The only 2023 NFL Draft prospect to attend Friday night’s green room festivities finally got his big moment.
Former Alabama safety Brian Branch decided to come back to Kansas City’s draft central after falling out of the first round, only one of the four players invited to this year’s draft to slide into Friday’s picks.
Quarterback Will Levis, pass rusher Keion White and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. attended on Thursday night without getting picked but opted not to return for Friday’s broadcast.
However, Branch stuck around and didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called. The Detroit Lions traded up and picked him at No. 45.
Brian Branch waited for his moment ❤️@BrianBB_1 | @Lions
📺: 2023 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/D3EqkrKLy4 pic.twitter.com/qROHtNfxWZ— NFL (@NFL) April 29, 2023
It’s a great pick for Detroit as the Lions try to rework their secondary, and you could tell Branch was relieved that he finally got to have his big moment on the NFL Draft stage with league commissioner Roger Goodell.
It’s always great when disappointment for draft prospects can turn into triumph, and that’s exactly what happened for Branch.
