The Lions have three of the first 34 picks in next week's draft, and GM Brad Holmes has an interest in trading down from No. 2 overall. Holmes could also be poised to move up from No. 32. With plenty of ammo, the Lions have the potential be one of the movers and shakers of the first round.
Is it possible they trade up from No. 2? ESPN's Bill Barnwell proposed three potential trades for the Lions in his 2022 'mock draft of trades' where each of the first 32 picks is on the move, the first of which sees Detroit sending picks Nos. 2 and 34 and a fourth-rounder in 2023 to the Jags "to move up and lock in their guy:" Michigan pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
"There's a chance the Lions can stay put and land Hutchinson if the Jaguars prefer Travon Walker or Kayvon Thibodeaux among the top edge rushers," writes Barnwell. "... But the evidence seems to point toward Jacksonville taking him. If the Lions want Hutchinson, they can hope the Jags are bluffing or that the public is wrong, but are they willing to pay to guarantee keeping him in-state?"
Hutchinson would be a natural fit in Detroit, where Dan Campbell and the Lions are looking for high-character players and more talent on defense, especially in the front seven. The 2021 Heisman finalist checks each box. Trading up here isn't totally out of the question for the Lions, but Holmes is much more inclined to add picks than to forfeit them in the early stages of a rebuild.
Barnwell has the Lions moving up again in his second trade, this time sending picks Nos. 32 and 34 to the Chargers for No. 17 overall, plus No. 79.
"Holmes comes from the Rams organization, and L.A. has typically treated late first-round picks as opportunities to get more valuable picks or players. Moving up here would get the Lions ahead of the Steelers if they do want to grab a quarterback, or land them in front of the Eagles and Saints if Detroit wants to take a wide receiver," writes Barnwell.
Maybe this is where the Lions make a move on quarterback Malik Willis, if he slips out of the top 10. More likely, it's how they target a receiver amid an expected run of pass-catchers in the middle to back half of the first round. Then again, in such a deep class of wide receivers, they can probably afford to wait. And moving picks Nos. 32 and 34 means the Lions wouldn't be back on the clock after No. 17 until No. 66 -- a long wait for a team with plenty of needs.
Still, Barnwell really likes the idea of Detroit moving up. He again offers up Nos. 32 and 34 in his third trade, this time in a swap with the Ravens for No. 14 overall, plus No. 141. It's all about getting the Lions into that sweet spot for one of the draft's top receivers.
"Having Amon-Ra St. Brown, D'Andre Swift, T.J. Hockenson and a wideout such as Chris Olave would give Jared Goff plenty of options in Detroit," says Barnwell. "Landing one of the top edge rushers at No. 2 and an impact wideout at No. 14 would be an exciting haul for the Lions."
Indeed, it would. But again, barring another trade, it would take the Lions out of the draft for the next 51 picks at a time they could be adding much-needed talent to their roster. If Holmes moves anywhere next Thursday, we're betting he moves down.