Discussion: What’s your best-case scenario for the Lions on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL draft?

The Detroit Lions are in the most unusual spots of the NFL draft that we’ve seen them be in in a long time. They currently hold pick No. 29 overall in the first round, and that means just about anything is on the table.

They could trade way up, as they did for Jameson Williams two years ago, and could provide some early spice. They could also move back into the top of the second round, which we’ve seen teams pay a premium in draft picks for in recent years—though that might lead folks in Campus Martius to riot. And, of course, there’s always the prospect of sitting pat and seeing how the board falls.

Question of the day: What is your ideal scenario for the Lions on Day 1 of the draft?

My answer: What’s most important to me is that the Lions find a player who they have a clear vision for on their team. Ideally, for me, that means a guy who coincides with a position of need, like a corner or defensive lineman, who can start on day one.

That’s going to be a stretch this season as the Lions have one of the league’s most complete rosters from top to bottom. Meaning, that whoever they pick, even in round one, may have to sit and wait before starting. And at pick No. 29, there’s no guarantee that one of the handful of corners or linemen that the Lions like are even available. It’s also possible the Lions like someone else better, like an offensive lineman.

As far as trades go, the most important thing for me is that the compensation is appropriate. If the Lions move up, I don’t want them mortgaging the future, and if they move down, it had better be worth me navigating the traffic on Woodward Avenue without having seen a new player in Honolulu Blue.

Ultimately, the best-case scenario for me is that the Lions’ best player available matches up with a position of need, and that player is good enough to start on day one.

What’s your ideal scenario? Let us know in the comments below.