The Detroit Lions’ future draft picks have undergone some adjustments following their recent trade for Za’Darius Smith, the veteran edge rusher acquired from the Minnesota Vikings. As part of the deal, the Lions made moves that affect both their 2024 and 2025 draft capital, and here’s a look at their updated draft picks.
### 2024 Draft Picks
As of now, the Lions have the following picks in the 2024 NFL Draft:
– **1st Round**: 1 pick (from the Los Angeles Rams through the Matthew Stafford trade)
– **2nd Round**: 1 pick
– **3rd Round**: 1 pick
– **4th Round**: 1 pick
– **5th Round**: 1 pick
– **6th Round**: 1 pick
– **7th Round**: 1 pick (from Minnesota in the Za’Darius Smith trade)
The Lions’ first-round pick remains highly valuable, thanks to their trade with the Rams. The addition of Za’Darius Smith, however, did not significantly alter their 2024 picks since the trade mostly involved a swap of lower-round selections, ensuring the team maintains a well-stocked draft arsenal for the upcoming year.
### 2025 Draft Picks
Detroit’s 2025 draft capital is also important for long-term planning. The Lions still possess the following picks in that year’s draft:
– **1st Round**: 1 pick
– **2nd Round**: 1 pick
– **3rd Round**: 1 pick
– **4th Round**: 1 pick
– **5th Round**: 1 pick
– **6th Round**: 1 pick
– **7th Round**: 1 pick
The trade with Minnesota involving Za’Darius Smith didn’t involve any major compensation beyond a 2024 late-round pick swap, meaning the Lions’ 2025 draft outlook remains largely unchanged.
### Trade Details and Impact
In terms of trade specifics, the Lions gave up a 2025 6th-round pick for Smith, and the Vikings received a conditional 7th-round pick in 2024, with the potential for the Lions to upgrade to a 6th-round pick depending on Smith’s performance.
With Smith now in the fold, the Lions are solidifying their edge-rushing depth while retaining their key draft capital. Detroit will continue to focus on adding depth and young talent to both sides of the ball in the coming drafts, particularly in the secondary and offensive line, which have been areas of concern in recent seasons.
Overall, the Lions’ draft position in 2024 and 2025 remains strong, allowing them flexibility to make future moves while continuing to build a competitive team around quarterback Jared Goff and head coach Dan Campbell.
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