T.J. Hockenson as an after-the-catch machine at tight end. Brian Branch was a second-round steal who can make plays all over the field, but Brodric Martin was taken a few rounds too early. Hendon Hooker is the real gem of this class, as he lands in a perfect spot where he can patiently return to full strength from last year's late-season torn ACL. If the Lions had taken him in the first round, I wouldn't have raised an eyebrow at all. Day 3 didn't give them much, but the damage was already done in the early rounds. They could have gotten better value at defensive tackle, but the Lions landed instant-impact starters on both sides of the ball, filled some of their biggest needs, got their quarterback of the future, and added one of the most explosive playmakers in the entire draft. GRADE: B): https://athlonsports.com/nfl/2023-nfl-draft-grades-analysis-steals-reaches
NFL.com Ed Holm (Lions - Grade: B. There is a fair and reasonable argument to be had about positional value in the draft. Detroit's approach appeared to fly in the face of modern convention, with the Lions taking a 199-pound running back (Jahmyr Gibbs) and an off-ball linebacker who I thought would be a mid second-rounder (Jack Campbell) in the draft's first 18 selections. They sought out players who fit them as opposed to being beholden to a league-value board. Whatever your philosophy is on this, it's hard to argue Detroit wasn't better by the end of Round 1. Gibbs could be a superior playmaker to D'Andre Swift (who was traded to Philadelphia on Day 3 of the draft), impacting the game as a runner, receiver and returner. The Lions know they'll need his juice with Jameson Williams suspended for the first six games of next season. Campbell figures to start alongside Alex Anzalone, despite Malcolm Rodriguez showing promise as a rookie. The 6-foot-5, 249-pound 'backer tested quite well at the NFL Scouting Combine and has the ability to defend the run and pass (particularly as a zone dropper). The next two picks, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch, could also start or contribute heavily in Year 1. LaPorta, who has a spirited play style, gives the Lions the quality receiving option at tight end they've lacked since trading T.J. Hockenson to Minnesota. The smart, versatile Branch could wear a lot of hats in the secondary, freeing up Detroit to move C.J. Gardner-Johnson all over the field. The Lions were always a team Hendon Hooker made sense for, and Round 2 would have been a reasonable time to pull the trigger, so getting him a round later to groom behind Jared Goff was a smart play. Hooker has some challenges to overcome to become a starter, but the tools are all there. The Lions' final three picks felt like traits-based reaches at need positions. Brodric Martin wasn't my favorite defensive tackle, but he moves pretty well for his mass and can stop the run. Colby Sorsdal might just have the length to be groomed as a swing tackle. Despite being a 46-game starter at William & Mary, though, he has only played the right side. Antoine Green has decent length and vertical speed, but looks more like a practice-squad candidate to start.): https://www.nfl.com/news/nfc-north-draft-grades-bears-lions-and-packers-close-gap-on-division-champion-vi
Touchdown wire (Detroit Lions: B-. There is the Detroit Lions’ concept of positional value, and there is everybody else’s. They proved that with the first-round picks of Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell. Running backs and linebackers might not matter to other teams, but they do to these guys. My only issue is that I had borderline second-round grades on each player, and these aren’t the kinds of positions where other teams are generally trading up to grab them. In any event, Detroit’s second round saved their draft. Brian Branch is a do-it-all defensive back who projects well everywhere from slot to safety, and I can’t wait to see how defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn deploys him, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and Kerby Joseph. And Sam LaPorta will do a lot more in Ben Johnson’s offense than he was able to in Iowa’s “three yards and a cloud of meh” system. The Hendon Hooker and Brodric Martin picks (Martin is a massive dude who can also get after the quarterback) are cool, and the Hooker pick may turn out to be one of the steals of this draft. But that first round is tough to overcome.): https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/2023-nfl-draft-grades-for-all-32-nfl-teams/
2023 NFL Draft: Final quick-snap grades for all 32 teams (Lions: Overall Grade - C+. Day 1 grade: C-, Day 2 grade: B+, Day 3 grade: B. Analysis: The Lions made two surprising picks in the first round, though Gibbs can be explosive and Campbell will be an immediate contributor on defense. Picking LaPorta to replace the traded T.J. Hockenson over Michael Mayer and Luke Musgrave was interesting. Trading up for Branch and Hooker were both wise moves, while trading multiple picks to get a nice athlete in Martin seemed a bit impatient. Unsurprisingly, after the Gibbs pick, the Lions moved on from former second-round pick D’Andre Swift for a swap of seventh-rounders with the Eagles and a 2025 fourth-round pick. They only had two picks on Day 3 after trades, though I liked Sorsdal as a top-150 selection moving from tackle to guard in the NFL and Green could become a deep threat in time.): https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-draft-final-quick-snap-grades-for-all-32-teams
SI (Detroit Lions - Grade: C+. Analysis: The Lions opened with three consecutive head-scratching picks. Instead of prioritizing the defense, the Lions reached for Gibbs, and later traded D’Andre Swift to the Eagles to make room for him in the crowded backfield. Detroit might regret the trade if they face the Eagles in the postseason. Coach Dan Campbell wants a physical team, but the Lions passed on tight end Michael Mayer, who’s probably a better blocker than LaPorta. Jack Campbell might have been available in the second round, but he’ll help the Lions’ defense because of his size and speed. Detroit, however, was smart to pounce on Hooker on Day 2 to possibly become the quarterback of the future. — G.M.): https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/04/29/2023-nfl-draft-team-grades
PFN (Detroit Lions - The Lions didn’t flunk. It’s important to make that clear. But there were times where it felt as though Detroit could’ve attained better value. Pick 12 seemed a little early for Jahmyr Gibbs. No. 18 seemed a little early for Jack Campbell. Fringe first-round seemed a little early for Sam LaPorta. Brodric Martin, while a valuable niche player, was a notable reach on Day 2. Detroit stuck to the value board, for better or worse. Luckily, they were able to get capital back for D’Andre Swift, and Gibbs could end up being a better player. But now that the picks have been made, the Lions are in prove-it mode, because their strategy was more “out there” than most. Overall Grade: C+): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/overall-nfl-draft-grades-2023/
Detroit Lions' 2023 NFL Draft Grades (OVERALL GRADE: Of Holmes' three drafts with the Lions, this was my least favorite. He has earned my trust, though, so I can be critical, yet hopeful at the same time. There were plenty of picks that I felt were major reaches, due to position value or actual talent level. More often than not, the consensus draft board is semi-reliable when it comes to evaluating prospects, and Holmes went completely off-script. In a few years, Holmes is going to look like a genius with these selections, or he'll have plenty of egg on his face. At the end of the day, this is the Lions' new draft class, and we all will sit back and see in a few seasons how this group of players either helps or hurts the team. Final grade: C): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-2023-nfl-draft-grades
Fantasy Pro (Lions | Draft Grade: C. Have you ever seen a more “we-don’t-give-a-f***-what-you-think” class than this? The Lions made one of the most shocking selections of the past several drafts when they took RB Jahmyr Gibbs at 1.12. They did so after trading out of the 1.6 slot that could have purchased RB Bijan Robinson, who most see as the best prospect at the position to come out in years. Six picks after Gibbs, the Lions threw another nasty breaking ball that buckled the knees of prognosticators, taking LB Jack Campbell. Campbell was one of my favorite players in this entire class. LB3 on many other boards around the industry, I had him as LB1 with a bullet – and I was one of the few mock drafters who had him in the first round of my last mock (to Buffalo). I will never criticize Jack Campbell, who I think will be a fabulous NFL linebacker – but man, that was aggressive. I would have advocated a trade-down that stayed ahead of Buffalo in Detroit’s shoes… but the Lions told the media they weren’t presented with any attractive trade-down possibilities for that pick. After that wonkiness, I was prepared to kill Detroit in this column. But they kept ducking and weaving expectations. They started Friday with TE Sam LaPorta, who I beat the drum for all process. If he’d played in a different offensive environment than the rancid situation at Iowa, LaPorta may have been a first-rounder. He caught a ridiculous 30.2% of Iowa’s market share of receptions last season while converting two-thirds of his catches the past two years into first downs or touchdowns. Next, the Lions stole S Brian Branch at No. 45. Switch the order that Gibbs and Branch were picked, and you jive the value of both slots on my board. Early on Saturday, Detroit followed up the Gibbs pick by trading RB D’Andre Swift to the Eagles for a 2025 fourth-rounder. Swift is entering the last year of his contract. This opens the door for a Gibbs-David Montgomery platoon in 2023 that should be very strong – those guys’ skillsets compliment each other well. To nitpick a bit, I think I would have traded Swift before artificially tanking his trade value. But I digress. I railed against the absurd idea of Hendon Hooker as a first-rounder all spring. But I can’t complain about where the Lions got him. That slot was almost smack-dab where I ranked him on my board. And now you’ve got a dart-throw developmental piece for a post-Jared Goff future.): https://www.fantasypros.com/2023/04/nfc-draft-grades-2023-nfl-draft/
AP Maadi (DETROIT LIONS: C. LB Jack Campbell (18), TE Sam LaPorta, S Brian Branch and QB Hendon Hooker help make up for reaching way too high for RB Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12.): https://apnews.com/article/nfl-draft-report-cards-2023-6c5f5e93e17d4d5b304ef01655760cc2
USA Today (25. Detroit Lions (C-): Really mixed bag. Hard not to view LB Jack Campbell as anything but a reach, even if GM Brad Holmes might have been right to scoop up fellow first-round RB Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 given the general lack of depth in this draft. At No. 34, worth wondering if Sam LaPorta was the optimal tight end to take, though DB Brian Branch was a slam dunk 11 spots later. And can't argue with a third-round payout on QB Hendon Hooker, who's at least a year away from competing for Jared Goff's job. Fifth-round OL Colby Sorsdal out of William & Mary could provide a sweet ROI.): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2023/04/29/nfl-draft-2023-grades-cowboys-steelers-eagles-team/11764697002/
NBC Sports Edge (Detroit Lions: Starting with the good, the Lions nearly gained an extra first-round pick by moving back to pick 12. Their trade with Arizona earned them the 34th overall pick. They also have an eye for talent. Gibbs was unanimously considered the second-best back in the class while Jack Campbell is the reigning Butkus Award Winner. I personally think Sam LaPorta and Hendon Hooker were underrated throughout this process. However, they egregiously missed on the concept of positional value by opting for a running back and an inside linebacker with their premium picks. They also likely misgauged the market as Gibbs went 13 picks ahead of his big board ranking and Campbell went 26 picks early. Getting considerable values on Brian Branch and Hooker helped redeem their weekend, but only slightly. Draft Grade: D): https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/article/nfl-draft-grades/2023-nfl-draft-grades-nfc
Yahoo (Detroit Lions - Favorite pick: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama (45th overall). This was by far the best pick that the Lions made over the weekend. Brian Branch was a projected first rounder for most of the draft season, but slipped to the second round for whatever reason. He’s not the most athletic defensive back out there, but he’s a smart player that played a variety of roles in Alabama’s defense. He’ll play a lot of snaps as the Lions’ overhang defender this year and he’ll make a whole lot of plays. Least favorite pick: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa (18th overall) - The positional value is one thing, but the bigger issue is taking Jack Campbell in the first round. He just wasn’t projected to go anywhere near this spot and likely could have been had a full round later than where he was selected. Campbell is a quality linebacker when he’s coming downhill in the box, but his ability to be an impact player in coverage and in space down the field is a major question mark moving forward. That’s not the profile of a first-round linebacker — those types of players have to be weapons in the passing game to be selected and Campbell isn’t that guy. Really odd selection at the 18th pick, even stranger than the Jahmyr Gibbs pick at 12th overall. Overall grade: F. Yeah, an F. Perhaps this take will get Old Takes Exposed in two or three years as a laughably bad take, but as things stand right now the Lions’ draft class was just baffling. Taking Gibbs with the 12th pick in a year that they signed David Montgomery felt extremely rich. Even taking Sam LaPorta with the 34th overall pick over Michael Mayer was a head-scratcher. Gibbs and Campbell made up the most shocking first round picks in quite some time, and not in a positive way. Hopefully for Lions fans, this take ends up wrong. To put it nicely, they had an unorthodox strategy in the 2023 NFL Draft.): https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-nfl-draft-grades-for-nfc-eagles-get-top-marks-so-do-rebuilding-cardinals-and-one-team-received-an-f-185301750.html
Note: I will add more as they become available.
Grade Totals:
A 2
A- 2
B+ 2
B 5
B- 1
C+ 3
C 3
C- 1
D 1
F 1
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