Detroit Lions: There is no reason to ‘reach’ picking no. 7 overall

There is no reason for the Detroit Lions to reach with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.  Many fans hope to see the teams’ general manager Brad Holmes march up to the podium in Cleveland and announce a quarterback or perhaps a playmaking receiver.

Another large portion of Detroit Lions’ fans hopes Holmes finds a way to trade down but somehow remain within the top-15 picks and add additional draft capital in 2021 or even future capital in 2022.

The other option is simply taking the most impactful player available.

Here’s the thing, whether Lions principle owner Sheila Ford Hamp, team president Rod Wood or Holmes himself suggests the team is not going to tear this thing right down to the foundation and do a complete rebuild is just lying.  Or perhaps they are simply trying to sell as many of their season tickets as possible.

Recently Jared Goff refused to call this a rebuild, so he’s buying what they are selling.  If it’s not a rebuild, what exactly would you like to call what the Detroit Lions are enduring?

Recently as described by MLive, a sportsbook has the Detroit Lions finishing dead last in 2021, tied with the Houston Texans winning five games.

"“It’s not a rebuild at all, to be honest,” Goff said. “I know you guys are going to throw that word around. I don’t see it as that at all. I think it takes the right pieces to win, but it can happen in one offseason.“It’s going to take a lot of hard work, and that’s the challenge that I think I’m most excited for is this challenge of bringing this team and bringing this city and bringing this culture back to what it should be.”"

Usually, five wins won’t guarantee you the first overall pick; normally, there will be a team that only wins two or three games.

These odds suggest that the Detroit Lions shouldn’t reach to draft the fourth or fifth-ranked quarterback in 2021 when it appears they will have an opportunity to draft the top quarterback in 2022.

The Detroit Lions need to draft a cornerstone; there is none better than offensive tackle Penei Sewell.

Per the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the sensational left tackle has been taking reps at the right side in recent weeks if a team with a respectable starting left tackle opts to draft him. Penei Sewell is preparing to be playing at either position, which only adds to his overall value.

This immediately caught my attention. Sewell and Taylor Decker would make for a dynamic duo.

Not just because I’m now heavily leaning towards hoping this is who the Detroit Lions have atop their draft board, but there seems to be a chance Sewell remains available when the Lions are on the clock with the seventh choice.

There are no guarantees when it comes to the NFL Draft, but it’s all but certain the first three picks in the draft will be quarterbacks.  I feel the odds are starting to point to fourth pick being a quarterback, whether it’s the Atlanta Falcons or not, is to be determined.

That leaves two teams picking fifth and sixth, the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins should be in the market for a stud left tackle. Still, both organizations will need to determine whether they’d like to protect their second-year quarterback for years to come or provide said QB with an elite offensive weapon like Kyle Pitts or Ja’Marr Chase.

If Sewell doesn’t make it through picks five and six, I hope Holmes trades back somewhere around ten or twelve, adds some draft capital, and selects Micah Parsons.

Another intriguing idea if the Lions fail to come up with a trade agreement and remain at seven is to select Rashawn Slater, who has the ability to excel at guard or tackle.  Similar to Sewell, he’s a plug-and-play offensive lineman.

It’s a deep receiver group; the Detroit Lions will have an opportunity to draft multiple starting pass-catchers in rounds two, three, and four if they so choose.

There is no need to draft a receiver in the top ten or 15 and leave players like Sewell, Slater, and Parsons on the board.  Let’s be smart, and finally, kick the phrase ‘same old Lions’ that the previous regimes over the years frequently fueled.