Detroit Lions own 6th, 18th overall picks in 2023 NFL draft. Thanks, LA Rams!

The Detroit Lions enter the long NFL offseason with two picks in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, and now we know exactly where those picks fall.

The Lions reap the rewards of the Matthew Stafford trade from nearly two years ago, and own the Los Angeles Rams’ pick at No. 6 overall. The Lions have their own pick at No. 18 overall, after defeating the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, 20-16, to complete their first winning season since 2017 with a 9-8 record.

The draft is April 27-29 in Kansas City.

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The Lions also own two picks in Round 2, with their own coming at No. 49. They have Minnesota’s selection as well, thanks to the trade of tight end T.J. Hockenson at the deadline Nov. 1. The Vikings’ pick will depend on how far their playoff run takes them as the No. 3 seed in the NFC. They host the New York Giants on Sunday.

The conversion of the Rams’ pick is thanks to LA’s lost 2022 season, which saw Stafford play just nine games and finish with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions and a QB rating of 87.4. LA went 3-6 in his starts and finished 5-12 on the season, with Baker Mayfield at quarterback. Stafford, who led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory a season ago, spent the final months of this season on injured reserve with a neck injury. He will turn 35 years old Feb. 7.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes will have the ammo to maneuver up or down the board in his third draft at the helm, just as he did last year when he took the Rams’ pick at No. 32 overall and jumped all the way to No. 12 to draft receiver Jameson Williams. Earlier that night, he selected defensive end Aidan Hutchinson with the second pick. Hutchinson finished with 9½ sacks as a rookie.

Holmes in 2021, his first draft, selected offensive tackle Penei Sewell at No. 7 overall.

This could be the fifth straight year the Lions select in the top 10.

Here’s the first round draft order for the non-playoff teams after the conclusion of the regular season, with the postseason still to determine the rest of the picks.