We’re four days away from the 2023 NFL Draft and as we know the Detroit Lions should make two selections on the opening night of the draft. We’ve seen a million scenarios where the Lions take defensive ends, offensive linemen, cornerbacks and even quarterbacks.
While it’s always tough to pinpoint exactly what any organization will do on the opening night, we all have our wants and aspirations for our teams. Today, I want to go over a wishlist of players that I’d love to see selected by the Detroit Lions with the 6th and 18th overall picks of the 2023 NFL Draft.
6th Overall:
Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
This one is an obvious one. If he’s available by the 6th pick, the Lions will sprint to the podium. I’ve heard that he’s the top player on their board and there’s been some thought of the Lions moving up to get Anderson.
On my Big Board for the 2023 NFL Draft, I think he’s the best player in the draft. At 6-foot-3 and 253 pounds, he plays fluid and has great length while being able to translate speed-to-power off the edge. Pairing Anderson with Aidan Hutchinson would give the Lions an elite pairing that could threaten offensive tackles on a weekly basis in the NFL.
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C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
I’m sure this will be controversial for some but it does feel like the Lions are going to be in a similar situation as they were in the 2020 NFL Draft. During that draft, all signs were pointing to Matthew Stafford being near the end of his Lions career and rather than selecting quarterbacks Justin Herbert or Tua Tagovailoa, they selected cornerback Jeff Okudah.
Obviously, it was a tough decision as the Lions previous regime weren’t going to throw in the towel on Stafford and hit the reset button. But now they could be staring down the road again as Jared Goff is due for a contract extension next season.
Personally, I have no issues with Goff being the Lions starting quarterback. As long as there’s no regression to his game, he can be a quality starter. Last season he was efficient running Ben Johnson’s offense with 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns. However, if Goff is going to want a contract that’s in the same ballpark as Deshaun Watson or Jalen Hurts, then we’ve got a problem.
That said, I think it would be tough for the Lions to pass on Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud. Of course, he’s got to be available but Stroud would add the depth and competition to the position. By adding Stroud, the Lions would be bringing in a player that has been compared to Jared Goff during the pre-draft process.
While that might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s worth mentioning that this would buy the Lions time at the position for another four or five years, if he does perform similar to Goff. There’s also potential for him to outperform Goff and take a massive step forward as a quarterback. It’s unlikely that Stroud slips past the Colts with the 4th overall pick but crazier things have happened.
Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
I’ve been the leader of this train for a while. The best pure coverage corner in the draft is Gonzalez. He’s got an extremely fluid lower half and is always competitive at the catch point. If the Lions are looking for a number one cornerback from the draft, I think Gonzalez fits the criteria.
There are times that Gonzalez gets knocked for not being a physical tackler or that he doesn’t fit what the Lions look for in a corner. I find that hard to believe as they’ve never taken a player at the position this high in the draft. That said, there are plenty of instances on tape where Gonzalez shows his ability to tackle and play physically. We’ll know in a few days if he’s a guy that the Lions are interested in taking.
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
The most commonly discussed cornerback for the Lions is right here. Devon Witherspoon from Illinois is the favorite to be the 6th overall pick and much of that is due to his physicality and connection to Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph. I will say that Witherspoon is a bit of an outlier at the position for 181 pounds, but there have been some comparisons to Denzel Ward.
There are plenty of instances on tape where Witherspoon flies upfield and makes devastating hits. Meanwhile, he leaves college with 25 pass deflections and five interceptions for his career. There’s plenty to like with his ball skills and physical presence on the perimeter.
I’d be fine with either cornerback at the 6th overall pick as I think it’s the Lions’ biggest need right now. Whether it’s Witherspoon or Gonzalez, I truly don’t think the Lions can go wrong.
18th Overall:
Bryan Bresee, IDL, Clemson
The more that I’ve watched Bryan Bresee out of Clemson, the more that I think he fits what Dan Campbell preaches about in a football player. He’s a high-character player that shows an excellent motor on tape. If you don’t believe me, put on the Florida State game from this year. While his pad level rises, he does show tremendous effort and pursuit to the football.
This wouldn’t be a fan-favorite pick, but for me, it’s about adding good football players. That’s exactly what Bresee is — a good football player. He’ll need to stay healthy in the NFL but adding him to pair with Alim McNeil and Isaiah Buggs should lead to a versatile and productive interior.
Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
I might be higher on Darnell Wright than most. On my board, he ended up with a first-round ground and was my 15th-ranked player. That said, he’s on my wishlist because I don’t see how he escapes the top-17 picks of the draft. I’ve even mocked him to the Chicago Bears with the 9th overall pick.
That said, if he somehow falls to the Lions with the 18th overall pick, I think it’s comparable to a Will Anderson scenario with the 6th overall pick. Wright is a vicious right tackle that got the better of Anderson earlier this season. From his games against LSU, Florida and just about anyone else, Wright dominated.
He’s got a terrific snatch-trap technique that he uses to bury defenders into the dirt on a consistent basis. He put his talent on display at the 2023 Senior Bowl and was even more impressive when getting to talk with him. He’s a student of the game and understands how to beat defenders with leverage and power. Pairing him with Penei Sewell could lead to All-Pro production on the right side of their offensive line.
Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
It wouldn’t be surprising if Nolan Smith was selected with the 8th overall pick or the 10th overall pick. However, if he somehow made it down to the 18th pick, I could see the Lions being very intrigued with selecting him.
At 6-foot-2 and 239 pounds, he’s a bit light, but he’s got a muscular frame. Smith chooses and finds violence. He takes on split-zone blocks well and is a productive pass rusher due to his hands and motor. While he’s coming off a torn pectoral muscle, he’s expected to be a top-15 pick.
If he somehow makes it to the 18th pick, I think the Lions will strongly consider adding him to their rotation of pass rushers. With a rotation of Nolan Smith, Josh Paschal, John Cominksy, Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston, the Lions would have a deep group of pass rushers, and it should translate to plenty of success.
