Lions Trade Up for Will Anderson Jr. in Latest Athletic Mock Draft

The Detroit Lions have the opportunity to be aggressive in this year's draft.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes recently discussed with reporters, at the annual league meetings, the importance of selecting the best players that fit the Lions.

“When you’re approaching the draft and you’re just looking to fill those question marks, fill those holes, I do think that that can equate to some mistakes,” Holmes said. “I say back in St. Louis even, it got to a point where we had a pretty strong defensive line and we had some concerns elsewhere. But, we just kept adding to our defensive line. And, it just turned into this beast that was just a strength of the football team. So again, when you’re trying to stick to that depth chart, you’re trying to fill every hole, I just think that’s not the way that we do it. We just try to take the best player for us.”

In The Athletic's recent three-round mock draft, the team trades up with the Arizona Cardinals to select Will Anderson Jr., the top defensive lineman in the 2023 draft.

Lions get: Pick No. 3

Cardinals get: Pick No. 6, Pick No. 48

"The dream scenario for Detroit features finding a way up to No. 3, to pair Anderson with 2022 rookie standout Aidan Hutchinson. That said, given how well-stocked their roster has become, the Lions should have more options than just about any team in the league on Days 1 and 2."

Detroit addressed many needs in its secondary during free agency, so the opportunity will present itself to select more offensive players.

Detroit targets running back Bijan Robinson with its second selection of the first round.

With pick No. 55, Detroit targets defensive tackle Keeanu Benton, who has been making his way up teams' draft boards throughout the pre-draft process.

Quarterback Hendon Hooker, who has a pre-draft visit scheduled with Detroit, is the team's pick at No. 81 overall.

Lions' other picks

No. 3 (via ARI): Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
No. 18: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
No. 55: Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
No. 81: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee

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