The Detroit Lions’ greatest draft steals in history
In just three seasons, the Detroit Lions moved from having the second-worst record in the league to becoming the NFC runners-up, largely thanks to the job general manager Brad Holmes has done in three drafts. As the head of the Detroit front office, Holmes has impressed with his competence and confidence, which is a welcome change from his predecessors. It goes without saying that the Lions have a long history of draft misses, some of which were grave errors. That being said, they have nevertheless frequently selected quality players in the draft. The real problem has been that there haven’t been enough quality players selected in the draft to support both short- and long-term club success. For this reason, Holmes’ actions are particularly noteworthy.
Depending on your personal standards for what qualifies as a draft steal and how far back you’d like to go, the list may be a little longer. These are the top ten biggest draft steals in Lions history, with an emphasis on the contemporary draft era. The Detroit Lions’ top ten draft steals in history 10. DB Brian Branch: No. 45, Second Round, 2023 9. TE Sam LaPorta: 34th pick in the second round of the 2023 draft This has a healthy dose of recency bias. However, when they were still rookies, the two 2023 second-round picks selected by the Lions appeared like possible steals. In addition to setting the NFL record for receptions by a rookie tight end, LaPorta broke every single-season record held by a tight end in the franchise’s history. Branch served as the
Pro Football Focus ranked the cornerback in 14th place; he led the club in pass breakups and was fifth in tackles made. Both Branch and LaPorta are likely to rank significantly higher on a subsequent list of the greatest draft steals by the Lions. But after only a year, they both have a place on this 2024 list.
8. LB Stephen Boyd: Pick No. 141, Fifth Round, 1995
LB Stephen Boyd:Pick No. 141, Fifth Round, 1995 Boyd only played eight games in his second season and started his career as someone else’s backup on this list. However, he assumed the position of middle linebacker for the Lions in Year 3 and made an immediate impact, recording double-digit tackles, an interception, and a touchdown-producing fumble return in the 1997 campaign.
Currently playing Chiefs Mock Draft 2.0 and Wide Receiver Fever Part 2 with Matt HarmonRP. The biggest draft steals in Detroit Lions history Brad Berreman | 6:00 AM Central Day Time According to Jeffrey Becker of USA TODAY Sports, LB Stephen Boyd: Pick No. 141, Fifth Round, 1995 Boyd only played eight games in his second season and started his career as someone else’s backup on this list. However, he took over as the middle linebacker for the Lions in Year 3, and he immediately made an impact with ten tackles, an interception, and a touchdown off a fumble return in the opening game of the 1997 season. Boyd finished the following four seasons with at least 112 tackles, and in the latter two (1999 and 2000), he was named to the Pro Bowl.
DE Robert Porcher: Initial Cycle (Selection No. 26), 1992 One does not have to be a first-round choice to qualify as a draft steal. Porcher is the Lions’ all-time leader in sacks (95.5), having graduated from South Carolina State, a tiny university. He led the 1992 draft class in career sacks, as well, according to a quick look at that group. Porcher played for the Lions for each of his 12 seasons (1992–2003). He has five seasons with ten or more steals, including four in a row from 1996 to 1999 (he reached a high of 15 in 1999). He had 68 sacks from 1996 to 2001, which was the second-most in the NFL during that time. If he had not only cleared 100 career sacks but also had 10 sacks during his last two seasons, he may have been in the top 50 in History of the league.