Saturday, April 29, 2023

Evening Lions Links for Saturday 4-29-23

Articles:

KEY QUESTIONS: How Holmes feels about 2023 draft class, Swift trade & more:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/key-questions-how-holmes-feels-about-2023-draft-class-swift-trade-more

A CLOSER LOOK: Wide receiver Antoine Green:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/a-closer-look-wide-receiver-antoine-green

Lions draft wide receiver Antoine Green: https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-draft-wide-receiver-antoine-green


Lions draft offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-draft-offensive-lineman-colby-sorsdal


5 things to know about Detroit Lions fifth-round pick Colby Sorsdal:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/04/5-things-to-know-about-detroit-lions-fifth-round-pick-colby-sorsdal.html

2023 NFL draft: Detroit Lions pick North Carolina WR Antoine Green in Round 7:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/04/2023-nfl-draft-detroit-lions-pick-north-carolina-wr-antoine-green-in-round-7.html

5 things to know about Detroit Lions fifth-round pick Colby Sorsdal:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/04/5-things-to-know-about-detroit-lions-fifth-round-pick-colby-sorsdal.html

‘I think I’ve got hives’: William & Mary OL tickled to be drafted by Lions:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/04/i-think-ive-got-hives-william-mary-ol-tickled-to-be-taken-by-lions.html

2023 NFL draft: Detroit Lions pick William & Mary OL Colby Sorsdal in fifth round:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/04/2023-nfl-draft-detroit-lions-pick-william-mary-ot-colby-sorsdal-in-fifth-round.html

Report: Detroit Lions trade RB D’Andre Swift to Eagles for draft compensation:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2023/04/report-detroit-lions-trade-rb-dandre-swift-to-eagles-for-draft-compensation.html





Lions give undrafted RB Mohamed Ibrahim a big signing bonus:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2023/04/29/lions-udfa-mohamed-ibrahim-signing-bonus/



Brodric Martin shores up Detroit’s interior defensive line depth:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2023/04/29/brodric-martin-lions-draft-depth-chart-fit/


Brad Holmes: Trading D'Andre Swift 'Win-Win For All Parties Involved':  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/trading-swift-win-win-for-all-parties-involved


Lions Add WR Antoine Green with Pick No. 219:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-draft-antoine-greene

Lions Select OT Colby Sorsdal with Pick No. 152:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/detroit-lions-select-colby-sorsdal










Lions were 'jacked' to land Brian Branch, a potential star at a discount:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-jacked-to-draft-potential-star-brian-branch



The 17 best value picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, including Will Levis, Michael Mayer & Jalin HyattLions: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama - Round 2, Pick 45.  The Lions made some head-scratching picks in the first round, and even their decision to take Sam LaPorta over Michael Mayer was questionable.  That said, the team got a steal in Brian Branch with the 45th pick. He has positional versatility and will be able to play safety and slot corner, much like free-agent acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Branch is also an excellent tackler and posted 90 tackles, 14 TFL, three sacks and two interceptions during his final year at Alabama.  Many had Branch projected as a first-round pick. He was the 17th-ranked player on SN's big board and 24th on the consensus big board, so Detroit got him at least 20 picks after he should have been chosen. He should fit well into Aaron Glenn's defense and could ultimately be the top player Detroit selected in this year's draft.  Lions: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee - Round 3, Pick 68.  Levis wasn't the only Day 2 value pick at quarterback. Hooker was another player that received some consideration as first-round buzz and was actually favored to be selected late in the round.  Instead, he lasted until the early stages of the third round before the Lions snapped him up. That was a smart move for Detroit, who needed a developmental quarterback behind Jared Goff and can afford to let Hooker recover from the torn ACL he suffered at the end of the 2022 college season.  Hooker has good mobility and accuracy, as he threw for 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions in his final year at Tennessee. He could eventually become a starter as he learns how to thrive in a pro-style system.  Considering that Hooker held a rank of 33 on the consensus big board, this was another strong value pick by the Lions.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-draft-best-value-picks-will-levis-michael-mayer-jalin-hyatt/glcizyzh1ewoigaod7so35sg

Falcons first-rounder Bijan Robinson thinks how RBs are 'being valued now' is headed in right direction:  https://www.nfl.com/news/falcons-first-rounder-bijan-robinson-thinks-how-rbs-are-being-valued-now-is-head

Ranking all 31 Round 1 picks: Eagles, Seahawks impress (26. Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions, RB, No. 12):  Did the Lions panic here, thinking Gibbs wasn't going to be available for their second pick at No. 18? An explosive athlete who's an excellent pass catcher out of the backfield, Gibbs will be an excellent asset in Detroit. The Lions are also paying David Montgomery a lot of money and currently have D'Andre Swift. This certainly went against the grain.  31. Jack Campbell (Lions, LB, No. 18):  The Lions could have used help at linebacker, but did they really need to pick Campbell at No. 18? Campbell is excellent in awareness against the pass and his athleticism trumps inconsistently at tackling, yet this pick felt like a reach. He immediately starts at the MIKE in Detroit.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-draft-2023-ranking-all-31-first-round-picks-as-eagles-steelers-rewarded-for-trades-up-seahawks-impress/

Biggest steals of NFL Draft: Eagles load up on defense (Brian Branch to Lions (Draft selection: No. 45 overall):  Branch is another player that had first-round buzz throughout the pre-draft process, but found himself falling to Day 2. While that may not have been what Branch had hoped for, it's a tremendous find for the Lions, who were able to snag him off the board at No. 45 overall. The Alabama product was CBS Sports' No. 1-ranked safety prospect and a top-20 player in this class. CBS Sports draft analyst Chris Trapasso, who gave this selection an "A" grade, called Branch the "best tacking defensive back I've ever scouted." The combination of Branch in a secondary with C.J. Gardner-Johnson will be a fascinating pairing in 2023.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-draft-2023-joey-porter-jr-to-steelers-eagles-taking-nolan-smith-among-five-biggest-steals/

Biggest reaches from the 2023 NFL Draft (Jahmyr Gibbs to Lions (Draft selection: No. 12 overall):  No one is questioning Gibbs' talent. He is CBS Sports' No. 14-ranked prospect overall and the No. 2 running back in this class behind Bijan Robinson. This is more about positional value and whether or not you believe a running back should be taken in the top half of the first round in today's NFL. Detroit decided to turn its head to the line of thinking and took the Alabama back with the No. 12 overall pick. CBS Sports NFL Draft Analyst Ryan Wilson didn't even have Gibbs as a first-rounder in his final mock draft and was given a "D" grade by CBS Sports' Pete Prisco precisely for the reasoning we illustrated. There were talented players on the board who play positions much harder to identify later in the draft, so this was a puzzling decision here by the Lions even if Gibbs is as talented as they come. Jack Campbell to Lions (Draft selection: No. 18 overall):  Feels like I'm picking on the Lions here a bit, but their first-round decisions were a bit head-scratching (I did like their Day 2 moves!). Similar to the Gibbs selection, taking an off-ball linebacker at No. 18 felt like more of a luxury pick and could have found comparable players to Campbell on Day 2. He was the No. 2-ranked linebacker in this class and the No. 40 prospect overall. CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson also didn't have Campbell as a first-rounder in his final mock draft. While you can commend Detroit for identifying the guys it liked and going after them, the Lions probably could have moved back down the board, gained value and still came away with the player.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2023-nfl-draft-order-grades-tracker-analysis-and-projections-for-all-sixth-round-picks-nfl-draft-order/

2023 NFL Draft: Seven teams that changed the most (Detroit Lions (Most notable picks: QB Hendon Hooker, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, TE Sam LaPorta, LB Jack Campbell, S Brian Branch):  They didn't draft in a conventional way, prioritizing devalued positions in Round 1 before halting Hooker's slide in the third. The end results, however, are actually quite appealing (and transformative). Hooker gives Detroit a low-risk, high-reward insurance plan behind Jared Goff. Gibbs adds electricity to a backfield now without D'Andre Swift. LaPorta restores faith in the tight end spot after T.J. Hockenson's 2022 trade. And both Campbell and Branch are tough, instinctive bonuses for an improving "D."):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-draft-eagles-lions-among-seven-teams-that-changed-the-most-during-the-draft/

QB Power Rankings 2023: Where Do Rookies Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson Land? (Tier 4 | Useful, But Limited22) - Jared Goff, Detroit Lions:  Like Brock Purdy and Garoppolo, Jared Goff takes advantage of an excellent supporting cast to help produce on offense. He doesn’t process as quickly as the other two, and his accuracy is not quite up to their standards, but Goff does have a good arm and an understanding of what he needs to do. If he could create off-book as well as Purdy or some of the other quarterbacks on this list, he’d be ranked much higher.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/grading-dandre-swift-trade-eagles-lions/

Trade Grade:

D'Andre Swift trade grades: Eagles earn 'A' for move (Lions: C-.  The return isn't exactly a blockbuster for Detroit. It gains a high-end Day 3 pick in 2025 and swaps seventh rounders in this year's draft, so it doesn't exactly get the juices flowing, especially when it's a player who was a borderline first-rounder just a few years ago. That said, the Lions were clearly done with the player judging by the moves they made this offseason, which likely didn't do themselves any favors when trying to negotiate the best return for Swift, who also only has a year left on his deal. They gain a future asset while starting a new era in the backfield with Gibbs and Montgomery.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/dandre-swift-trade-grades-eagles-receive-a-for-low-risk-high-reward-move-lions-gm-calls-trade-win-win/

Grading the D’Andre Swift Trade: Eagles Add High-Upside RB to Backfield:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/grading-dandre-swift-trade-eagles-lions/

2024 NFL Draft:

Detroit is on the clock! 6 names to know before 2024 NFL draft hits downtown:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2023/04/29/2024-nfl-draft-coming-to-detroit-6-names-to-know/70165873007/

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Posted by LionsFan at 4:49 PM

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