List of Detroit Lions first-round draft picks 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] [8] is an annual event which serves as the league's most common source of player recruitment.[9] 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.[10]

In 1936, the league introduced the NFL draft after team owners voted on it in 1935.[11] [12] The intention of the draft is to make the NFL more competitive, as some teams had an advantage in signing players. From through the NFL designated the first overall selection as a "bonus" or "lottery pick". The pick was awarded by a random draw and the winner who received the "bonus pick" forfeited its selection in the final round of the draft and became ineligible for future draws. The system was abolished prior to the 1959 NFL draft, as all twelve teams in the league at the time had received a bonus choice.[13] [14]

Since the first draft, the Lions have selected 92 players in the first round. The team's first-round pick in the inaugural NFL draft was Sid Wagner, a guard from Michigan State; he was the 8th overall selection.[15] The Lions have held the first overall pick four times and selected Frank Sinkwich in 1943, Leon Hart in 1950, Billy Sims in 1980, and Matthew Stafford in 2009.[16] In the most recent draft, held in 2024, the Lions selected Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold.[17]

The Lions did not draft a player in the first round on seven occasions. Seven of the team's first-round picks—Otto Graham, Calvin Johnson, Alex Karras, Johnny Robinson, Barry Sanders, Y. A. Tittle, and Alex Wojciechowicz—have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame;[18] two of these, Graham and Tittle, chose not to play for the Lions and joined the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) instead.[19] [20] The Lions also used three first-round picks in the 1960s to select players–Pete Beathard, John Hadl, and Johnny Robinson–who chose to sign with the NFL's pre-merger direct competitor, the American Football League (AFL) instead.[21] [22]

Player selections

Key
SymbolMeaning
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Selected number one overall
Position abbreviations
CCenter
CBCornerback
DBDefensive back
DEDefensive end
DTDefensive tackle
EEnd
FBFullback
GGuard
HBHalfback
LBLinebacker
QBQuarterback
RBRunning back
SSafety
TTackle
TETight end
WBWingback
WRWide receiver
Season! scope="col"
PickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
19368GMichigan State
19377HBNebraska
19386CFordham
19397HBMichigan State
19406QBUSCDeclined to play football[23] [24]
19415WBTexas A&M
19425FBMichigan
19431RBGeorgia
19444QBNorthwesternDid not sign with team
19456CNotre Dame
19468HBMissouriNever played in the NFL
19472HBArmyPlayer rights traded to Los Angeles Rams
19486QBLSUOriginal pick traded to Pittsburgh Steelers. Pick received in trade with Los Angeles Rams. Signed with the Baltimore Colts of the AAFC.
19492QBGeorgiaPlayer rights traded to New York Yanks
19501ENotre DameLottery bonus pick[25]
5CRice
1951Pick traded to Philadelphia Eagles
1952Pick traded to Cleveland Browns
195313GTexas
195413TRiceDid not sign with team
195512EAuburn
19563HBOhio State
195712GBaylor
195810DTIowa
19596FBNotre Dame
19603DBLSUSigned for the AFL's Dallas Texans instead[26]
1961Pick traded to Cleveland Browns
196210RBKansasSigned for the AFL's San Diego Chargers instead
196312TOhio State
19645QBUSCSigned for the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs instead
196511FBIndiana
1966Pick forfeited to Green Bay Packers
19677RBUCLA
196811QBUMass
24WRUSCPick received in trade with Los Angeles Rams
1969Pick traded to Los Angeles Rams
197019RBOklahoma
197121DTCincinnati
197216DTColorado
197317DETexas A&IMoved up draft order in trade with Chicago Bears
19748LBPenn StateMoved up draft order in trade with New Orleans Saints
197513GSouth Dakota State
197610DBGrambling StatePick received from Los Angeles Rams. Moved down draft order in trade with Chicago Bears.
16RBWyoming
1977Pick traded to Buffalo Bills
197811DBNotre Dame
197910TPenn State
19801RBOklahoma
198116WRSan Jose State
198215LBNebraska
198313FBFlorida
198420TECalifornia
19856TFlorida
198612QBIowa
19877DTWashington
19883DBMiamiMoved down draft order in trade with Kansas City Chiefs
19893RBOklahoma State
19907QBHouston
199110WRVirginia
199226DESouth Carolina State
1993Pick traded to New Orleans Saints
199421WRUSC
199520DTUtah
199617LBTexas A&MMoved up draft order in trade with Seattle Seahawks
23GPenn State
19975DBTexas
199820DBTennessee
19999LBUSC
27TWisconsinMoved up draft order in trade with Miami Dolphins
200020TOklahoma
200118TMichigan
20023QBOregon
20032WRMichigan State
20047WRTexasMoved down draft order in trade with Cleveland Browns
30RBVirginia TechMoved up draft order in trade with Kansas City Chiefs
200510WRUSC
20069LBFlorida State
20072WRGeorgia Tech
200817TBoston CollegeMoved down draft order in trade with Kansas City Chiefs
20091QBGeorgia
20TEOklahoma StatePick received in trade with Dallas Cowboys
20102DTNebraska
30RBCaliforniaMoved up draft order in trade with Minnesota Vikings
201113DTAuburn
201223TIowa
20135DEBYU
201410TENorth Carolina
201528GDukeMoved down draft order in trade with Denver Broncos
201616TOhio State
201721LBFlorida
201820CArkansas
20198TEIowa
20203CBOhio State
20217TOregon
20222DEMichigan
12WRAlabamaMoved up draft order in trade with Minnesota Vikings
202312RBAlabamaMoved down draft order in trade with Arizona Cardinals
18LBIowa
202424CBAlabamaMoved up draft order in trade with Dallas Cowboys

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Why are there divisions and conferences in the NFL? How do they work? . . 2023-04-12 . Astbury . Matt . 27 May 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: Astbury . Matt . Detroit Lions stadium: What is Ford Field's capacity and does it have a roof? . . June 19, 2024 . January 15, 2024 . June 21, 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 . live .
  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: Chad . Reuter . Who will be the best pro RB? Martin vs. Miller vs. Wilson . . February 7, 2024 . April 13, 2012 . June 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610122157/https://www.nfl.com/news/who-will-be-the-best-pro-rb-martin-vs-miller-vs-wilson-09000d5d8284a7d0 . live .
  9. 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 .
  10. 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 .
  11. Web site: 1936 – The NFL's First Draft . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528132202/https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/nfl-draft-history/1930/36/ . 2023-05-28 . live . November 15, 2023 . en.
  12. Web site: Learn the history of the NFL Draft. . . November 14, 2023 . 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 .
  13. Web site: Official 2023 National Football League Record & Fact Book . . December 11, 2023 . 529 . Signora . Michael . Gilbert . Zak . Drexler . Sam . Enos . Cody . Romanko . Reilly . June 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230627221115/https://operations.nfl.com/media/nppjkdp1/2023-record-and-fact-book.pdf . live .
  14. Web site: Hall of Famers by Draft Round . . November 14, 2023 . 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: 1936 NFL Draft Listing . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515130715/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1936/draft.htm . May 15, 2024 . live . November 14, 2023 .
  16. Web site: Detroit Lions All-Time Draft History . . November 8, 2023 . en . November 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231106232258/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/draft.htm . live .
  17. Web site: Twentyman . Tim . Lions trade up, draft cornerback Terrion Arnold . . 26 April 2024 . April 25, 2024 . April 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240426194908/https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-trade-up-draft-cornerback-terrion-arnold-2024-nfl-draft . live .
  18. Web site: Cummings . Ian . History of Detroit Lions First-Round NFL Draft Picks All Time . . November 14, 2023 . June 21, 2023 . June 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609012408/https://www.profootballnetwork.com/list-of-detroit-lions-first-round-nfl-draft-picks/ . live .
  19. Web site: Slagter . Josh . From Barry Sanders to Charles Rogers, Detroit Lions have lengthy history in top five of NFL draft . . November 13, 2023 . en . April 23, 2013 . November 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231113203234/https://www.mlive.com/lions/2013/04/detroit_lions_nfl_draft_histor.html . live .
  20. Rothschild . Richard . Y.A. Tittle: The Man Who Ignited Football in NY . . November 8, 2023 . en-us . October 9, 2017 . November 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231108193921/https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/10/ya-tittle-ignited-football-new-york . live .
  21. News: January 12, 1964 . NFL vs AFL II, 12 Jan 1964 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230911090008/https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-nfl-vs-afl-ii/86009811/ . September 11, 2023 . November 13, 2023 . . 67 . . clipping . Associated Press.
  22. Web site: Goldstein . Richard . November 30, 2022 . John Hadl, Standout Quarterback of the A.F.L., Dies at 82 . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207094458/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/30/sports/football/john-hadl-dead.html . December 7, 2022 . November 13, 2023 . . sec. B, p. 15.
  23. News: Florence . Mal . Nave Dies; USC's Hero in '39 Game . 14 May 2024 . . 11 December 1990.
  24. Web site: Doyle Nave (1995) – Rose Bowl Hall of Fame . . November 14, 2023 . en . September 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230909205621/https://rosebowlgame.com/honors/rose-bowl-hall-of-fame/doyle-nave/51 . live .
  25. Web site: The 1950 NFL Draft . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209101434/https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/nfl-draft-history/1950/50/ . 2023-02-09 . live . November 8, 2023 . en.
  26. Web site: Johnny Robinson . . November 13, 2023 . en . October 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030180936/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/johnny-robinson/ . live .

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