Did Lions Do Enough to Address WR, DL in 2023 NFL Draft?

Do the Lions still have a hole at wide receiver and defensive line?

The Detroit Lions were expected to target needs at wide receiver and along the interior of the defensive line during the 2023 NFL Draft. 

While some pundits expected general manager Brad Holmes to target those positions sooner, the additions of defensive lineman Brodric Martini and wideout Antoine Green excited the team's front office due to their developmental potential.

Detroit targeting players who may not step in immediately has opened up questions regarding just how much the defensive line has improved, as their was an obvious deficiency at the defensive tackle position. 

According to Sports Illustrated, "With Jameson Williams serving a six-game suspension to start the season, quarterback Jared Goff is in need of another pass catcher behind No. 1 option Amon-Ra St. Brown. The arrivals of running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta might be enough to keep the team afloat. Detroit made the head-scratching decision to draft inside linebacker Jack Campbell at No. 18 instead of adding defensive line help for Aidan Hutchinson, the 2022 first-round pick. The Lions got better in the back end of the defense, but they neglected the thin defensive front." 

Detroit is likely banking on the development of players brought back from last season, including Isaiah Buggs, Alim McNeill, Benito Jones and John Cominsky. 

Defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike has also been seen working out with the team the past couple of weeks during organized team activities.

The improved secondary should also give the defensive line added confidence to pin their ears back and pressure opposing quarterbacks. 

While the defense did struggle stopping the run at times last season, signs of improvement were present throughout the second half of the season, especially against the Chicago Bears, who were stifled at Ford Field offensively for nearly 60 minutes. 

At wide receiver, Green will have the opportunity to learn from veteran's Marvin Jones and Josh Reynolds, but his early contributions will be on special teams during the first few months of his rookie season. 

“I don’t think that Green can replace Jameson (Williams) or any of that, but we are happy to get Green in the fold, and he does add a vertical, stretching element," said Holmes. 

The additions of running back Jahymr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta should alleviate some of the pressure on the passing game, at least early in the 2023 season. 

“We’ll see how much he (Green) can impact. Again, he’s a rookie," said Holmes. "He’s still got upside. He’s got development. We’ll just see how far it goes, but in the meantime, with all these rookies, they’re going to have to prove themselves on special teams.”