Should Lions Draft Guard Peter Skoronski with No. 6 Pick?

Read more on whether the Detroit Lions should target Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski at No. 6 overall.

There's a chance the Lions make a surprising pick at No. 6 overall in this April's NFL Draft. And no, I'm not talking about Detroit general manager Brad Holmes selecting a quarterback, such as Florida's Anthony Richardson or Kentucky's Will Levis, with the pick.

Instead, I'm speaking of the potential that the Lions add to their already solid offensive line, via the selection of Northwestern's Peter Skoronski.

Over the last week, Skoronski, standing in at 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, has emerged as a possibility for Detroit with the sixth overall selection. As much as offensive lineman isn't a big position of need, there is some merit to the Lions taking the big man with their first of two first-rounders.

First off, there's no guarantee that Lions starting right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai will remain healthy for the entirety of the 2023 campaign. He missed all of this past season with a back injury, and has missed time in each of his first three years in Detroit. 

Also, there's no guarantee that Vaitai will be a member of the Lions past this upcoming season. He just had his contract restructured, reducing his 2023 salary from $9.4 million to $3 million and turning his 2024 season into a void year.

Enter Skoronski, who has the ability to play both tackle and guard.

Peter Skoronski, offensive lineman  / Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

Skoronski, who's the grandson of former Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Bob Skoronski, is coming off a season in which he finished with Pro Football Focus' highest pass-blocking grade in the nation (93.0). The Northwestern product permitted only six pressures, on 480 pass-blocking snaps, in his final season with the Wildcats.

Additionally, he recorded a PFF run-blocking grade of 79.1, ranking fifth among all qualified Power 5 tackles.

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. believes Skoronski can play all across the offensive line at the next level.

“With Quenton Nelson and Zack Martin, look at the guards and what they’ve been able to do and how they’ve impacted offensive lines. And I think he can play all five spots. I don’t think there’s any question he can play all five spots,” Kiper said. “So the arm length with the height is a concern. You don’t usually have that in the NFL over the years, so you have to look at history and how that bodes for a player. But Skoronski’s versatility, how he played, which was great. I mean his film evaluation grades were off the charts.”

If I were Holmes, Skoronski wouldn't be my first choice at No. 6 overall. I'd go with Texas Tech EDGE Tyree Wilson and Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez before the former Wildcats lineman. I'd likely also take Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter before Skoronski. 

However, when you take into account Skoronski's versatility and his ability to play immediately at the next level, you can see why he'd be a worthwhile investment for the Lions with the sixth pick.