Analysis: If you were ranking this class in the middle of the 2022 season, this would be top 12, but they parted with their top two picks before the 2023 season.
Entering this draft, Jeff Okudah was rated as a perfect cornerback prospect, but injuries ruined his first two seasons, including a Week 1 torn Achilles in 2021. He started 15 games the following season and looked to be a player, but was traded to the Falcons for a fifth-round pick in 2023 and started nine games.
D’Andre Swift every season had so much hype around him, and even highlighted in the 2022 season of Hard Knocks, but for some reason it just never fully translated to gameday consistently outside of a handful of games where he’d pop off. He was often competing for playing time with Kerryon Johnson and Adrian Peterson as a rookie, then Jamaal Williams his final two seasons in Detroit. He was traded to the Eagles for a fourth-round pick and went on to have his first 1,000-yard season and a Pro Bowl.
The star of the class is starting left guard Jonah Jackson in the third round. With 57 career starts, Jackson made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and has been a consistent above average starter. The Lions should hope to re-sign him, if not he will get a solid payday.
The rest of the class hasn’t really produced much. Third-rounder Julian Okwara, who joined his brother Romeo in Detroit, had five sacks in 2021, but was released before this past season’s end. Logan Stenberg started four games in 2022, but was cut before this season and spent the year on the Buccaneers practice squad. Quintez Cephus had a solid first two seasons, but dealt with injuries and was suspended indefinitely for gambling and was released this year.
Jason Huntley didn’t make it out of training camp and spent two seasons with the Eagles. He’s also been on the Steelers and Colts practice squads. John Penisini started 12 games as a rookie, but was only a backup in 2021 before retiring in the summer of 2022. He came out of retirement the following year, and spent time with the Panthers and Saints. Jashon Cornell only played one game while dealing with a bunch of injuries, an illness, a suspension, and was released before the 2022 season.
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