Detroit Lions draft picks (1970–present)
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit , Michigan . The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the North Division of the National Football Conference .[1] The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio , as the Portsmouth Spartans and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930.[2] After being purchased by George A. Richards in 1934, the franchise was relocated to Detroit and renamed to the Detroit Lions in reference to the city's Major League Baseball franchise, the Detroit Tigers .[3] [4] The team plays its home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit .[5]
The NFL draft , officially known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting",[6] [7] is an annual event which serves as the league's most common source of player recruitment.[8] The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks. Teams that qualified for the NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker. The final two selections in the first round are reserved for the Super Bowl runner-up and champion. Draft picks are tradable and players or other picks can be acquired with them.[9]
In 1970, the Lions took part in the first modern NFL draft after the completion of the AFL–NFL merger .[10] With the nineteenth pick of the first round of that draft, Steve Owens , a running back out of Oklahoma University , became the Lions' first modern draft selection.[11] In addition to the annual draft, the Lions participated in the 1984 NFL supplemental draft . This supplemental draft occurred after the formation of the United States Football League (USFL), with the primary purpose of selecting players that had already signed with a USFL team in a separate process from the annual draft. The Canadian Football League (CFL) was also included in this supplemental draft.[12] In addition to the 1984 supplemental draft, the NFL has hosted an annual supplemental draft since 1977 for players who had circumstances affect their eligibility for the NFL draft.[13] The Lions have only selected a player once in a supplemental draft, taking Kevin Robinson in the ninth round in 1982.[14] Two players drafted by the Lions since 1970 have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame : Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson .[15] The Lions have taken part in every modern NFL draft since 1970, doing so most recently in the 2024 NFL draft , where they drafted six players.[11]
Contents
NFL draft years:
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Key
1970 draft
1971 draft
1972 draft
1973 draft
Leon Crosswhite , pictured here in 2019, was the Lions' second-round selection in the 1973 draft.
1974 draft
1975 draft
1976 draft
1977 draft
1978 draft
Al Baker , pictured here in 2014, was the Lions' second-round selection in the 1978 draft.
1979 draft
1980 draft
Billy Sims , pictured here in 2010, was selected first overall by the Lions in the 1980 draft.
1981 draft
1982 draft
Supplemental draft pick
Annual draft picks
1983 draft
1984 draft
1984 NFL supplemental draft
1985 draft
Lomas Brown was the Lions' first-round selection in the 1985 draft.
1986 draft
Chuck Long , pictured here in 2015, was the Lions' first-round selection in the 1986 draft.
1987 draft
1988 draft
Chris Spielman , pictured here in 2023, was one of the Lions' second-round selections in the 1988 draft.
1989 draft
Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders , pictured here in 2019, was the Lions' first-round selection in the 1989 draft.
1990 draft
Andre Ware , pictured here in 2012, was the Lions' first-round selection in the 1990 draft.
1991 draft
1992 draft
Jason Hanson was one of the Lions' second-round selections in the 1992 draft.
1993 draft
1994 draft
Van Malone , pictured here in 2022, was the Lions' second-round selection in the 1994 draft.
1995 draft
1996 draft
Jeff Hartings was one of the Lions' first-round selections in the 1996 draft.
1997 draft
1998 draft
Charlie Batch , pictured here in 2021, was one of the Lions' second-round selections in the 1998 draft.
1999 draft
2000 draft
Reuben Droughns , pictured here in 2021, was the Lions' third-round selection in the 2000 draft.
2001 draft
Dominic Raiola was one of the Lions' second-round selections in the 2001 draft.
2002 draft
2003 draft
2004 draft
2005 draft
2006 draft
2007 draft
Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson was drafted second overall in the 2007 draft.
2008 draft
Cliff Avril was one of the Lions' third-round selections in the 2008 draft.
2009 draft
Matthew Stafford was selected first overall in the 2009 draft.
2010 draft
Ndamukong Suh was selected second overall in the 2010 draft.
2011 draft
2012 draft
Bill Bentley was the Lions' third-round selection in the 2012 draft.
2013 draft
Darius Slay was the Lions' second-round selection in the 2013 draft.
2014 draft
2015 draft
Ameer Abdullah was the Lions' second-round selection in the 2015 draft.
2016 draft
Taylor Decker was the Lions' first-round selection in the 2016 draft.
2017 draft
Kenny Golladay was the Lions' third-round selection in the 2017 draft.
2018 draft
Da'Shawn Hand was the Lions' fourth-round selection in the 2018 draft.
2019 draft
2020 draft
Jonah Jackson was one of the Lions' third-round selections in the 2020 draft.
2021 draft
Penei Sewell was the Lions' first-round selection in the 2021 draft.
2022 draft
Aidan Hutchinson was the Lions' first-round selection and the second overall pick in the 2022 draft.
2023 draft
Brian Branch was one of the Lions' second-round selections in the 2023 draft.
2024 draft
Notes
References
^ Astbury, Matt (April 12, 2023). "Why are there divisions and conferences in the NFL? How do they work?" . DAZN . Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024 .
^ "Team Facts" . Pro Football Hall of Fame . Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023 .
^ "Detroit Lions" . National Football League . Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023 .
^ "How did your NFL team gets its name? Origins explained for all 32" . ESPN . February 2, 2022. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023 .
^ Astbury, Matt (January 15, 2024). "Detroit Lions stadium: What is Ford Field's capacity and does it have a roof?" . DAZN . Archived from the original on June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024 .
^ "NFL Draft Profile – NFL Draft" . ESPN . Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2024 .
^ Farmer, Sam (April 26, 2008). "What makes them tick" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024 .
^ "NFL 2021 Draft date: when and where is it taking place?" . Diario AS . February 18, 2021. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2023 .
^ "The rules of the NFL Draft" . National Football League . Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023 .
^ "NFL At 100: Arrival of 1970s ushers in NFL's modern era" . USA Today . Associated Press . October 25, 2019. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024 .
^ a b "Detroit Lions All-Time Draft History" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 .
^ "NFL will draft 'untouchables' " . Eugene Register-Guard . Associated Press . June 5, 1984. p. 4B. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Google News Archive .
^ Brugler, Dane and The Athletic Staff (July 10, 2023). "What is the NFL Supplemental Draft? Explaining the process, how players enter and when it takes place" . The Athletic . Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ a b Risdon, Jeff (July 11, 2018). "Lions unlikely to draft anyone in NFL Supplemental Draft" . USA Today . Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2024 .
^ "Hall of Famers by Draft Year" . Pro Football Hall of Fame . Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024 .
^ "1970 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1971 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1972 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1973 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1974 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1975 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1976 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1977 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1978 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1979 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1980 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1981 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1982 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1983 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ a b "1984 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1984 Supplemental Draft" . Pro Football Hall of Fame . January 1, 2005. Archived from the original on July 5, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024 .
^ "1985 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1986 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1987 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1988 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on June 3, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1989 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1990 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on September 17, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1991 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1992 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1993 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1994 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1995 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1996 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on June 3, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1997 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1998 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "1999 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2000 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2001 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2002 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2003 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2004 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2005 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2006 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2007 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2008 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2009 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2010 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2011 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2012 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2013 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2014 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2015 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2016 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2017 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2018 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2019 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2020 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2021 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on May 12, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2022 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2023 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ "2024 Detroit Lions Draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
Franchise Records Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (9) League championships (4) Media Current league affiliations