The Lions have discussed trades involving the No. 7 overall pick in next week’s draft, GM Brad Holmes says (via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com). Holmes, naturally, isn’t tipping his hand, but he’s not ruling out a move down the board if the right package comes along.
“Yes, there have been [trade] discussions with other teams,” Holmes said. “I will keep those in house, but yeah, there have been discussions.”
The Rams were active in the draft during Holmes’ tenure as the Rams’ college scouting director. That includes 2016, when the Rams went from No. 15 to No. 1 to select quarterback Jared Goff. Of course, Goff’s second contract didn’t necessarily work out for the Rams, but Holmes is hopeful that Goff can turn things around in Detroit. Meanwhile, he has an opportunity to either select Goff’s eventual successor at No. 7, move up to guarantee the availability of a preferred quarterback, or deal down to fortify other needs on the roster.
At least three of this year’s top quarterbacks will be gone by the time the Lions draft at No. 7, but Justin Fields and/or Trey Lance could be there for the taking. For his part, Holmes says he’s prepared for any scenario.
“Whenever you’re picking in the top 10, obviously it’s an extremely valuable pick, but it’s very exciting to be looking at this crop of players that would be worthy of selecting [there],” Holmes said. “Where I just came from, we weren’t really used to picking in the first round that much. So being up in the top 10 [is cool]. But at seven, we do have a cluster of players that we’re comfortable with picking. But at the same time, we would be very prepared and also willing to move in either direction. So we’re still open in those regards, but there is a cluster of players that we would be comfortable with.”
Holmes is playing it cool, but some execs sense that the Lions are eager to move down.
Once again, the GM wants to make it appear like there’s interest to drive offers. I’m sure that some mild conversations have happened as they did last year. But anyone seriously considering moving up knows the Lions don’t need a QB right now and can move to a lower spot for less
True, but another benefit of moving up to 7 as opposed to 8 is that nobody would be able to jump in front of you. Obviously, there’s also 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, but you get what I mean.
maybe so but with Carolina and Denver at 8 & 9, it doesn’t matter who the lion’s intend to take. they can use the idea of jumping qb needy teams to other qb needy teams.
Lets assume top 5 qbs already off the board with someone moving into the 6th spot for a qb and Sewell off the board to the Bengals. The spot leaves you with your choice of pretty much any skill or lineman in the draft. Pitts is supposed to be a generational talent and may not even make it to number 7 but to have an amazing te makes a huge difference. Look at Tom Brady with and without Gronk
Of all picks up for grabs #7 is most likely to chance hands it seems.
#4. Atlanta could take a QB but they’d be in the Rodgers Packers boat of “why didn’t you help Matt Ryan out”. Fans think it’s Pitts
#5 Bengals aren’t taking a QB. Could take Chase to reunite with Burrows
#6 Dolphins aren’t taking a QB. They could trade back if Pitts or Chase isn’t there but they could also draft Sewell given the fact they went out and signed Will Fuller. LT to RT Sewell Flowers Skura Jackson Hunt would be a good line. Kick Austin Jackson inside to RG replacing Jesse Davis who graded out at 62.6. Jackson graded out at 52.3 at LT. So maybe a change to guard would help him.
#7 Lions have a lot holes and no clear consensus pick. They could take Fields/Lance but Goff has 4 years and is only 27. Potential out at 2 years, doubt he exercises it. Let Goff play, try to build value in him, and trade him in a year or two. Let some team trade up for Fields or Lance.
Don’t the Lions need OL/Sewell who could still be om the board?
Sewell would be gone at #6 to Dolphins in my post
If hes there yeah take him no brainer
Falcons take Pitts, Bengals take Chase Dolphins could take Sewell.
Falcons could take Sewell too and Chase and Pitts could go #5 #6
Idk if Sewell there at 7
in my opinion, the dolphins realistic draft board at 6 likely goes pitts, chase, trade down, sewell. its a deep o line draft and they can get value later on, and they might not be ready to waste the opportunity to get another haul for a qb like from SF.
For the same reason I think Cincinnati takes Chase, Miami takes Waddle or Smith. Tua needs a WR and if you can get him one he is familiar with, take him. Get a T at 18, RB 2nd round.
Not true. It’s about the players available for other teams. Why do you think SF moved all the way to 3? It’s because it guarantees them the player. If there are 4 teams wanting a QB, they aren’t going to wait to see if the player falls. It could fall to a team that decides the value is so good, they take the QB & then auction him off or wait a year and then trade him. It doesn’t matter if the Lions do not want a QB. It matters that other teams do.
Well, even if there have been “mild conversations”, then naturally there is some interest.
Are you even a Lions fan? If not, I’m puzzled why you always concern yourself with them and are constantly making disparaging comments about them. It’s weird. If you are a fan, it’s even weirder.
In all likelihood, everything he/she wrote is correct, so maybe sometimes you don’t like what you read on a comment board, and jump to conclusions that those remarks you don’t like must be disparaging?
Sometimes people just point out facts that you don’t like, and that’s OK. Facts don’t care about your feelings.
“Once again, the GM wants to make it appear like there’s interest to drive offers.”
This constitutes a fact? Sounds more like an opinion, or pure speculation, to me.
Nailed it. Opinions aren’t facts. Besides, this isn’t the first time this same person has made back-handed remarks about a team he clearly cares nothing about. Thanks for stopping by though, htrab.
C’mon, man. Read what Holmes said. Yeah, I know it could be a copypasta from the mouth of Quinn, or Mayhew, or Millen, or any of the other jokers we’ve dealt with in recent memory, but the statement is exactly what the OP states; just paraphrasing basically what Holmes said. Here it is again in case you missed it:
“Yes, there have been [trade] discussions with other teams,” Holmes said. “I will keep those in house, but yeah, there have been discussions.”
“Once again, the GM wants to make it appear like there’s interest to drive offers. I’m sure that some mild conversations have happened as they did last year.”
This is not a mere paraphrase of Holmes’ “Yes, there have been [trade] discussions with other teams, I will keep those in house, but yeah, there have been discussions.” That is jawinks’ interpretation of what Holmes said. Jawinks may be right in his interpretation, but we don’t know that, so it’s not a fact. It is an opinion, possibly an informed one, an interpretation, possibly an accurate one, but we don’t know if it is a fact.
Illiterate commenters, or just not bothering to read?
“Yes, there have been [trade] discussions with other teams,” Holmes said. “I will keep those in house, but yeah, there have been discussions.”
What would you gather the endgame is on a statement like that, exactly, if not to create a visage of interest in the #7 and drive offers? The essence of the OP is that the Lions aren’t taking a QB; they telegraphed that w/ the Goff rework. This is what our organization ALWAYS does. We shoot ourselves in the foot, give away exactly what we’re going to do, realize the fatal flaw, then retreat in desperation. It’s another regime, and the same exact story as it always is (when it comes to the draft).
The curse of Bobby Layne.
I think ultimately it will come down to draft night and how the picks fall. It seems every team wants Pitts or Chase. I think Chase is about the only sure thing for the Lions at 7.
To clarify, I mean Chase would be the only logical pick at 7 for the Lions if he was there. Could go many ways with the holes on this team.
If the Lions use a top 7 pick on a non-blue chip CB and a TE in back to back drafts they deserve the never ending mediocrity.
As if that even matters at the pro level.
“Non blue chip CB or TE”
2020
Charley Casserly – Jeff Okudah #5 to lions (trade with dolphins to get Thomas)
Peter Schrager- Jeff Okudah #5 to lions (trade with dolphins to get Tua)
Daniel Jeremiah – Jeff Okudah #3 to Lions
CBS Rj White – Jeff Okudah #7 to panthers
CBS Josh Edwards – Jeff Oludah #3 to Lions
Okudh was a consensus top 10 pick, many times top 5.
“Non blue chip cb” huh?
I beg to differ stalks my comments yet he can’t even comprehend them. I never said Pitts or Hockenson are not blue chip prospects. There is zero reason for a team to take a TE in the top 10 in 2/3 drafts. Especially when Hockenson was a hit. The Lions have massive issues all over the field. You dont use an asset like a top 10 pick on the one position you are set at long term. You don’t take a DB #3 overall unless they are Jalen Ramsey or Jamal Adams level. Okudah was no where near that talent level. Just because he was seen as a top 5 pick in that draft doesn’t mean he was a blue chip prospect. Okudah was seen as a good corner in the system, not an elite athlete.
“Stalks”
You post bad stuff. I see it. I correct you. It’s how it works.
This time you posted about non blue chip cb and te.
Many mocks had okudah going in the 3-7 range. As evidenent by the mocks I cited. Burrows and Young were consensus 1-2.
Many mocks had Hockenson going in the 7-13 range. As evidenent by the mocks I cited.
You posted a bad take.
My evidence: experts paid to do this
Your evidence: your opinion.
Cool man. Look forward to your own company one day until then sticking with Kiper Jr and McShane. Walter football is a great off hand site.
Evident* don’t know why my phone changed it to evidenent.
Also, not every draft has a Jalen Ramsey or Jamaal Adams. If Okudah is a systems guy and plays well in the system….then if you’re using a similar system he should excel correct? 99% of football players are system guys. Very few can play in different systems.
Most CBs excel at man to man or zone. Very few can do both well. If youre waiting to draft a Jalen Ramsey or Jamaal Adams you’re not going to get very far. Many draft picks are made cause expectations are they fit what you’re trying to do.
You STILL can’t comprehend what I said lol. I NEVER stated taking Hockenson was a bad pick or Pitts would be. Hock is great the Lions have TE addressed for a long time. Using another top 10 pick on a TE within 2 years would be a disservice to the team needs. And you providing mocks is not evidence. Walter Football was not high on Okudah at the time. But that’s pretty irrelevant. Point is the Lions need to either trade up for Sewell or pick one of the top WRs. They need so much help. Another TE is not the move. This isn’t a bad take, you’re just looking to constantly start something with me. There is a reason their GM got fired last season and Okudah was part of it. But hey baD tAKes!
“If the Lions use a top 7 pick on a non-blue chip CB and a TE in back to back drafts” yes your comment called out them picking hockenson and okudah in back to back drafts.
1. If youre talking about Pitts he plays like a receiver. He’s got the build like Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans. He’s a little heavy at 245lbs instead of 230 but that is something coaches can work on. And him and Hockenson would be a good #1-#2.
2. If youre talking about them taking a cb they need a long term answer opposite Okudah. Surtain and Horn are looking like a top 10 pick.
And you still can’t comprehend my point. It had zero to do with calling the Hockenson pick bad. Hockenson is only being mentioned because he is the answer long term at TE and just happened to be a top 10 pick. Ignore Okudah for a second, what kind of franchise takes two TEs in the top 10 2/3 drafts? A mediocre one. Not even Ryan Pace would do that and he is obsessed with that position. This draft is pretty loaded at the top. Lions need to use the pick to help their many holes. Not spend the pick on the one position they have no hole at.
1. You never draft for “need”. Bad idea in many cases. Don’t over reach and draft a guy cause need is there.
2. Draft is deep at oline. They could take Pitts, they lost Jones and Golladay. So they could use help at receiver. They signed Williams and Perriman but Pitts or Smith make sense. Not reaching at all to take 1 or the other.
3. If Pitts Sewell aren’t there don’t over draft a guy like Vera Tucker or Darrisaw at 8. Investing a pick in a long term partner for Okudah also makes sense. Value is there in surtain and horn. Plus the blood lines.
You keep using that word (blue chip). I don’t think it means what you think it means.
“Non blue chip CB or TE”
2019
Daniel Jeremiah 4.0 – Hockenson to Jaguars at #7,
Charley Casserly 3.0 – Hockenson #8 to Lions
Bucky Brooks 3.0 – Hockessin to Broncos #10
Peter Schrager – Hockenson #11 to Bengals
CBS Chris Trapasso – Hockenson # 12 to Packers
CBS Sean Wagner McGough – Hockenson # 12 to Packers
“Non blue chip TE huh”
Another bad take. Two for the price of 1 this time. Bad take on Okudah and bad take on Hockenson.
Be nice to have the 32nd pick next year, either the Rams pick or preferably our own pick (wishful thinking). Over/under is 5 games for next season. Remember Quinn saying 9-7 wasn’t good enough. Oh well, at least the we aren’t the Midwest Patriots. Ever notice the good teams have fun playing. I think the 1st game for our new coach is extremely important for the team and us fans. (Captain Obvious)
Bold to assume the 49ers are locked in on Mac Jones
That’s what stood out most to me in this article.
I don’t understand why Fields isn’t a lock at 3. Mac Jones was on a super team, I’ll be shocked if SF traded up for him.
I’m not saying I believe Jones should be the pick at #3, BUT I also don’t think you can use the “surrounded by talent” criticism often attached to Bama QBs without mentioning OSU QBs don’t typically do well in the pros as it relates to Fields.
I heard them mention on tv the other day that some scouts say it could just come down to Jones being ready to plug-and-play, basically. Not the most talented guy, but on a good SF team could step in and win 10-12 games now.
I thought the same thing. A bunch of media dudes are going to look stupid when Mac Jones isn’t the pick. I think SF is going with Trey Lance. I think SF is all about his ability to run and throw the deep ball. They came within a play of two of winning a Super Bowl with Garrapolo basically not throwing the ball. You don’t trade away that many assets to get Mac Jones. We still don’t know what Mac Jones is. He had the two best wide receivers in the NCAA. He had by far the best offensive line. He had by far the best running game. Jaylin Waddle, Devonta Smith, Najee Harris ….. All that offensive talent on Alabama, but Mac Jones is getting drafted ahead of ALL of them????? So Mac Jones was the guy making them look so good??????? I keep hearing how Mac Jones is the “most ready” to play right now. What difference does that make if you are just average?? Isn’t the point of drafting a QB that high to have a franchise dude for 15 years??? SF is just sitting back and laughing. I will say the same on any reports that New England is trading up or even taking Mac Jones at #15.
Here is a series of questions to ask yourself concerning Mac Jones:
1. How did you feel about Tua prior to last years’ draft?
2. How do you feel about Tua now?
3. How would you compare the way you felt about Tua last year to the way you feel about Jones now?
Basically, if you were high on Tua before the draft, and underwhelmed by his rookie performance, then buyer beware. If you still believe Tua can be an elite NFL QB, then you will probably like Jones as an NFL passer. I’m not saying either is right or wrong, but Jones is unlikely to be more physically impressive than Tua. Similar players, similar college results, likely to be similar NFL QB’s.
I absolutely agree! Tua was being touted as not just a “franchise” quarterback, but as possibly a “generational” talent. Suddenly, all that talent isn’t around Tua, and he becomes very average with an “average” arm. He is now being called a “ball-distributor” as opposed to being a franchise-level talent. Tua and Mac Jones had the same level of talent all around them at Alabama. Funny thing is, Jalen Hurts will probably have a better career that those guys because he brings the ability to run to the table. Not that Hurts is gonna be some top level QB, but with a good defense, probably more effective than Tua or Jones. I see Tua as getting replaced and Jones more of a backup. We wouldn’t even know who Mac Jones was had he been the QB at Kentucky instead of Alabama.
Do we know what Trey is? I think he played 19 college games.
We know he has size and is a freak as a runner. The run tool will translate. I am convinced SF is taking Lance at #3.
Would you buy a BMW i8? They’re nice but super expensive
At this stage I doubt any team trades up until the day of the draft and they see how the chips are falling. I’m thinking the hot spot will be the Cowboys at 10. If any of those QBs fall past 9, Jones will have several offers and it probably won’t be as expensive as trading into the Lion’s spot.
It’s Detroit…………..they will screw it up.
I’m thinking Dallas is moving up to get Pitts because they value offense more than defense. Would they move #10 and Lamb to Atlanta to get Pitts?
Why would Dallas consider trading away last year’s number one draft pick on offense to draft a tight end? Nonsense post.