NFL Draft Rumors: Detroit Lions ‘trying to move down from No. 7’

As we make our way closer to April 29 and the start of the 2021 NFL Draft, the rumor mill is starting to heat up.

Ben Standig of The Athletic talked with several important people throughout the NFL, looking to gather information about the upcoming NFL draft. After discussing options with “general managers, executives, coaches, scouts and agents” that were “were willing to share insight and information”, he wrote an article highlighting the information he gathered.

Standig provides a lot of interesting bits of draft nuggets, like, which quarterback are the San Francisco 49ers targeting at pick No. 3? Is a quarterback in the mix for the Atlanta Falcons at No. 4? The Penei Sewell (OT, Oregon) versus Jamar Chase (WR, LSU) versus Kyle Pitts (TE, Florida) debate in Cincinnatti at No. 5, as well as notes on several Top-100 players round out the comprehensive look at how things are developing leading up to the draft.

He also addressed the Detroit Lions situation at No. 7, saying that despite being involved in trades earlier this offseason, “one senior executive” believes that general manager Brad Holmes is “looking for another deal and trying to move down from No. 7.”

“While Chase, Waddle or Sewell would help immediately, Detroit could take advantage of teams aching for a quarterback, wide receiver or Sewell, who could also benefit the Lions,” Standig continued. “New GM Brad Holmes acquired Goff from his old team for the purpose of giving the No. 1 pick in 2016 a new starting opportunity.”

There are several teams that could be looking for a quarterback currently situated behind the Lions in the draft order including the Carolina Panthers at pick No. 8, the Denver Broncos at pick No. 9, the New England Patriots at pick No. 15, and the Washington Football Team at pick No. 19—through Standig notes that “one high-ranking exec doesn’t imagine (Ron) Rivera moving significant assets, but if he did, the executive believes that would be for Fields and not Lance.”

Even if the quarterback situation doesn't present itself with a tradable market, as Standig notes, there could still be a team looking to trade up for a receiver or Sewell, opening up the Lions trade options even more.

With four or five quarterbacks potentially being selected at the top of the draft, an elite offensive lineman, and a couple of top-tier receivers, the Lions should find themselves in a terrific spot to stand pat and take a foundational piece, or trade down for more assets.