The latest set of 2023 NFL draft projections from Draft Wire is the first to feature the Detroit Lions with the No. 1 pick. Editor Luke Easterling rolls with the current draft order, and as of Week 7, the Lions hold the NFL’s worst record at 1-5.
With the No. 1 overall pick, the projection this time leads to Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud. Easterling lays out the logic,
The Lions have bigger problems on defense, and it’s not like Jared Goff hasn’t played well enough for them to be successful on offense. That said, Goff may have already hit his ceiling, and if Detroit ends up with this pick, they’d have a hard time passing up the lofty potential of Stroud.
The other two picks in the first two rounds address the defensive backfield, which is a pretty easy sell for Lions fans tired of seeing so many points in the “against” column.
With the pick acquired from the Los Angeles Rams, currently No. 20 overall, Texas A&M safety Antonio Johnson gets the nod. Johnson is a repeat projection in this range, and it’s easy to see why,
This secondary needs more playmakers, and in this scenario, the best value comes on the back end. Johnson is a rangy, athletic defender who can line up single-high, in the slot, or mix it up in the box against the run, doing everything at an extremely high level.
The first pick of the second doubles up in the secondary. The pick, which is No. 32 instead of 33 because Miami forfeited its first-round pick for tampering with Tom Brady, is Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes. He’s a personal favorite of mine and a speedier, consistently tenacious upgrade over pending free agent Amani Oruwariye.