Lions NFL Draft Grades for Every Pick

Entering the NFL Draft, it was widely reported that the Detroit Lions were seriously considering dealing the No. 3 overall pick in an effort to accumulate more capital. When the dust settled, however, Detroit sat tight, and, given the reaction of the fan base, it's fair to say that opinions are divided.

How did the rest of the Lions selections pan out? Let's take a deep dive into all of the picks made by GM Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia and hand out a grade for each one.

CB Jeffrey Okudah, No. 3 overall:

The consensus pre-draft favorite to land on the Lions came to be. Though you could argue that a cornerback shouldn't be taken as high as No. 3, this pick will prove worthwhile if Okudah turns into the stud most NFL scouts project him to be. The Ohio State product will serve as a like-for-like replacement for Darius Slay. Based on the pick alone -- and not whether Detroit should have traded back -- this was a job well done for the franchise.

Grade: A-

RB D'Andre Swift, No. 35 overall:

The Lions were expected to draft a running back to pair alongside Kerryon Johnson, and they pulled the trigger early on in the second round by selecting Georgia star D'Andre Swift, who might just be the most complete RB in the 2020 class. He'll give Detroit a power threat between the tackles that the shiftier Johnson simply does not provide.

Grade: B

EDGE Julian Okwara, No. 67 overall:

Entering the Draft, Detroit was desperate for an athletic body to deploy on the defensive line. With Okwara, the team got just that. The 6-4, 252-pound edge rusher compiled the fifth-best win percentage among pass rushers at the college level since 2018, according to Pro Football Focus. Okwara needs to be groomed in terms of tackling and sealing the edge, but there's no denying his ability to pressure the quarterback -- and he's paired with his brother Romeo now in Big D.

Grade: B-

OL Jonah Jackson, No. 75 overall:

The Lions traded up in the third round to select Jackson at No. 75, so they clearly feel that he can fight for the starting job at right guard. At 303 pounds, he may need to add more weight to aid his transition to the NFL, but the former Rutgers transfer was as consistent as any OL in 2019. Jackson allowed just one sack over his last two seasons of college ball.

Grade: B

OL Logan Stenberg, No. 121 overall:

We love the fact that the Lions went "offensive lineman" back-to-back in the third and fourth rounds. Stenberg was a first-team All-SEC player in 2019. At 6-6 and 317 pounds, the Kentucky product is difficult to move in the trenches. His aggressiveness is admirable, but it often gets him into trouble, as evidenced by his 14 penalties last season. With time, however, Stenberg will become a starter for Detroit.

Grade: C+

WR Quintez Cephus, No. 166 overall

This was a head-scratching decision considering that the Lions already have Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, and Danny Amendola at wide receiver, all of whom caught at least 62 passes in 2019. Cephus doesn't boast a ton of speed, but he thrives at thwarting press coverage and making catches in traffic. Still, we feel that Detroit reached for the Wisconsin star. On top of that, he doesn't fill a need.

Grade: C-

RB Justin Huntley, No. 172 overall:

This pick definitely confused us, and the fact that it was made three rounds after the Swift selection makes it much more difficult to comprehend. At 5-9 and 193 pounds, Huntley could assume the Theo Riddick pass-catching specialist role that Lions fans have grown accustomed to over the last few seasons, but that's a big if. We would've addressed other positions of need before taking another RB.

Grade: D+

DT John Penisini, No. 197 overall:

Any Detroit diehards expecting Penisini to bullrush opposing quarterbacks once he breaks into the first team, well, don't do that. While there's no doubting that his pass-rushing ability needs to improve, the Utah product's reputation as a run-stuffer cannot be understated. This was a solid sixth-round pick for the Lions.

Grade: B-

DL Jashon Cornell, No. 235 overall

Let's start by saying that we love Cornell's versatility up front. The former Ohio State Buckeye is more than comfortable playing anywhere on the defensive line. However, we can't help but feel like the Lions reached here. The odds will be working against the young pass rusher to make Detroit's roster beyond the preseason.

Grade: C-