Draft grade opinions on what Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes and the team did in the 2023 NFL draft continue to fly all over the place. The latest one from USA TODAY analyst Nate Davis flies on the lower end of the grading spectrum.
Davis gave the Lions a C-minus grade for their draft haul, which included five picks in the first three rounds. The lowly grade ranks 25th on Davis’ scale.
Like many who criticize what Holmes did, the focus is not on the player but rather the slotting in which the players were selected,
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.
If the point of the draft is to add players who help the team get better, not many did a better job of that than the Lions. That fact seems to be lost on a lot of graders.
