Roundtable: Lions' Under-the-Radar Draft Prospects

Latest All Lions Roundtable focuses on some under-the-radar prospects the Detroit Lions should target in the 2023 NFL Draft.

1.) What is your reaction to Dre Bly joining the Lions' coaching staff?

Christian Booher: I'm thrilled to see Dan Campbell hire Bly as the team's next cornerbacks coach. I had wondered whether he was going to make a new hire or simply make Brian Duker the full-time position coach, and I believe Bly will be an excellent hire.

He fits Campbell's mold as a former pro, and he had success in four seasons at North Carolina. It's exciting to see a former Lions player join the staff, and I'm intrigued by what he'll do with the team starting in 2023.

Vito Chirco: It's an exciting move for Detroit fans that enjoyed watching Bly don a Lions uniform during his two stints in Motown: from 2003-06 and briefly in 2010. 

The former two-time Pro Bowl cornerback also has experience coaching the position, having spent the past four seasons coaching the position at his alma mater, North Carolina.

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I'm looking forward to seeing what Bly is able to do mentoring both Jeff Okudah and Jerry Jacobs in the cornerbacks room. The obvious hope is that Bly's own experience as a player will help elevate the play of the two to the next level. And, I think it was worth it for the Lions to give Bly a try to accomplish just that. 

2.) Which position group do you think Brad Holmes spends the most on in free agency? 

Booher: I'm going to say Holmes spends the most on a linebacker. The 2023 NFL Draft has a plethora of options at cornerback, which is arguably Detroit's biggest position of need. On the other end, this year's free-agent crop of linebackers has the potential to be excellent.

If a player like Lavonte David does indeed hit the free-agent market, I'm expecting Holmes to make an effort to bring him to the Lions.

Chirco: I'm going to go with linebacker. Two names that really stand out to me at the position are set to be free agents this offseason: Tampa Bay’s Lavonte David and Buffalo’s Tremaine Edmunds.

It certainly would cost a pretty penny to sign any one of those three linebackers. However, in my opinion, it’d be more than worth the investment and significantly upgrade a position that is in dire need of a playmaker.

3.) Which Lions player would you trade for draft picks?

Booher: I'm still a believer in D'Andre Swift, as I believe he has the potential to remain a difference-maker in Detroit's offense. That said, I think he could net you a solid return heading into his last year under contract.

If a team offers a solid return of draft picks for Swift, I think it would be tough to turn down, as long as Jamaal Williams returns on a new deal. Williams showed he's more than capable of being a lead back, and Detroit could add a talented piece in the draft.

Chirco: I'm going to go with Swift, as well. For as much as I like Swift and think he has big-play ability, he also possesses his fair share of flaws.  

While the Georgia product did average a career-best 5.6 yards per rush attempt this past season, he also failed to play in a full season’s worth of games for a third consecutive season.

There’s also a case to be made that Swift hasn’t been the most proficient at following blocks and hitting the holes created for him by Detroit’s offensive line.

And, headed into the 2023 season, Swift has just one year left on his rookie contract.

It makes me think that if Holmes is presented with a nice package of draft capital for Swift’s services, he’d strongly consider dealing the 2020 second-round pick. And, I wouldn’t fault Holmes if he decided to trade Swift for a draft pick-heavy haul.

4.) Which home game on the 2023 schedule is the marquee contest?

Booher: It's interesting to look at Detroit's home slate for 2023, as there's not much star power set to play at Ford Field. There are plenty of winnable games on that half of the schedule, though.

In my eyes, it'll be interesting when Seattle comes to town. Detroit won't be forgetting its Week 4 loss to the Seahawks that ultimately cost it a playoff berth. And, the 2023 edition of the matchup could carry similar implications, while allowing the Lions a chance at revenge.

Chirco: I'm going to go with the Lions' home contest with the Denver Broncos. As part of the matchup, Dan Campbell will get to go head-to-head with his former boss and mentor in New Orleans, Sean Payton. It'll be interesting to examine if Campbell's immense knowledge of Payton's ways provides Detroit with an assist in this matchup -- and vice versa. 

I'm curious to also see if Payton is able to resurrect Russell Wilson's career and if Aaron Glenn's defense is up to the challenge of facing a Payton-led offense. Remember, Glenn also coached under the Super Bowl-winning head man in New Orleans, as the Saints' defensive backs coach from 2016-2020.  

With all this familiarity on both sidelines, it'll ultimately be fascinating to see which side outcoaches the other. 

5.) Who is an under-the-radar draft prospect that would improve the Lions' roster instantly?

Booher: Daiyan Henley really impressed me with his performance at the Senior Bowl. The linebacker was excellent in coverage during both 1-on-1 and team portions of the three-day practice window.

The Lions' linebacking corps struggled in pass coverage in 2022. The youth of Malcolm Rodriguez is exciting, and his ability as a run-stopper is enticing. However, Aaron Glenn's defense needs linebackers who can shadow speedy running backs out of the backfield. I think Henley can fit that mold as a mid-round pick. 

Chirco: Like Booher, I'm going to go with a linebacker. In my opinion, Ivan Pace Jr. -- a 6-foot, 239-pound linebacker out of the University of Cincinnati -- would be a nice late-round target for Brad Holmes & Co. 

Sure, he's undersized, but he makes up for it with a high-end motor and ultimately, a high level of productivity. 

During this past season at Cincinnati, he put up an impressive stat line. He amassed 10 sacks, 137 total tackles, including 21.5 tackles for loss, as well as four passes defensed and three forced fumbles. 

It was a standout season for Pace that earned him American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. 

If I'm Holmes, I'm hoping I can land Pace in the sixth round (just as he did with a similarly undersized Malcolm Rodriguez a year ago).