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With the Detroit Lions' season over, the offseason has arrived. In the coming weeks, this means reflecting on what happened in the 2014 season and looking ahead to free agency. It also means looking ahead to the 2015 NFL Draft.
With the Lions now out of the playoffs, we now know that they are the owners of the 23rd overall pick in the first round of this year's draft. Their spot in the 2015 NFL Draft order was determined by a combination of their regular-season record and how long they lasted in the playoffs. Take a look (via SB Nation):
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2-14 (.486 SOS)
2. Tennessee Titans: 2-14 (.506 SOS)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-13 (.514 SOS)
4. Oakland Raiders - 3-13 (.570 SOS)
5. Washington: 4-12 (.496 SOS)
6. New York Jets: 4-12 (.543 SOS)
7. Chicago Bears: 5-11 (.529 SOS)
8. Atlanta Falcons: 6-10 (.482 SOS)
9. New York Giants: 6-10 (.512 SOS)
10. St. Louis Rams: 6-10 (.531 SOS)
11. Minnesota Vikings: 7-9 (.475 SOS)
12. Cleveland Browns: 7-9 (.479 SOS)
13. New Orleans Saints: 7-9 (.486 SOS)
14. Miami Dolphins: 8-8 (.512 SOS)
15. San Francisco 49ers: 8-8 (.527 SOS)
16. Houston Texans: 9-7 (.447 SOS)
17. San Diego Chargers: 9-7 (.512 SOS)
18. Kansas City Chiefs: 9-7 (.512 SOS)
19. Cleveland Browns (own first round pick of Buffalo Bills, 9-7 -- .516 SOS)
20. Philadelphia Eagles: 10-6 (.490 SOS)
21. Cincinnati Bengals: 10-5-1 (.498 SOS)
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: 11-5 (.451 SOS)
23. Detroit Lions: 11-5 (.471 SOS)
24. Arizona Cardinals: 11-5 (.523 SOS)
(The rest of the draft order will be determined by the rest of the playoffs.)
The last time the Lions picked 23rd overall was back in 2012. That year, they picked Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff, who is now the Lions' starting left tackle. There's plenty of time in the coming months to discuss what they should do with the 23rd overall pick this year, but as of right now, with the season just coming to an end, what are your thoughts on how the Lions should handle the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft?