Handing out final report card for Lions' 2023 draft class.
Just like with his first two drafts, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes produced a very solid draft class in 2023.
He made eight total selections, and you can easily say that he nailed three of them (Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round and Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch in the second round). He also made a solid selection when he took Jack Campbell with Detroit’s second-of-two first-round picks.
Without further ado, let's take a look at how Holmes did with the entirety of his ‘23 draft haul.
Round 1, Pick 12 — RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Remember, all those draft pundits that criticized Holmes when he traded back from No. 6 overall to get Gibbs with the 12th overall pick. Boy, do they look foolish now.
The Alabama product was everything the Lions could have envisioned, accumulating north of 1,000 yards from scrimmage and forming an electric one-two punch in the Lions’ backfield with David Montgomery.
The future looks extremely bright for the dual-purpose back.
Grade: A
Round 1, Pick 18 — LB Jack Campbell
Campbell wasn't great, but also wasn't horrible in his debut NFL season.
He did play in all 17 regular season games (made 12 starts), and amassed nearly 100 total tackles (95), a couple of sacks and five tackles for loss. He also graded out as a much better run-defender (75.9) than pass-rusher (53.0) and pass-defender (43.9), per Pro Football Focus.
The former Hawkeyes defender is by no stretch a finished product, but at least showed the aptitude to grow during his rookie campaign.
Grade: B-
Round 2, Pick 34 overall — TE Sam LaPorta
LaPorta was the best pick of the entire Lions 2023 draft class.
He not only was an ultra reliable target for Jared Goff, but he also emerged as one of the game's finest tight ends.
He paced all players at the position with 10 reception touchdowns, and also hauled in the fourth-most catches (86) and the fifth-most yards (889) among all tight ends. And, for his efforts, he earned Pro Bowl honors and second-team All-Pro honors.
There's no doubt in my mind that the Iowa product could grow into the league's very best tight end.
Grade: A+
Round 2, Pick 45 overall — DB Brian Branch
Holmes made back-to-back solid second-round selections with LaPorta and Branch.
Just like LaPorta, Branch outperformed his draft position. He shined in his role as a slot corner, amassing three interceptions (including one returned for touchdown), 13 passes defensed and 74 total tackles, including seven for loss.
He also excelled against the run, earning the seventh-best PFF run-defense grade among all cornerbacks (83.9). Additionally, he received a PFF overall mark of 78.9, the 14th-best grade at his position.
At this present juncture, Branch looks to be a core member of the Lions’ secondary in 2024 and beyond.
Grade: A-
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Round 3, Pick 68 overall — QB Hendon Hooker
As expected, Hooker, after working his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered in his final season at Tennessee, failed to log a single snap in 2023.
By the end of the season, he did end up becoming a member of the Lions’ 53-man active roster. But, with Goff and Teddy Bridgewater ahead of him on the depth chart, he spent his rookie campaign picking the brains of the two veteran passers. He was also Detroit's emergency quarterback on gameday in the final weeks of the season.
Because Hooker spent the entirety of the season on the sideline, I didn't feel it was right to give the ex-Volunteers signal-caller anything more than an “incomplete” grade.
Grade: Incomplete
Round 3, Pick 96 overall — DT Brodric Martin
Martin was active for just three games in his first season, which was a bit of a disturbing development. It made it hard to evaluate the Western Kentucky product.
Overall wise, though, nothing from his game film tremendously stood out, although he did prove to be a better run-defender than anything else and his PFF run-defense grade backed it up (59.8).
Holmes drafted Martin with the thought that he was a developmental piece. But, with enough seasoning, the belief from the organization is that the small-school product could eventually become a run-stuffing presence along the interior of the defensive line.
Going into his second NFL season, there is still a chance that he grows into that type of player for the Lions.
Grade: C-
Round 5, Pick 152 overall — OL Colby Sorsdal
Sorsdal wasn't extremely impressive when he had to suit up in 2023, but still give him credit for filling in at multiple positions along the offensive line this past season.
Pressed into service due to injuries across the line, the William & Mary product logged snaps at left guard (94), right guard (123) and right tackle (36) during his rookie campaign.
He was far from efficient, allowing 14 total pressures and recording a 35.1 PFF pass-blocking grade, including a PFF overall mark of just 41.8.
Sorsdal will likely need to step up his game during training camp this summer to ensure that he has a spot on Detroit's active roster headed into the 2024 season.
Grade: D
Round 7, Pick 219 overall — WR Antoine Green
Just like the Lions’ other mid-to-late-round picks from last year's draft, it was hard to fully evaluate Green.
The former North Carolina receiver suited up for nine regular season games, but had just two balls thrown his way and came down with one catch (for two yards).
It'll be interesting to see if Green gets more playing time and subsequently more of a chance to prove his worth in his second NFL season.
Grade: D
