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Among the many reasons for the Detroit Lions’ struggles in a last-place 2020 season is a lack of immediate impact from the rookie class. A team that needed an infusion of contributing talent from the draft picks didn’t get nearly enough in the first year.
In ESPN’s tally of the impact of the 2020 rookie classes, the Lions are above just two other teams. The commentary on why is a cold shot to the heart for Lions fans hoping for a sense of optimism.
Their prized pick — Jeff Okudah — generated the worst WAR of any non-quarterback in the 2020 class. The other two rookies who played the most, guard Jonah Jackson (No. 75 overall) and defensive tackle John Penisini (No. 197 overall), also generated negative WAR.
The “WAR” referred to is wins over replacement, a basic measure of the relative impact of a player at his position.
Obviously injuries to the top two picks, Okudah and RB D’Andre Swift, hampered the impact. Third-rounder Julian Okwara barely played due to his own injuries and that also hurt[jwplayer eNCqo5PI]. So did fourth-rounder Logan Stenberg being a healthy scratch all season despite myriad injuries to the offensive line. Cutting fifth-round RB Jason Huntley before the season didn’t help either, nor did final pick Jashon Cornell going on I.R. early in training camp.
Only the Jaguars, who swung and missed (as rookies) on first-round defenders C.J. Henderson and K’Lavon Chiasson, and the Broncos finished below the Lions.
It doesn’t mean the key pieces, namely Okudah, Swift and Okwara, can’t develop and emerge into bigger and better pieces as the Lions begin the rebuild under a new regime. But they did not get off to a good collective NFL start.