Detroit Lions: Bold predictions for the 2018 NFL Draft
By Zac Snyder
The Lions will trade a 2019 draft pick
Trading down may be the easiest way to acquire additional picks but that is not the only tool in Quinn’s belt.
The Lions may be light on picks in the 2018 NFL Draft but the 2019 NFL Draft is shaping up to be a different story. The Lions currently have all their original picks as well as additional picks in the fifth (Laken Tomlinson trade to San Francisco) and sixth rounds (Johnson Bademosi trade to New England).
Add in the current projection of a compensatory pick the end of the sixth round for losing Darren Fells in free agency and the Lions are on track to have 10 picks next year.
With both extra picks being late round choices they are unlikely to net anything more than a sixth or seventh round pick in this draft if used straight up. However, they could be important pieces in balancing a trade proposal to maneuver around this draft.
Obviously a projected compensatory pick can’t be traded since it won’t officially be awarded until next spring. But, the Lions could be more willing to part with their original 2019 sixth-round pick if they are reasonably confident a sixth-round compensatory pick will be coming to them.