No, the Lions aren't hunting a quarterback in the draft. Unlike most teams at the top of the board, they don't have a need under center. In fact, the Lions don't have a glaring need at any position. As GM Brad Holmes said Thursday as Detroit prepares to make two first-round picks including No. 6 overall, "We can go pretty much any direction we want and feel good about it."
Which, in theory, puts quarterback in play. The Lions are committed to Jared Goff as their starter in 2023 and recently re-signed Nate Sudfeld to compete for the backup job. Holmes said he'll "definitely add a third" quarterback to the room before training camp, which could happen in free agency after the draft. Detroit has a reported offer on the table for veteran Teddy Bridgewater.
It could also happen in the draft itself.
"It just goes back to the flexibility that we have in this draft in terms of, we’re not pressed," said Holmes. "Obviously, we like what Nate did, that’s why we signed him back, but we’re not pressed, we’re not pinched. If it works out, if it lines up, it does. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t."
The Lions hosted quarterbacks C.J. Stroud and Hendon Hooker on pre-draft visits. They also met with Anthony Richardson at the combine. Stroud is the surest thing of the three, a likely top-five pick. Richardson has the highest ceiling of any quarterback -- maybe any player -- in the draft.
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"We brought some quarterbacks in and did our just due on them," Holmes said. "Like I say all the time, when you’re picking in the top 10, you just want to make sure that you’re thorough on the quarterback market, and I believe that we have done that."
Goff, 28, is signed through 2024 and open to an extension with Detroit on the heels of a career season. But given his physical limitations, the Lions might be motivated to find a long-term upgrade while they're still picking high in the draft.
"But we won’t be pinched," said Holmes. "We won’t be forced to do anything that doesn’t line up and doesn’t match."
One thing to keep in mind: Holmes always drafts with the future in mind. He called it "a big investment" that requires "a long-term approach." He brought up 2022 first-round pick Jameson Williams, who was coming off a torn ACL at the time, and admitted, "I didn't really care if he played last year. I was looking for this year."
Likewise, drafting a quarterback wouldn't necessarily help the Lions in 2023. But it could pay immense dividends in the future.
"I'm not saying we have a perfect roster," said Holmes. "I'm in the mindset of, if you think you're set and done, I mean, if you take your foot off the gas, you can have problems lurking down the road."
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