Detroit Lions: Six worst first-round draft picks of all-time
By Bob Heyrman
We are less than a month away from the scheduled 2020 NFL Draft. It’s a draft the Detroit Lions desperately need to ace to create some traction for themselves in the NFC North heading into the 2020 regular season.
It’s imperative that the Detroit Lions General Manager (GM) Bob Quinn hits on all of the organization’s draft picks. As of now, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is still planning on having the draft take place during it’s scheduled April 23rd-25th dates.
With everything that’s going on in the world at the moment, COVID-19 may force the date to be delayed, but the NFL is planning on having the draft without fans, old school with the team’s phoning in their selections.
It’s a very unprecedented period of time for everyone, so having the NFL draft during a dangerous, scary, sad time in our history may ease our minds for a few days giving us a LITTLE bit of regularity.
The Detroit Lions have a history of botching early first-round draft picks. I understand it’s a newish regime, and reasonably new coaching staff, etc. We are leading up to the third draft with Matt Patricia as the team’s head coach.
Team owner Martha Firestone Ford expects this organization to be playing ‘meaningful’ games come December. The new playoff expansion may save the day for Quinn and Patrica, as one more team will be added to the postseason starting immediately. This puts the pressure on Quinn to have a solid draft, handing some impactful pieces over to Patricia, hoping he can find them a perfect place within his system.
That being said, it’s always interesting to reflect on the past. Sure, it’s not great memories, but we’re going to take a look back at the six worst first-round draft picks in Detroit Lions history.