Detroit Free Press

Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes walked into the draft room shortly before Friday night turned to Saturday morning and opened with what he says people may think is a cliché. “We’re thrilled again,” he said. “Not to sound like a broken record, but we literally are.” One of those reasons is because of No. 97 overall

The Detroit Lions closed Day 2 of the NFL draft by adding more help for their defense. The Lions drafted Illinois safety Kerby Joseph with the 33rd pick of the third round, No. 97 overall. Joseph had five interceptions while earning all-Big Ten honors last season in his first year starting for the Illini. He should

Aidan Hutchinson is all too familiar with the woes of the Detroit Lions — after all, he has never lived more than 45 minutes from Allen Park. Jameson Williams has followed football since childhood, so he, too, knows the Lions have rarely been a playoff contender but he said he’s not all that familiar with the Lions beyond

Show Caption Hide Caption Aidan Hutchinson: I wanted Detroit Lions to pick me in NFL draft Detroit Lions first-round draft pick Aidan Hutchinson speaks to the media after being selected on Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. Detroit Lions, Detroit Free Press LAS VEGAS — Aidan Hutchinson huddled with his family in the green

By now, you know how the NFL draft machine works. Months of predictions, prognostications and projections, followed by a first night of surprises, followed by more predictions, prognostications and projections. And a near-endless supply of first round mock drafts, we know now what the Detroit Lions did on Thursday night: drafting Michigan football edge rusher

LAS VEGAS — Jameson Williams’ head was spinning from the magnitude of the moment — the Detroit Lions had just traded up 20 spots to make his dream come true as a first-round pick in the NFL draft — and the car wash of interviews he had to do after he walked across stage to

LAS VEGAS — The Detroit Lions made a bold move in the first round of Thursday’s NFL draft, trading three Day 2 picks to the Minnesota Vikings to get Alabama receiver Jameson Williams. The Lions landed one of the top prospects in the draft in Williams — to pair with arguably the draft’s best player in

One shot of Jameson, coming right up. The Detroit Lions made one of the biggest trades of the first round, moving up 20 spots to draft stand out wide receiver Jameson Willams from Alabama. Let’s get to know him a bit better. He bet on himself Jameson Williams was a part of one of the

When good luck falls in your lap, let it. Even if it weighs 260 pounds. The Detroit Lions need a pass rusher? Aidan Hutchinson is a pass rusher. The Lions needed a guy who can play right away? Hutchinson is considered the most NFL-ready player in the draft. The Lions needed a guy who can

Free Press sports writer Carlos Monarrez gives an instant grade for the Detroit Lions’ second first-round draft pick: Alabama WR Jameson Williams Grade: B. I’m not crazy that the Lions traded up to get a player coming off an ACL injury in a draft that’s deep at receiver, but they didn’t give up that much,

1. Jacksonville Jaguars Travon Walker, DL, Georgia People around the NFL believe Walker is the favorite of GM Trent Baalke, while others in the organization prefer Aidan Hutchinson or Ikem Ekwonu. Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan The Lions seem poised to take a pass rusher here, with Hutchinson being the slight favorite over Kayvon Thibodeaux and

Finally, it’s here. The NFL draft that will propel the Detroit Lions. Or reset the Lions. The most important draft in the history of the Lions. Like it is every year. This time, it might actually be true. Because Brad Holmes did a fine job during his first NFL draft last spring. Holmes, the Lions

The 2022 NFL draft is finally here, after months of build-up. The Detroit Lions will be major players, holding five picks on the first two days: two first-round picks (Nos. 2, 32), the second pick in the second round (No. 34), and two third-round picks (Nos. 66, 97). It’s a fascinating draft despite no quarterback being

LAS VEGAS — One of the leading candidates to be the No. 2 overall pick in Thursday’s NFL draft said there is no merit to claims he would not be a culture fit with coach Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions. Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux said he and Campbell have developed a close relationship

Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Lions must wait on Jaguars at No. 1 in NFL draft. So what’s the plan? Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett and Florida Times-Union writer John Reid break down what the Jaguars and Lions should do in the NFL draft. Dave Birkett and John Reid, Detroit Free Press When the

After exactly 4.2 million mock NFL drafts (or thereabouts). After months of analysis and hand wringing and debate. After the underwear Olympics — won by Georgia’s Travon Walker. After a rotating list of characters to their turn as the projected No.1 pick: It’s clearly going to be Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux. No, wait, it’s clearly going

The first round of last year’s NFL draft was nearing its end and Brad Holmes was getting antsy. One of the players the Detroit Lions ranked highly on their draft board, Washington defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike, was still available, and Holmes wanted to trade up to get him. He called around to gauge the asking price,

Free Press sports reporter Dave Birkett takes a position-by-position look at the top prospects and biggest Detroit Lions needs in the 2022 NFL draft. This is the seventh in an eight-part series. The Lions had the youngest secondary in the NFL at the start of last season and they likely will have one of the

The Detroit Lions announced Tuesday night they have exercised the fifth-year option on tight end T.J. Hockenson. The team did not disclose how much the option is worth. The first-round pick in the 2019 (eighth overall) has been productive when healthy in his three seasons. His rookie year was cut short due to an ankle

Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner can do things on a football field that a coach simply can’t teach. It’s that quality that earned him his nickname. It’s also the quality that could make him the highest-drafted player in the history of the University of Cincinnati program. The consensus All-American cornerback is projected to be selected as high as