Detroit Lions Making Calls About Trading First Round Pick: REPORT

The Detroit Lions might be trying to move one of the team's two first round picks.

The Lions hold the sixth (via the Rams) and 18th picks in the first round of the NFL Draft this Thursday night.

After a surprisingly successful 9-8 season in Dan Campbell's second year, the Lions now have the chance to add two great pieces, especially with the sixth overall pick.

However, the Lions might only end up drafting once Thursday night.

Albert Breer wrote Monday that he's "heard the Lions have already made calls on trading down from No. 18."

The team is definitely not moving the sixth pick, but it looks like Dan Campbell and company might be kicking the tires on trading back and building some future capital.

The Lions are trending up.

Believe it or not, the Detroit Lions don't actually need a ton of new pieces. Generally speaking, the Lions have holes all over the place every single draft.

Detroit has been a punchline in the NFL for decades, and I say that as Lions fan. You simply can't hide from the truth.

Whether the team is cursed or simply has horrible luck, the franchise seems to fall and tumble year after year.

Now, the tide has shifted. Dan Campbell won nine games in year two and there's not missing pieces all over the field. Jeff Okudah was traded to the Falcons, and the Lions need a CB1 and could use some help on defense up front.

Many people think the team should also draft a new QB to replace Jared Goff, but it's unlikely any great QB option is available at six. Don't bank on that happening.

If Detroit can grab a CB or a DT and then draft the 18th pick to stock up elsewhere, it would likely be viewed as a win Thursday night.

No matter what happens, there's nobody who can claim Detroit isn't heading in the right direction. The 2022 campaign was the franchise's best since 2017, and there was a great jump from 2021. Campbell and the Lions went 3-13-1 in 2021. Going from three wins to nine in one year is outstanding. Now, it's time for the Lions to add some more talent and take another step. With Aaron Rodgers out of the NFC North, there's definitely a window of opportunity for Detroit. For the first time in a long time, fans are entering a new season with lots of hope.

Written by
David Hookstead is a reporter for OutKick covering a variety of topics with a focus on football and culture. He also hosts of the podcast American Joyride that is accessible on Outkick where he interviews American heroes and outlines their unique stories. Before joining OutKick, Hookstead worked for the Daily Caller for seven years covering similar topics. Hookstead is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.