Could The Lions Trade Out Of The No. 6 Pick? NFL Draft Outlook

The Detroit Lions had a win-win season in 2022. They finished second in the NFC North with a 9-8 record. Furthermore, the Lions were in the playoff mix until the last game of the season.

Despite finishing with a winning record for the first time since 2017, the Lions still have a top-10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They own the sixth overall pick from the Los Angeles Rams as part of the Matthew Stafford trade a few years ago.

While the team is happy with Jared Goff’s performance last season, could they still draft a quarterback with their early first-round pick?

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Could The Lions Trade Out Of The No. 6 Pick?

Last year Goff completed 65.1% of his pass attempts for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns compared to only seven interceptions. However, the team has done its homework on the top quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft.

However, the Lions might not get their guy if they keep the No. 6 overall pick. The Carolina Panthers (picking first), Houston Texans (second), Indianapolis Colts (fourth), and Seattle Seahawks (fifth) are in the quarterback market. Therefore, Detroit could trade up with the Arizona Cardinals (picking third) to secure one of the top three quarterbacks.

Many believe the Panthers will select Alabama’s Bryce Young while the Texans will draft Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. However, Anthony Richardson would be an excellent fit in Detroit. The former Gator should spend his rookie year learning from the bench. Then, Richardson can replace Goff in 2024.

Who Could The Lions Target If They Keep The No. 6 Pick?

While trading up for a quarterback will excite the fan base, the Lions will likely stay put at sixth overall than make a blockbuster deal. However, don’t be surprised if the team selects Richardson if he falls in their lap.

Meanwhile, Detroit made several moves this offseason in free agency. They added several new starters in the secondary. However, the Lions traded former first-round pick Jeff Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons earlier this week.

Some believe the move was expected after the team signed multiple defensive backs in free agency. However, Cameron Sutton is the only one to sign a multi-year deal with Detroit. More importantly, he is a slot cornerback, and the team needs to replace Okudah on the outside. Two potential targets are Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon and Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez.

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