Detroit Lions 2024 NFL Draft Guide: What you need to know

Attention Lions supporters! Prepare for the 2024 NFL Draft with exclusive insights and analysis of your team.

Read on to understand Detroit’s projected picks, their positional requirements, selection history, GM draft notes, and more. All information is provided courtesy of the NFL’s research team.

And don’t forget to tune in on Thursday, April 25th at 8:00 p.m. ET for live coverage of the draft on NFL Network and NFL+.

Detroit Lions Draft Overview

2023 record: 12-5
First in NFC North; lost to 49ers in NFC Championship Game

Lions 2024 draft picks (7):

Round 1, pick 29
Round 2, pick 61
Round 3, pick 73 (from the Vikings in T.J. Hockenson trade)
Round 5, pick 164
Round 6, pick 201 (from the Buccaneers in Carlton Davis trade)
Round 7, pick 249

Lions team needs (according to Chad Reuter): Cornerback, Edge, Safety, Wide Receiver, Offensive Tackle

Projected Lions first-round selection, via NFL.com draft analysts:

(See all projections at Mock Draft Central)

Lions 2024 Opponents

Home

Buccaneers, Bills, Bears, Packers, Vikings, Rams, Seahawks, Jaguars, Titans

Away

Colts, Texans, Cardinals, 49ers, Packers, Vikings, Cowboys, Bears

Lions Notable Activity Tracker (2024 offseason):

Lions Decision Makers

Owner and Chairman: Sheila Hamp
President/CEO: Rod Wood
Executive VP/General Manager: Brad Holmes
Head Coach: Dan Campbell

Brad Holmes

This is Brad Holmes’ fourth season as the General Manager of the Lions.

Lions Draft Notes Since 2021

– 69 total players drafted

5 Pro Bowlers have been chosen – WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, T Penei Sewell, DE Aidan Hutchinson, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, TE Sam LaPorta.

– Selected four players in the first round over the last two drafts (2022-23)

Traded in the 1st round of the last two Drafts.

Before making his first NFL Draft as GM, Holmes executed a blockbuster trade with the Rams, his former team.

– Gave: QB Matthew Stafford

Received: Quarterback Jared Goff, 2022 first-round pick (32nd overall), 2023 first-round pick (6th overall), and 2021 third-round pick (Cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu)

Holmes has executed a draft day trade in the first round of the NFL Drafts for the past two years (2022 and 2023).

In 2023, the Detroit Lions (DET) traded their No. 6 overall pick, which they had received from the Los Angeles Rams (LAR), to the Arizona Cardinals (ARI). In return, they moved down to the No. 12 overall pick and selected running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

– In 2022, the Detroit Lions (DET) traded the No. 32 overall pick (originally acquired from the Los Angeles Rams (LAR)) as part of a deal that allowed them to move up to the No. 12 spot with the Minnesota Vikings (MIN). With this pick, they selected wide receiver Jameson Williams from Alabama.

DET has consistently drafted a future Pro Bowler (for DET) in seven consecutive drafts from 2017 to 2023.

In 2017, Kenny Golladay and Jalen Reeves-Maybin were notable, followed by Frank Ragnow in 2018. T.J. Hockenson stood out in 2019, and Jonah Jackson did the same in 2020. In 2021, Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown made their mark. Aidan Hutchinson was a key figure in 2022, and Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta followed in 2023.

Bob Quinn served as the General Manager of the Lions from 2016 to 2020.

Holmes, during his tenure as Lions GM, has utilized a top 100 pick on each offensive/defensive position in his three drafts, with the exception of the interior OL.

Highest drafted Lions player by position, past 3 drafts

Last time Lions picked each position in first round:

Compiled by the NFL Research team. All data current as of April 16, 2024.