Bold Predictions for the Lions Heading into the NFL Draft

The Detroit Lions are in a tricky position. Armed with the No. 3 pick after a 3-12-1 finish, conventional wisdom would suggest the team should be entering a rebuilding period. But Matt Patricia is entering his third season as head coach, and he has yet to finish above .500.

Back-to-back lackluster seasons could put some win-now pressure on Patricia and this organization. With that in mind, let's take a look at some bold predictions for what the Lions could do in the 2020 NFL Draft.

3. Detroit Trades Down to No. 5

Jeff Okudah could be a great fit for the Lions at No. 5. / Joe Robbins/Getty Images

With teams like the Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins in search of a franchise quarterback, the Lions are a natural fit for a potential trade-down scenario. Long rumored to be eyeing Ohio State's Jeff Okudah, Detroit could likely trade down to No. 5 or even No. 6 and still manage to land the top corner in the draft. However, with the uncertainty surrounding both Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert, the return might not be quite as large as many Lions fans are hoping for.

2. The Lions Invest in a Backup QB Early

The Lions could use another quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft. / Leon Halip/Getty Images

Spending a Day 2 pick on a quarterback might seem counterintuitive for a team that is seemingly in win-now mode with Matthew Stafford at the helm. But Stafford's back injury has to be a concern, and this offense absolutely fell apart once he went down. The team averaged 25.5 points per game (PPG) with Stafford at the helm, but that torpedoed down to 17.1 PPG with him off the field. The Lions need to be prepared in case Stafford goes down again. Don't be shocked if the team uses a mid-round pick on a talent like Jalen Hurts, Jacob Eason or Jake Fromm.

1. Detroit Brings in Competition for Kerryon Johnson

Kerryon Johnson has dealt with two injury-plagued seasons in the NFL. / Leon Halip/Getty Images

When he's on the field, Kerryon Johnson has proven to be one of the most exciting young running backs in the league. But he's only started a combined 14 games across two seasons, missing at least six games due to injury in back-to-back years. While running back has been devalued across the league, Detroit could use a Day 2 pick to bring in some competition, or at the very least, a complementary option, for Johnson. Someone like D'Andre Swift or Clyde Edwards-Helaire could be an excellent investment for the team.

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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.