Detroit Lions draft picks (1936–1969) explained

The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the North Division of the National Football Conference.^[1] The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930.^[2] After being purchased by George A. Richards in 1934, the franchise was relocated to Detroit and renamed to the Detroit Lions in reference to the city's Major League Baseball franchise, the Detroit Tigers.^{[3] [4]} The team plays its home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.^[5]

The NFL draft, officially known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting",^{[6] [7]} is an annual event which serves as the league's most common source of player recruitment.^[8] The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks. Teams that qualified for the NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker. The final two selections in the first round are reserved for the Super Bowl runner-up and champion. Draft picks are tradable and players or other picks can be acquired with them.^[9]

In 1936, the Lions took part in the first NFL draft of college football players.^{[10] [11]} With the eighth pick of the first round of that draft, Sid Wagner, a guard out of Michigan State University, became the Lions' first draft selection. In addition to the annual draft, the Lions took part in the 1950 All-America Football Conference (AAFC) dispersal draft. This draft was organized after the AAFC, which was formed as a competing league in 1946, merged with the NFL. Three teams from the AAFC were admitted into the NFL, while the remaining players from the five defunct teams became automatically eligible for selection by an existing NFL team in the dispersal draft.^{[12] [13]} Thirteen of the players drafted by the Lions between 1936 and 1969 have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.^[14] The Lions took part in every draft from 1936 to 1969, prior to the AFL–NFL merger and the formation of the modern draft in 1970.^{[15] [16]}

Key

Key

	Indicates the player was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

1936 draft

See main article: 1936 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Guard	Michigan State
2				Back	UCLA
3				Back	Notre Dame
4				Back	Minnesota
5				Center	Alabama
6				Back	LSU
7				Tackle	Colgate
8				Center	Minnesota
9				End	Yale	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[17]

1937 draft

See main article: 1937 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Wingback	Nebraska
2				Tackle	Ohio State
3				Blocking back	Indiana
4				Guard	Pittsburgh
5				End	Carnegie Mellon
6				Guard	Purdue
7				End	SMU
8				Center	Illinois
9				End	Yale
10				Tackle	Washington State	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[18]

1938 draft

See main article: 1938 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Center	Fordham
3				End	Oklahoma
5				End	North Carolina
6				Tackle	Utah
7				End	Montana
8				Back	Ohio State
9				Guard	Indiana
10				Center	Ohio State
11				Back	Kansas
12				Back	Yale	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[19]

1939 draft

See main article: 1939 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Tailback	Michigan State
3				Fullback	Wisconsin
5				Tackle	North Carolina
6				End	Oregon State
7				Tailback	Texas A&M–Commerce
8				Tackle	Idaho
9				Back	Nebraska
10				Tackle	USC
11				Center	Stanford
12				End	Santa Clara
13				Guard	Oregon State
14				Guard	Washington
15				End	Texas A&M–Commerce
16				Wingback	Montana
17				Tackle	Dayton
18				Back	New Mexico
19				Center	USC
20				Center	Illinois
21				End	BYU
22				Tackle	Xavier^[20]	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[21]

1940 draft

See main article: 1940 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Back	USC
3				End	USC
5				Tackle	USC
6				Center	Tennessee
7				Defensive end	USC
8				Back	Rutgers
9				Tackle	Missouri
10				Back	Purdue
11				End	Iowa
12				Back	Carnegie Mellon
13				Tackle	Oklahoma
14				Wingback	Marshall
15				End	Missouri
16				Back	Dayton
17				Tackle	Oregon State
18				Guard	Duke
19				Back	Denver
20				Tackle	Centenary
21				Center	Auburn
22				End	Missouri	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[22]

1941 draft

See main article: 1941 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Wingback	Texas A&M
2				End	Boston College
3				Back	Nebraska
4				Guard	Georgetown
5				Center	Baylor
6				Tackle	Mississippi State
7				End	Wake Forest
8				Tackle	Boston College
9				Back	Duke
10				Guard	Detroit Mercy
11				Fullback	Notre Dame
12				Halfback	Mississippi State
13				End	Arkansas
14				Tackle	Franklin & Marshall
15				End	Muhlenberg
16				Center	Providence
17				Back	Wisconsin
18				Back	Kentucky
19				Back	Oregon
20				Back	Carnegie Mellon	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[23]

1942 draft

See main article: 1942 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Fullback	Michigan
2				Defensive tackle	Northwestern
3				Back	Oregon State
4				Back	Case Western Reserve
5				End	Clemson
6				Blocking back	Hardin–Simmons
7				Halfback	Canisius
8				Tackle	Scranton
9				Wingback	Arizona
10				Center	Iowa
11				Fullback	Wake Forest
12				Tailback	Southern Miss
13				Center	Michigan State
14				Tackle	UC Santa Barbara
15				End	Utah
16				Tackle	Arkansas
17				Back	Ohio State
18				Tackle	Murray State
19				End	Susquehanna
20				Back	West Texas A&M	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[24]

1943 draft

See main article: 1943 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Back	Georgia
2				End	Wisconsin
3				Tackle	Oregon
4				Back	Furman
5				Tackle	Oregon State
6				Tackle	Union (TN)
7				End	Furman
8				End	Georgia
9				Tackle	Arizona
10				Back	Michigan State
11				Fullback	Washington State
12				Guard	Michigan
13				Back	Portland
14				End	Saint Louis
15				End	Colorado
16				Tackle	William & Mary
17				Guard	West Virginia
18				Halfback	Colorado State
19				End	Pennsylvania
20				Back	Oklahoma State
21				Back	Iowa State
22				Guard	LSU
23				Guard	Missouri
24				Center	Washington State
25				Back	Oklahoma
26				Tackle	Idaho
27				Tackle	UCLA
28				End	Missouri
29				Back	Millikin
30				Back	Western Maryland	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[25]

1944 draft

See main article: 1944 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Quarterback	Northwestern
2				Halfback	Tennessee
3				End	USC
4				Back	Utah
5				End	Michigan
6				Tackle	Santa Clara
7				Tackle	Colorado
8				Guard	Washington State
9				End	Notre Dame
10				End	Minnesota
11				Halfback	Michigan
12				Guard	UCLA
13				Back	Dickinson
14				Center	Michigan
15				End	Fresno State
16				Back	Colgate
17				Defensive end	Georgia Tech
18				Halfback	Detroit Mercy
19				End	Mississippi State
20				Back	Saint Mary's (CA)^[26]
21				Guard	Northwestern
22				Back	Texas-El Paso
23				Center	Oklahoma
24				Back	Indiana
25				End	Saint Mary's (CA)
26				End	Colorado
27				Back	Missouri
28				Back	West Virginia
29				Tackle	Michigan
30				End	Kansas	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[27]

1945 draft

See main article: 1945 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Center	Notre Dame
3				Guard	Iowa
5				Back	Michigan
6				Fullback	Ohio State
7				Defensive tackle	Temple
8				Back	Detroit Mercy
9				Tackle	Illinois
10				End	Yale
11				Tackle	Utah State
12				Tackle	Purdue
13				Back	Nebraska
14				Back	Iowa
15				End	Louisiana
16				End	Denver
17				Back	Tulane
18				Back	Alabama
19				Quarterback	Tulsa
20				Guard	Georgia
21				Guard	Wisconsin
22				Back	Saint Mary's (CA)^[28]
23				Back	Tulane
24				Center	Tennessee
25				Tackle	Oklahoma
26				Guard	Detroit Mercy
27				Back	Tulsa
28				Back	Creighton
29				Tackle	Wisconsin
30				End	Notre Dame
31				Back	Northwestern
32				Back	Detroit Mercy	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[29]

1946 draft

See main article: 1946 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Back	Missouri
3				Tackle	Ohio State
5				End	Wake Forest
6				Guard	Auburn
7				Tackle	Notre Dame
8				Back	Washington
9				Tackle	West Texas A&M
10				Tackle	Ohio State
11				Back	Oregon State
12				Tackle	Texas Tech
13				Back	Marquette
14				Back	Auburn
15				End	South Carolina
16				End	Duke
17				Back	Rice
18				Back	Central Michigan
19				Back	Minnesota
20				Tackle	UCLA
21				End	Purdue
22				Center	Detroit Mercy
23				End	Detroit Mercy
24				Back	Northwestern
25				Tackle	Colgate
26				Guard	Oregon State
27				End	Georgia Tech
28				Center	Minnesota
29				Back	California
30				Guard	Utah
31				End	Marquette
32				Guard	Oklahoma State	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[30]

1947 draft

See main article: 1947 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Halfback	Army
2				Tackle	Ohio State
3				Tackle	Missouri
4				Center	Vanderbilt
5				Tailback	Michigan
6				Guard	Pennsylvania
7				Guard	Pennsylvania
8				Center	Miami (FL)
9				Tackle	South Carolina
10				Back	Michigan
11				Tackle	Detroit Mercy
12				Back	Iowa State
13				Guard	Michigan State
14				End	Washington
15				Back	Texas A&M–Commerce
16				Center	BYU
17				Defensive back	Ohio State
18				End	Utah State
19				Back	Texas A&M
20				End	Michigan
21				End	Michigan
22				Linebacker	Marquette
23				Tackle	St. Bonaventure
24				Back	Alabama
25				Tackle	Texas A&M–Commerce
26				Wingback	Wisconsin
27				Back	Tennessee
28				End	Detroit Mercy
29				Tackle	Texas A&M
30				Tackle	Tulane	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[31]

1948 draft

See main article: 1948 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Quarterback	LSU
2				Back	Stanford
3				Defensive guard	Illinois
4				Tackle	Arkansas
6				Tackle	Hobart
7				Quarterback	Arizona
7				Tackle	Utah State
9				Defensive back	USC
10				End	USC
11				Tackle	LSU
13				Back	Illinois
14				Back	Union (NY)^[32]
15				Back	Michigan
16				Guard	Ohio State
17				Guard	Michigan
18				Tackle	Rice
19				Defensive end	Utah
20				Tackle	Loyola Marymount
21				Back	USC
22				Back	Colorado
23				End	Alabama
24				Guard	Saint Mary's (CA)
25				Back	Notre Dame
26				Tackle	South Carolina
27				Tackle	Toledo
28				Tackle	USC
29				Back	Central Michigan
30				Center	Michigan State	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[33]

1949 draft

See main article: 1949 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Quarterback	Georgia
2				Linebacker	Notre Dame
3				Linebacker	Columbia
4				Back	Dartmouth
5				End	Georgia Tech
6				Back	Oklahoma State
9				Linebacker	Penn State
10				Guard	Duke
11				Tackle	Miami (FL)
12				Center	New Mexico
13				Tackle	Tennessee
14				Tackle	Utah State
15				Center	San Jose State
16				Tackle	BYU
17				Back	Vanderbilt
18				Center	Denison
19				Halfback	Penn State
20				Tackle	North Carolina
21				Linebacker	Ohio State
22				Back	Utah
23				Guard	Mississippi State
24				End	Michigan
25				End	McMurry	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[34]

1950 draft

See main article: 1950 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				End	Notre Dame
1				Center	Rice
2				Defensive tackle	Colorado State
3				Fullback	Northwestern
4				Guard	Texas-El Paso
5				Back	Dartmouth
6				Tackle	Minnesota
7				Back	St. Edward's
8				Back	Minnesota
9				Guard	Detroit Mercy
10				Back	Gustavus Adolphus
11				Tackle	Ohio State
12				Tackle	Brown
13				Back	San Francisco
14				Center	Nebraska Wesleyan
15				Back	Northwestern
16				Center	Detroit Mercy
17				Back	Morningside
18				Defensive tackle	Denver
19				Tackle	Notre Dame
20				End	Maryland
21				Back	Oklahoma
22				Tackle	Purdue
23				Tackle	Boston University
24				Guard	William & Mary
25				Back	Michigan State
26				Back	Texas
27				End	Texas Tech
28				Back	Illinois
29				Back	Illinois
30				Center	Oklahoma State	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[35]

1950 AAFC dispersal draft

See main article: 1950 AAFC dispersal draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	AAFC Team
1				Halfback	Chicago Hornets
2				Tackle	Los Angeles Dons
3				End	Chicago Hornets
4				Tackle	Buffalo Bills
5				End	New York Yankees
6				End	Los Angeles Dons
7				End	Chicago Hornets
8				Tackle	New York Yankees
9				End	Chicago Hornets
10				Halfback	New York Giants	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: ProFootballResearchers.org

1951 draft

See main article: 1951 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
2				Guard	San Francisco
3				End	Michigan State
4				Fullback	Villanova
5				End	Iowa State
5				Linebacker	Washington State
6				Defensive back	Colorado State
7				Middle guard	Ohio State
8				Back	Illinois
10				Guard	LSU
11				End	Oklahoma
13				Tackle	Illinois
14				Tackle	Detroit Mercy
15				Defensive back	Tennessee
16				End	Pittsburgh
17				Defensive back	Oklahoma State
18				Back	Arizona
19				Tackle	Washington State
20				Back	South Dakota State
21				Back	Idaho
22				End	Army
23				Back	Lehigh
24				Back	San Francisco
25				Center	Texas
26				Center	West Virginia
27				End	Michigan
28				Tackle	South Dakota State
29				Guard	West Texas A&M
30				Back	Detroit Mercy	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[36]

1952 draft

See main article: 1952 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
3				Defensive back	Texas A&M
4				Defensive end	Arkansas
5				Defensive tackle	Virginia
6				End	Denver
7				Center	Utah
8				Quarterback	Utah
9				Linebacker	Ohio State
10				Tackle	Baylor
11				Center	TCU
12				Back	LSU
13				Center	Florida
14				Back	BYU
15				Guard	Georgia
17				Halfback	Tennessee
18				Guard	Iowa State
19				Defensive end	Duke
20				Defensive tackle	Murray State
21				Back	Mississippi
22				Defensive back	Colorado State
23				End	Mississippi
24				Tackle	Vanderbilt
25				Halfback	Washington State
26				End	Stephen F. Austin
27				End	Baylor
28				Defensive end	Tennessee State
29				Back	Western Illinois
30				Back	Prairie View A&M	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[37]

1953 draft

See main article: 1953 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Guard	Texas
2				Halfback	Indiana
4				Tackle	USC
6				Tackle	Kansas
7				Linebacker	Pittsburgh
8				Halfback	Arkansas
9				Center	TCU
10				End	Clemson
11				Guard	Washington State
12				Back	Wake Forest
13				End	Washington and Lee
14				Tackle	New Mexico
15				Linebacker	Michigan
16				Guard	Army/Villanova
17				Tackle	Duke
18				Quarterback	William & Mary
19				Quarterback	San Jose State
20				Tackle	Army/Mississippi
21				Back	Virginia
22				End	South Dakota State
23				Defensive back	Syracuse
24				Tackle	Duke
25				Halfback	Texas A&M–Commerce
26				Center	Penn State
27				Back	Mississippi State
28				Back	Southern Miss
29				Tackle	Wayne State (NE)^[38]
30				End	Montana	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[39]

1954 draft

See main article: 1954 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Tackle	Rice
2				Center	Michigan State
3				Fullback	William & Mary
4				Defensive back	UCLA
4				End	Washington State
5				Tackle	William & Mary
6				Back	Texas State
6				Halfback	Tulsa
7				Back	Utah
8				Defensive back	UCLA
9				Back	Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
10				End	Holy Cross
11				Tackle	Washington State
12				Tackle	Oregon State
13				Back	Marshall
14				Back	Nebraska
15				End	Colorado State
16				Tackle	Houston
17				Back	Toledo
18				Tackle	Idaho
19				Tackle	Arkansas
20				Guard	Utah
21				Back	Duke
22				Defensive end	BYU
23				Tackle	Pennsylvania
24				Guard	Duke
25				Defensive back	Arkansas State
26				Tackle	Syracuse
27				Center	Benedictine
28				Back	Linfield
29				Center	Idaho
30				Back	Eureka	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[40]

1955 draft

See main article: 1955 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				End	Auburn
2				Guard	UCLA
3				Defensive end	Tennessee
4				Back	Miami (FL)
4				Defensive back	Detroit Mercy
5				Guard	Arkansas
6				Tackle	Prairie View A&M
7				Defensive back	Michigan State
8				Linebacker	South Carolina
8				End	Maryland
8				End	Rice
9				Defensive end	Wayne State
10				Back	Boston University
11				Tackle	Iowa State
12				Back	Cincinnati
13				Tackle	Utah
14				Back	Benedictine
15				Guard	Auburn
16				End	Bradley
17				Back	Eastern Kentucky
18				Back	Tennessee
19				Center	Eastern Kentucky
20				Back	Denver
21				Tackle	Mississippi
22				Back	Maryland
23				Back	Wyoming
24				Guard	Holy Cross
25				Tackle	Illinois
26				Back	Michigan
27				Back	Trinity (CT)^[41]
28				Guard	South Carolina
29				Back	Florida
30				End	Utah State	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[42]

1956 draft

See main article: 1956 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Halfback	Ohio State
3				Halfback	SMU
4				End	Iowa
5				Halfback	Tennessee
6				Center	William & Mary
7				Defensive end	Pacific
8				Tackle	Texas A&M
9				Guard	Iowa
10				Defensive end	South Carolina
11				Back	Richmond
11				Back	Maryland
12				Tackle	LSU
13				Back	LSU
14				Linebacker	Duke
15				Defensive end	Texas State
16				Defensive end	Purdue
17				End	Houston
18				Back	Boston College
19				Back	VMI
20				End	Vanderbilt
21				Center	Whittier
22				Tackle	Clemson
23				Back	Georgia
24				End	Central Michigan
25				Back	Rice
26				Back	West Texas A&M
27				Guard	Tulane
28				Guard	Northwestern
29				Back	UCLA
30				Tackle	Texas State	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[43]

1957 draft

See main article: 1957 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Defensive end	Baylor
2				Guard	Tennessee
3				Halfback	Michigan
4				End	Xavier (OH)
5				Guard	Florida
6				Tackle	Bowling Green
7				Tackle	Colorado
8				Defensive tackle	George Washington
9				End	TCU
10				End	American International
11				Center	Missouri
12				End	Valparaiso
13				Back	Eastern Oregon
14				Back	Jacksonville State
15				Center	Maryland
16				Center	Virginia Tech
17				Quarterback	Occidental
18				Guard	BYU
19				End	Virginia
20				Tackle	South Carolina
21				Defensive tackle	Lamar
22				End	Eastern Kentucky
23				Back	Texas A&M
24				Back	Vanderbilt
25				Back	South Dakota
26				Guard	Iowa State
27				End	St. Thomas
28				Back	Houston
29				Guard	Pomona
30				Tackle	Furman	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[44]

1958 draft

See main article: 1958 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Defensive tackle	Iowa
4				Linebacker	Idaho
6				Halfback	Wisconsin
7				Back	Kansas State
7				Tackle	Virginia
8				Guard	Bowling Green
8				Guard	North Carolina
9				Back	Alabama
9				Defensive tackle	Wayne State
10				Tackle	William & Mary
11				Back	Dayton
12				End	San Jose State
13				Back	Cincinnati
14				Halfback	Presbyterian
15				End	Iowa State
15				Back	Benedictine
16				Tackle	Central Michigan
17				Guard	USC
18				Center	Auburn
18				Back	Kansas
19				Back	Murray State
20				Tackle	Western Kentucky
21				Defensive back	Idaho State
22				End	South Carolina
23				Back	South Carolina
24				Defensive back	Indiana
25				Back	Auburn
26				Tackle	Middle Tennessee State
27				Tackle	Missouri S&T
28				End	South Carolina
29				Back	Kentucky
30				Back	Tennessee	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[45]

1959 draft

See main article: 1959 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Fullback	Notre Dame
2				Guard	Baylor
2				Guard	Indiana
3				Center	North Carolina
3				Tackle	Syracuse
4				Back	VMI
4				Guard	Oregon
6				Defensive tackle	West Virginia
7				Defensive end	Vanderbilt
8				Tackle	Oregon
9				Fullback	Tennessee
10				Linebacker	Purdue
11				Linebacker	Bradley
12				Guard	Colorado State
13				Defensive back	UCLA
14				Center	McMurry
15				Defensive back	Detroit Mercy
16				Tackle	Southern
17				Linebacker	Georgia Tech
18				Tackle	Los Angeles State
19				Defensive tackle	Prairie View A&M
20				Center	Purdue
21				Back	Richmond
22				Defensive end	Tennessee
23				Tackle	Denver
24				Back	Pittsburgh
25				End	Sacramento State
26				Back	Lincoln (MO)^[46]
27				Tackle	South Carolina
28				Back	Texas
29				End	Duke
30				End	Oregon	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[47]

1960 draft

See main article: 1960 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Defensive back	LSU
2				Quarterback	LSU
3				Center	Notre Dame
4				Center	Northwestern
4				Defensive tackle	Maryland Eastern Shore
6				Split end	Washington State
7				Defensive back	Idaho
9				Linebacker	Cincinnati
10				Tackle	Detroit Mercy
10				Tackle	Boston College
11				End	Indiana
12				End	Los Angeles State
13				Halfback	Occidental
14				Tackle	Jacksonville State
15				Halfback	Michigan
16				Back	Cincinnati
17				End	Louisiana Tech
18				Halfback	John Carroll
19				Tight end	Boston University
20				Quarterback	Michigan State	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[48]

1961 draft

See main article: 1961 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
2				Tackle	Missouri
3				Guard	Pittsburgh
3				Defensive tackle	Southern Illinois
4				Fullback	Oklahoma
5				Defensive end	Indiana
5				Tackle	Los Angeles State
8				End	Benedictine
9				Fullback	Ohio
10				Tackle	Houston
11				Defensive back	Detroit Mercy
12				Back	Kentucky
13				Linebacker	Pittsburgh
14				Halfback	Arizona State
15				End	Wisconsin–River Falls
16				Tackle	Northern Michigan
17				Center	Mississippi State
18				Tackle	Montana
19				Back	Northern Michigan
20				Back	Lake Forest	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[49]

1962 draft

See main article: 1962 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Quarterback	Kansas
2				Quarterback	Arizona
3				Defensive back	Arizona
4				Tackle	Western Michigan
4				Halfback	Iowa
5				Defensive tackle	Houston
6				Defensive tackle	USC
7				Wide receiver	Minnesota
8				Tackle	Houston
8				Guard	Southern Illinois
9				Center	Michigan
10				Center	Pittsburg State
11				Tackle	Bowling Green
12				Center	Winona State
13				Tackle	Central State (OH)^[50]
14				Back	Maryland
15				End	Delaware
16				Defensive tackle	McNeese State
17				Center	Marshall
18				Quarterback	Arizona State
19				Tackle	Linfield
20				End	Michigan	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[51]

1963 draft

See main article: 1963 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Tackle	Ohio State
2				Defensive tackle	Pacific
4				Guard	Iowa State
6				Halfback	Syracuse
7				Guard	Pacific
8				Linebacker	LSU
9				Linebacker	Mississippi
10				Fullback	Miami (FL)
11				Defensive back	Drake
12				Defensive back	Texas A&M–Kingsville
13				Linebacker	Michigan State
14				Tackle	Xavier^[52]
15				Guard	Miami (FL)
16				Tackle	Villanova
17				Back	BYU
18				End	Jackson State
19				Tackle	Hampton
20				Back	Texas A&M–Commerce	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[53]

1964 draft

See main article: 1964 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Quarterback	USC
2				Tight end	Michigan State
3				Fullback	Hardin–Simmons
3				Defensive end	Buffalo
4				Linebacker	Iowa
5				Defensive back	Alabama
6				Tight end	Richmond
7				Tackle	Wichita State
9				Defensive back	South Dakota State
10				Defensive end	Appalachian State
10				Halfback	West Virginia
11				Tackle	Baldwin Wallace
12				Split end	Texas Southern
13				Tackle	Idaho State
14				End	Hillsdale
15				Defensive tackle	Muskingum
16				Halfback	BYU
17				Tackle	Kansas State
18				Tackle	LSU
19				Halfback	Winona State
20				Tackle	Wichita State	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[54]

1965 draft

See main article: 1965 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Fullback	Indiana
2				Defensive tackle	Michigan State
3				Wide receiver	Florida State
4				Quarterback	Northwestern
5				Defensive back	Iowa State
5				Center	Purdue
5				End	Oklahoma
6				Back	Emory and Henry
7				Tackle	Utah
7				Guard	Virginia
8				Back	Appalachian State
9				Halfback	Hillsdale
10				Tackle	Florida
11				Defensive back	Prairie View A&M
12				Linebacker	North Texas
13				Defensive back	Oklahoma State
14				Back	Oklahoma
15				Tackle	Texas State
16				Tackle	Maryland Eastern Shore
17				Halfback	Duke
18				Quarterback	Wake Forest
19				Back	Nebraska
20				Quarterback	Notre Dame	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[55]

1966 draft

See main article: 1966 NFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
2				Running back	Notre Dame
3				Split end	Indiana
4				Guard	Ohio State
4				Wide receiver	Tennessee State
5				Linebacker	Auburn
6				Tackle	Western Illinois
7				Defensive back	Tennessee State
8				Halfback	Virginia
9				Tackle	Arkansas
10				Tackle	Auburn
10				Defensive end	Wisconsin
11				Linebacker	Oregon State
12				Tackle	Tarleton State
13				Tackle	Wisconsin
14				Defensive tackle	USC
15				Defensive end	West Virginia
16				End	Wisconsin–Eau Claire
17				Defensive end	Baylor
18				End	West Alabama
19				Tackle	Simpson
20				Halfback	Findlay	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[56]

1967 draft

See main article: 1967 NFL/AFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Running back	UCLA
2				Defensive back	Jackson State
3				Linebacker	Tennessee
4				Defensive end	Weber State
6				Quarterback	Weber State
6				Defensive end	Northwestern
7				Tackle	Iowa State
9				Defensive back	Bowling Green
10				Guard	USC
11				Tackle	Arizona State
12				Defensive back	San Jose State
13				Guard	Georgia Tech
14				Defensive end	South Carolina State
15				Defensive back	Georgia Tech
16				Tight end	Columbia
17				Defensive tackle	Northwestern	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[57]

1968 draft

See main article: 1968 NFL/AFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
1				Quarterback	Massachusetts
1				Wide receiver	USC
2				Kicker	Wyoming
3				Tight end	Minnesota
4				Linebacker	Texas Tech
5				Wide receiver	BYU
6				Defensive end	San Jose State
8				Linebacker	Illinois
9				Quarterback	Tulsa
10				Linebacker	Oklahoma
11				Guard	Kentucky
12				Defensive back	Arizona
13				Tackle	Humboldt State
14				End	Upsala
15				Running back	Colorado State
16				Defensive end	Arizona State	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[58]

1969 draft

See main article: 1969 NFL/AFL draft.

Round		Overall	Name	Position	College
2				Running back	Utah State
2				Tackle	Florida
3				Wide receiver	Arizona State
8				Tackle	Jackson State
9				Guard	Oregon State
10				Defensive end	Wisconsin–Platteville
11				Defensive end	Morris Brown
12				Defensive tackle	George Fox
13				Running back	USC
14				Defensive back	Michigan
15				Linebacker	Texas–Arlington
16				Defensive end	Houston
16				Guard	Fresno State
17				Tight end	Army	+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: bottom"	Source: Pro Football Reference^[59]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Why are there divisions and conferences in the NFL? How do they work? . . April 12, 2023 . Astbury . Matt . May 27, 2024 . May 29, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240529171559/https://www.dazn.com/en-US/news/american-football/why-are-there-divisions-and-conferences-in-the-nfl-how-do-they-work/1shbb9cpvf4th1iwph93x97hgp . live .
2. Web site: Team Facts . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231206112104/https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/detroit-lions/team-facts/ . December 6, 2023 . November 10, 2023 . Pro Football Hall of Fame.
3. Web site: Detroit Lions . . November 10, 2023 . November 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231104170345/https://operations.nfl.com/learn-the-game/nfl-basics/team-histories/national-football-conference/north/detroit-lions . live .
4. Web site: How did your NFL team gets its name? Origins explained for all 32 . . November 15, 2023 . en . February 2, 2022 . June 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230607170953/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32814182/how-did-your-nfl-team-gets-name-origins-explained-all-32 . live .
5. Web site: Detroit Lions stadium: What is Ford Field's capacity and does it have a roof? . . January 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240621170015/https://www.dazn.com/en-CA/news/football/detroit-lions-stadium-what-is-ford-fields-capacity-and-does-it-have-a-roof/j98185nll5d51crytunmlzhgg . June 21, 2024 . live . Astbury . Matt . June 19, 2024 .
6. Web site: NFL Draft Profile – NFL Draft . . February 7, 2024 . December 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231217031316/http://www.espn.com/nfldraft/research/event/profile?eventId=0 . live .
7. News: Sam . Farmer . What makes them tick . . February 7, 2024 . April 26, 2008 . February 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207135240/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-26-sp-nfl26-story.html . live .
8. Web site: NFL 2021 Draft date: when and where is it taking place? . . en-us . February 18, 2021 . November 15, 2023 . January 29, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129070037/https://en.as.com/en/2021/02/18/nfl/1613653757_815367.html . live .
9. Web site: The rules of the NFL Draft . . November 14, 2023 . November 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101040705/https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/the-rules-of-the-draft/ . live .
10. Web site: Learn the history of the NFL Draft. . . June 17, 2024 . September 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230911003235/https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/the-history-of-the-draft/ . live .
11. Web site: The First NFL Draft – 1936 . . June 17, 2024 . en . February 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226065855/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2018/04/the-nfls-first-draft-1936 . live .
12. News: Buttar . Simmi . A look at the NFL in the fabulous 1950s . June 17, 2024 . . . subscription . October 11, 2019 . December 12, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191212065826/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks//a-look-at-the-nfl-in-the-fabulous-1950s/ . live .
13. Web site: Allocation Draft . . https://web.archive.org/web/20140929212008/http://www.ProFootballResearchers.org/AAFC/Allocation_Draft.pdf . 2014-09-29 . dead . February 20, 2024.
14. Web site: Hall of Famers by Draft Round . . June 17, 2024 . en . April 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230425164300/https://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of-famers/hall-of-famers-by-draft-round/ . live .
15. Web site: Detroit Lions All-Time Draft History . . June 17, 2024 . en . November 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231106232258/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/draft.htm . live .
16. Web site: NFL At 100: Arrival of 1970s ushers in NFL's modern era . . . June 17, 2024 . October 25, 2019 . October 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231017021250/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/10/25/nfl-at-100-arrival-of-1970s-ushers-in-nfls-modern-era/40416897/ . live .
17. Web site: 1936 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . June 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240603135620/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1936_draft.htm . live .
18. Web site: 1937 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . January 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230114210456/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1937_draft.htm . live .
19. Web site: 1938 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . February 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205173020/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1938_draft.htm . live .
20. Web site: 1939 Detroit Lions Draft . . 11 July 2024.
21. Web site: 1939 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . June 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240603135638/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1939_draft.htm . live .
22. Web site: 1940 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . June 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240603135625/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1940_draft.htm . live .
23. Web site: 1941 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530194551/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1941_draft.htm . live .
24. Web site: 1942 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530194552/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1942_draft.htm . live .
25. Web site: 1943 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530194553/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1943_draft.htm . live .
26. Web site: 1944 Detroit Lions Draft . . 11 July 2024.
27. Web site: 1944 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . October 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221009072226/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1944_draft.htm . live .
28. Web site: 1945 Detroit Lions Draft . . 11 July 2024 . July 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711185513/https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/team/detroit-lions-football-687/draftpicks/?year=1945 . live .
29. Web site: 1945 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . January 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230115095003/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1945_draft.htm . live .
30. Web site: 1946 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . March 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325031707/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1946_draft.htm . live .
31. Web site: 1947 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . April 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405192140/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1947_draft.htm . live .
32. Web site: 1948 Detroit Lions Draft . . 11 July 2024 . July 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711185514/https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/team/detroit-lions-football-687/draftpicks/?year=1948 . live .
33. Web site: 1948 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530194554/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1948_draft.htm . live .
34. Web site: 1949 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . April 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407200215/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1949_draft.htm . live .
35. Web site: 1950 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240530194555/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1950_draft.htm . live .
36. Web site: 1951 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . April 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407013447/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1951_draft.htm . live .
37. Web site: 1952 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . April 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404153110/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1952_draft.htm . live .
38. Web site: 1953 Detroit Lions Draft . . 11 July 2024 . July 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711185514/https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/team/detroit-lions-football-687/draftpicks/?year=1953 . live .
39. Web site: 1953 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515124929/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1953_draft.htm . live .
40. Web site: 1954 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515124945/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1954_draft.htm . live .
41. Web site: 1955 Detroit Lions Draft . . 11 July 2024 . July 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711185515/https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/team/detroit-lions-football-687/draftpicks/?year=1955 . live .
42. Web site: 1955 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515124914/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1955_draft.htm . live .
43. Web site: 1956 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515125015/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1956_draft.htm . live .
44. Web site: 1957 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . October 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221008184432/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1957_draft.htm . live .
45. Web site: 1958 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . November 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221112195745/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1958_draft.htm . live .
46. Web site: 1959 Detroit Lions Draft . . 11 July 2024 . July 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711185515/https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/team/detroit-lions-football-687/draftpicks/?year=1959 . live .
47. Web site: 1959 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . October 14, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221014144449/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1959_draft.htm . live .
48. Web site: 1960 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515125010/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1960_draft.htm . live .
49. Web site: 1961 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515125011/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1961_draft.htm . live .
50. Web site: 1962 Detroit Lions Draft . . 11 July 2024 . July 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711185515/https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/team/detroit-lions-football-687/draftpicks/?year=1962 . live .
51. Web site: 1962 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515062027/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1962_draft.htm . live .
52. Web site: 1963 Detroit Lions Draft . . 11 July 2024 . July 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711185517/https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/team/detroit-lions-football-687/draftpicks/?year=1963 . live .
53. Web site: 1963 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515125019/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1963_draft.htm . live .
54. Web site: 1964 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . February 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202214319/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1964_draft.htm . live .
55. Web site: 1965 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515125557/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1965_draft.htm . live .
56. Web site: 1966 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . October 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221012060918/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1966_draft.htm . live .
57. Web site: 1967 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . April 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407085851/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1967_draft.htm . live .
58. Web site: 1968 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . May 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515125602/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1968_draft.htm . live .
59. Web site: 1969 Detroit Lions Draftees . . May 14, 2024 . en . September 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922020940/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1969_draft.htm . live .