The NFL Draft is basically a high-stakes casino where most general managers lose their shirts. For decades, Detroit was the guy at the blackjack table who kept hitting on twenty. We remember the names. Mike Williams. Charles Rogers. Joey Harrington. It felt like the "Same Old Lions" were trapped in a loop of wasted potential and first-round busts that crippled the franchise for a generation.
Then Brad Holmes walked into the building in 2021.
Everything changed. If you look at the Detroit Lions first round draft picks over the last five years, you aren't just looking at a list of players; you're looking at the blueprint of how to fix a "broken" organization. It’s not just about picking good athletes. It’s about a specific, almost fanatical adherence to "grit" and positional value that the rest of the league mocked—until the wins started piling up.
The Foundation: Penei Sewell and Aidan Hutchinson
Honestly, the 2021 draft started with a gift. Penei Sewell falling to number seven overall was the kind of luck Detroit usually doesn't get. Holmes didn't overthink it. He took the tackle from Oregon who, at just 20 years old, became the youngest player to start at left tackle in NFL history.
Fast forward to 2026, and Sewell is arguably the best tackle in football. He’s a multi-time First-Team All-Pro with a massive $112 million extension. He isn't just a blocker; he’s the emotional heartbeat of that offensive line.
Then came 2022. The local kid. Aidan Hutchinson.
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People argued about his "ceiling." They said Travon Walker had more upside. Holmes stayed home and took the Michigan Wolverine at number two. Hutchinson didn't just meet expectations—he shattered them. Even after a horrific leg injury in 2024 that cost him most of that season, he roared back in 2025 with 14.5 sacks. He’s the type of player who makes everyone else on the defensive line look better just by existing.
Why the 2023 Draft Broke the "Draft Experts"
If you want to see where the "Detroit Lions first round draft picks" strategy really diverged from the norm, look at 2023. This was the year the internet lost its mind.
The Lions had two first-rounders. They used them on a running back (Jahmyr Gibbs at 12) and an off-ball linebacker (Jack Campbell at 18).
- Jahmyr Gibbs: "You don't take RBs that high!" the critics yelled. Gibbs responded by putting up over 1,400 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns in his second season.
- Jack Campbell: "Linebackers are replaceable!" was the narrative. By the end of 2025, Campbell was leading the league in Pro Bowl votes for inside linebackers, racking up 130+ tackles and becoming the "quarterback" of the defense.
Holmes basically told the analytics community to hold his beer. He values football players over "positional value" charts. He looks for guys who love the game and fit the culture. It sounds like a cliché, but when you see Gibbs outrunning entire secondaries and Campbell stonewalling 250-pound tight ends, it’s hard to argue with the results.
Fixing the Secondary: Terrion Arnold and the 2024 Shift
By 2024, the Lions had a glaring hole: the pass defense was, frankly, a mess. They ranked 27th against the air in the previous season. Holmes knew he couldn't play it safe. He traded up with Dallas, moving from 29 to 24 to snag Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold.
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Arnold brought a "shutdown corner" energy the city hadn't seen in years. He wasn't perfect as a rookie—no corner is—but he had the "challenge mindset" Dan Campbell loves. He led the SEC in interceptions in college, and that ball-hawking ability translated quickly. Pairing him with Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (the second-round pick that year) finally gave Detroit a secondary that didn't look like a sieve.
Recent First Round History at a Glance
| Year | Player | Position | School | Impact Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Penei Sewell | OT | Oregon | Elite Franchise Pillar |
| 2022 | Aidan Hutchinson | DE | Michigan | Elite Pass Rusher |
| 2022 | Jameson Williams | WR | Alabama | Deep Threat / Game Changer |
| 2023 | Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | Alabama | Offensive Weapon |
| 2023 | Jack Campbell | LB | Iowa | Defensive Leader |
| 2024 | Terrion Arnold | CB | Alabama | Starting Cornerback |
| 2025 | Tyleik Williams | DT | Ohio State | Run Stuffing Anchor |
The 2025 Gamble: Tyleik Williams
The most recent addition to the Detroit Lions first round draft picks list is Tyleik Williams, the massive defensive tackle out of Ohio State. Selected at 28th overall in the 2025 draft, Williams was brought in to do the dirty work. At 6'3" and 334 pounds, he’s a mountain.
But he’s a mountain that can move.
He clocked a 1.62-second 10-yard split, which is basically impossible for someone that size. The Lions' run defense was already solid, but Williams was the "missing piece" to ensure they didn't get bullied in the trenches during the playoffs. He’s the classic Holmes pick: high character, elite athleticism for his frame, and a "film junkie" work ethic.
What Most People Get Wrong About Jameson Williams
We have to talk about Jamo. The 2022 trade-up to get Jameson Williams at 12 was a massive swing. For two years, people called him a bust. He had the ACL injury from college, then the gambling suspension, then the slow start.
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But 2024 and 2025 proved the patience was worth it.
In 2025, Williams finally became the monster Detroit envisioned, hauling in 65 catches for 1,117 yards and 7 touchdowns. He averaged over 17 yards per catch. He’s the "lightning" to Amon-Ra St. Brown's "steady rain." You can't coach that kind of speed, and Holmes was willing to wait three years for it to manifest. Most GMs don't have that kind of job security or stomach.
Lessons from the Detroit Front Office
The Lions' success in the first round isn't just about finding the best players; it's about finding the right players for the system. They don't draft "projects" who don't like contact. They draft "football guys."
If you're looking at how to evaluate future Lions picks, stop looking at mock drafts. Mock drafts are built on what other teams think. The Lions have their own board, and it usually involves guys from big schools (Alabama, Michigan, Georgia, Iowa) who were captains or leaders.
Next Steps for Lions Fans:
- Watch the 2026 Combine: Look for "High RAS" (Relative Athletic Score) players in the trenches. Holmes loves elite athletes who weigh over 300 pounds.
- Don't panic at "reaches": If the Lions take a player ten spots "too early" according to the media, remember Jahmyr Gibbs. The Lions value their internal scouting over public consensus.
- Keep an eye on the SEC: Holmes clearly has a pipeline from Alabama and Georgia. These players are "pro-ready" and usually transition faster to the NFL speed.
The Detroit Lions have officially exited the "building through the draft" phase and entered the "sustained winning" phase. The first round is no longer a source of anxiety—it's a victory lap.