UDFA Kansas State QB Adrian Martinez Signing With Lions
The Lions will be enlisting a bit more help at the quarterback position this offseason, signing undrafted Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Martinez will try to find a place in the NFL after five years as a starter at the college level.
Martinez began his career as a four-year starter at Nebraska, starting as a true freshman for the Cornhuskers. He had perhaps one of his best seasons as a college rookie completing 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,617 yards and 17 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. Martinez struggled through his sophomore year and had to fight off Luke McCaffrey to hold on to his starting job for the next two seasons. He ended his Cornhusker career with a 14-24 record as a starter, passing for 8,491 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions.
Martinez used his final year of eligibility to transfer to Kansas State, where he became the starter for the Wildcats and led them to a 5-2 start before injuries limited him for the rest of the year. At Kansas State, Martinez passed for 1,261 yards and six touchdowns with only one interception. Martinez also brings a dangerous rushing element to the field. Over five seasons at the college level, he rushed for 2,928 yards and 45 touchdowns, giving him 96 total touchdowns for his career.
In Detroit, Martinez enters a quarterbacks room that includes veterans Jared Goff and Nate Sudfeld and rookie third-round pick Hendon Hooker. He’ll likely be trying to compete for a third-string spot. His rushing availability makes him a useful practice squad quarterback who can run the scout team offense to simulate a division opponent like Justin Fields.
Cardinals Send No. 96 To Detroit; Lions Select DT Brodric Martin
The Cardinals continue to deal picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, this time trading the No. 96 overall pick to the Lions in exchange for Detroit’s Nos. 122, 138, and 168, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The Lions used their new third-round pick to select Western Kentucky defensive tackle Brodric Martin.
Coming out of Tuscaloosa with no stars in recruiting rankings, Martin went to North Alabama. He played for four years at the FCS school before transferring to Western Kentucky in the spring of 2021. Martin’s production saw no drop off as he elevated to the FBS level. In two years with the Hilltoppers, Martin totaled 62 tackles, six tackles for loss, and four sacks, all impressive numbers for a nose tackle.
At nearly 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, Martin is a boulder in the middle of the defensive line. While his technique wasn’t fully developed and sometimes lacks, he makes up for it with violent strength and deceptive quickness. He accumulated 143 tackles in five years of college play thanks to his ability to stack up and move laterally to defend multiple gaps in the line.
Defensive tackle was a bit of a need for Detroit. The Lions rolled mostly with Alim McNeill and Isaiah Buggs on the interior defensive line, rotating in Benito Jones as Levi Onwuzurike sat out the year recovering from back surgery. None of the linemen were necessarily dominant with McNeill grading out highest, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), ranking as the 33rd-best defensive tackle in the league.
Martin likely won’t be asked to play the 65-plus percentage of defensive snaps that McNeill and Buggs did in 2022, but he should provide strong contributions in short sample sizes. With Onwuzurike hopefully due to return soon, Martin won’t be expected to be an immediate contributor, but once he develops, Martin could be a strong nose tackle in Aaron Glenn‘s system.
Lions Draft QB Hendon Hooker At No. 68
Hendon Hooker generated buzz as a possible late-first-round pick, but the Tennessee quarterback fell out of Round 2. The Lions will stop his fall, selecting him at No. 68 overall. 
Detroit moved down twice in Round 2, sliding back to from No. 55 to No. 63 and back to No. 68. They now have a unique developmental quarterback set to work behind Jared Goff. Hooker, however, spent six years in college and is going into his age-25 season. He is also coming off an ACL tear sustained in November.
After four years at Virginia Tech, Hooker transferred to Tennessee to take over after the departure of Jarrett Guarantano. A breakout season saw Hooker throw for 2,945 yards and 31 touchdowns to just three interceptions, adding 616 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He utilized his extra COVID year of eligibility to return in 2022. Playing in two fewer games due to the ACL tear that ended his final year early, Hooker threw for 3,135 yards and 27 touchdowns to just two interceptions, adding 430 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
His knee might not be the only concern health-wise. A potential heart condition was discovered when undergoing tests after a positive COVID test, according to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports. The condition was determined to be a “false alarm” as a result of a procedure, but Hooker later suffered a convulsive episode that he blamed on medication from the heart procedure.
Looking past all that, Hooker was dominant at Tennessee. He took advantage of the quarterback-friendly offense for a masterfully efficient 58 touchdowns to five interceptions. He has a strong arm and touch that makes him a phenomenal deep ball passer. He didn’t rely on it in college, but he has an instinctive ability in the open field, utilizing agility, elusiveness, and toughness. Heupel lauded him as a hard worker and a strong leader, as well.
There’s a lot to like about Hooker’s long-term upside. His mental development over his collegiate career bodes well for his ability to attack the learning-curve he’ll face in the NFL. He boasts some strong tools, as well, that will come in handy when he does catch up to the professional game. As long as health is of no concern, there’s no reason that Hooker can’t develop into a starter at the NFL-level.
Hooker lands in a beautiful spot to develop with the Lions. Detroit had an impressive season behind their veteran quarterback in Goff. Goff had a resurgent season last year but still holds a massive $30.98MM cap hit in 2023 and a $31.65MM cap his in 2024. If Hooker can take up the Lions offense quickly while sitting behind Goff as a rookie, Detroit may feel comfortable taking on the $5MM of dead money they would incur by releasing Goff in 2024.
If not, Goff has two years left on his contract. If the Lions are planning to transition to an offense lead by Hooker, he’ll have one to two years to get comfortable running an NFL attack. If they’re happy with Goff and plan on extending his stay in the Motor City, then they’ve acquired a strong upgrade at the backup quarterback position.
Lions Trade No. 63 To Broncos
The Lions will make another second-round trade with an AFC West team, sending Nos. 63 and 183 overall to the Broncos in exchange for Nos. 68 and 139 (Twitter link via Lions reporter Tim Twentyman). Denver selected Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims.
Considering the Broncos have held intermittent trade talks regarding Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, this selection is an eyebrow-raising move. Mims will add another young element to a Denver passing game which struggled to establish production or consistency in 2022. That was an especially disappointing development considering the expectations the team faced.
Mims – the younger brother of the Jets’ Denzel Mims – followed him by playing in the Big 12 in college. The Sooners pass-catcher enjoyed an intriguing freshman campaign, totaling 610 yards and nine touchdowns. He was once again a major deep threat in 2021, but his most productive campaign came last year.
The 5-11, 177-pounder racked up 1,083 yards and six touchdowns on 54 receptions in 2022. His 20.1 yards-per-catch average established himself as a dynamic field-stretcher. His frame made him similar to many other WRs in this year’s class, though, which no doubt contributed to his wait to hear his name called. He will now join an intriguing situation in the NFL.
Denver faces plenty of expectation once again with Sean Payton now at the helm. He has insisted that neither Jeudy nor Sutton will be on the move, and that pair will top the team’s depth chart in 2023 presuming they do indeed remain in the fold. Mims will look to fill the deep-speed position occupied by KJ Hamler, who has struggled to stay healthy during his three years in the NFL. If the latter were to depart in free agency, Mims could be well-positioned to take his place for the long-term future.
Lions Deal No. 55 To Chiefs
The defending Super Bowl champions are moving up in the second round. The Lions will allow the Chiefs to vault to No. 55, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
Detroit will pick up Nos. 63, 122, 249 from Kansas City; in addition to No. 55, the Lions sent No. 194 to the Chiefs. After attempting to move up in Round 1, the Chiefs will climb in their home draft tonight.
With the new selection, the Chiefs will take SMU wide receiver Rashee Rice. A Danny Gray teammate at SMU, Rice spent four seasons as a contributor for the Mustangs. With Gray in San Francisco, Rice stepped up to deliver his best work as a senior. He caught 96 passes for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Chiefs did extensive work on this year’s first-round crop of wideouts and discussed moving up with the Vikings on Thursday night. But Kansas City stayed at No. 31. Now, the team is moving to help fill the voids created by the exits of JuJu. Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman.
Kansas City showed an ability to remain productive without Tyreek Hill in 2022, leading the league in passing, total and scoring offense. That leaves reason for optimism in their potential to carry on next season, and Rice will have a role in the team’s diverse passing scheme.
The Chiefs have only made one free agent addition at the WR spot so far (Richie James). Rice certainly won’t preclude a move for another veteran following the draft, but Rice represents another young addition to their pass-catching room. Former Giants first-rounder Kadarius Toney, along with 2022 second-rounder Skyy Moore, are set for large roles moving forward. Rice will join those as he looks to aid another Super Bowl run.
Lions Land No. 45 From Packers, Select DB Brian Branch
For a second straight year, the Lions and Packers will make a second-round trade. After the Packers moved up last year, the Lions will do so Friday. Detroit traded Nos. 48 and 159 to Green Bay. 
With the pick, the Lions chose Alabama defensive back Brian Branch. A popular name on the pre-draft interview circuit, Branch stands to give Detroit interesting options. He worked as a safety and slot cornerback with the Crimson Tide. Considering the Lions signed safety/corner C.J. Gardner-Johnson, suddenly Aaron Glenn‘s defense brings intriguing versatility.
Branch filled the stat sheet in his final season, racking up 90 tackles (including 14 for loss), three sacks, a pair of interceptions and seven pass breakups. That allowed him to stand out from an otherwise underwhelming safety class, and led many to expect he would be selected on Thursday.
Instead, his wait will ultimately lead to him the Motor City and a new-look secondary. It will certainly be interesting to see how he is used in 2023 in particular, with Gardner-Johnson having signed only a one-year pact. He and Branch have similar skillsets and could compete for playing time at multiple spots as the Lions look to take a needed step forward on defense next season.
Detroit and Green Bay swapped spots in the move which allowed the Packers to select wideout Christian Watson in 2022. Now, their roles have been reversed in a deal seeing the Lions add what they hope will be a long-term mainstay on their backend. Even with the trade-up, Detroit has another Day 2 picked scheduled at No. 55 overall.
Draft Notes: Young, Chiefs, Saints, Addison, Vikings, Patriots, Campbell, Lions
Panthers brass joined other front offices in being wowed by Bryce Young during his 2021 Heisman-winning season, and the team had mostly decided on the Alabama prospect by the time Frank Reich arrived. David Tepper and Panthers scouts had zeroed in on Young — prior to making the trade with the Bears — and Reich learned of the staff’s preference early during his tenure.
“And it was unanimous with every guy in that room, starting from [GM] Scott [Fitterer] on down, that Bryce was the guy. That was great for me to hear,” Reich said of an early-February meeting, via The Athletic’s Joe Person (subscription required). “But what I appreciate about the way Scott handled it, he was like, ‘Frank, you take your time.’ … And it wasn’t much convincing.”
Fitterer said he sought Reich’s final stance late in the process. It would have been interesting had Reich, who was initially mentioned as preferring a taller passer, stood his ground for another prospect. He was believed to also be intrigued by Anthony Richardson. But the veteran HC will be coaching a 5-foot-10 quarterback in Carolina.
Here is the latest from the draft, as we head into Day 2:
- The Vikings closed the record-breaking run on wide receivers at No. 23, selecting Jordan Addison, the fourth straight receiver taken from Nos. 20-23. But Minnesota received interest in the pick. The Chiefs and Saints contacted the Vikings about moving up to 23, per KTSP’s Darren Wolfson, who adds the belief is at least one of the teams eyeing a trade-up would have taken the USC wide receiver (Twitter link). The Vikings appear to have received an offer, but they instead chose Addison. The Chiefs were mentioned as a team pursuing a move up the board, and the defending Super Bowl champions — after J.J. Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman‘s exits — had done a lot of work on this year’s wideout class. The Saints have not re-signed Jarvis Landry and have not seen much of a healthy Michael Thomas since the 2010s. Both teams will probably be on the hunt for receivers tonight.
- It is not surprising to see Patriots first-round trade-downs, and the team allowing the Steelers to leapfrog the Jets for tackle Broderick Jones likely made the move doubly intriguing for Bill Belichick. But the Pats turned in their draft card quickly at No. 17, selecting cornerback Christian Gonzalez. New England was high enough on the Oregon product it was close to finalizing a trade-up move from No. 14, Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets. The Commanders had been in on corners, but they chose Mississippi State ballhawk Emmanuel Forbes over Gonzalez at No. 16.
- While the Patriots have been praised for nabbing a high-end prospect a bit later than he was expected to go, the Lions bucked pre-draft rankings by taking a running back (Jahmyr Gibbs) at No. 12 and an off-ball linebacker (Jack Campbell) at 18. Campbell, in particular, was not viewed as especially likely to be a first-round pick, and GM Brad Holmes admitted he probably could have nabbed the Iowa defender if he had traded down once again. “It’s not about just don’t pick a running back [in Round 1] because that’s not how we really view [Gibbs],” Holmes said, via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett. “And then it’s the same thing about don’t pick an off-ball linebacker. That’s not really how we view Jack. If you put them in boxes and you put on a sheet of paper and you run mock draft analytics, yeah, you can come up with those stats. But all the hours and research and all the time that we put in, in terms of looking at these players, it becomes very, very visible that what kind of impact they can bring.”
Lions RB D’Andre Swift Available In Trade?
The Lions made some surprising picks on Day 1 of the draft, a two-investment effort that began with running back Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 overall. As a result, D’Andre Swift‘s time in the Motor City might be coming to an end.
Detroit’s Gibbs pick has prompted teams to contact the Lions regarding a trade, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. It is unclear if the Lions are shopping the former second-round pick, but Fowler adds Swift’s camp has spoken with Detroit brass about a change of scenery.
One season remains on Swift’s rookie contract. The Georgia product arrived in Michigan before the current regime did, going off the 2020 draft board 35th overall during Bob Quinn‘s final draft running the Lions’ front office. With Gibbs set to complement free agency addition David Montgomery, Swift has run into a roadblock with the NFC North franchise.
“Yeah, I mean D’Andre is still on our roster,” GM Brad Holmes said Thursday night, via the Detroit News’ Justin Rogers. “He’s still a part of our team, he’s still under contract with us. He’s a dynamic football player. So, it hasn’t really changed the math there, yet. But it is early, so. It didn’t really change we just kind of put Jahmyr in his own separate box and just got really excited about the player, didn’t really have any bearing of D’Andre.”
While Detroit opted to swing for a big-play running back Thursday night, Swift’s tenure has not been unproductive. The Lions swung and missed on some high-value running backs during the 2010s (Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure, Ameer Abdullah, Kerryon Johnson) and the Holmes-led regime will attempt to reverse this trend, but Swift exited his third season with 25 career touchdowns. The former SEC standout has been a useful player in Detroit, though perhaps not as effective as the team would like.
Austin Ekeler‘s trade request did not produce much of consequence, but Swift would not cost as much in terms of salary or trade compensation. Then again, this year’s free agent market illustrated the tepid interest in non-star-caliber backs. Swift, 24, is attached to a $1.77MM base salary in 2023. The Lions gave Montgomery a three-year, $18MM deal to replace Jamaal Williams, who received a Lions offer but signed with the Saints. Williams led the NFL in rushing touchdowns last season; the ex-Packer’s surprising production diminished Swift’s standing in Detroit.
The Lions made Swift the second running back drafted in 2020, behind only Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Detroit has received better production from its choice compared to Kansas City, but injuries have slowed Swift. He battled ankle trouble last season, a shoulder problem in 2021 and missed two games because of a concussion in 2020. Overall, Swift has missed 10 games as a pro.
The dual-threat option has still averaged 959 scrimmage yards per season. In 2021, he broke through for back-to-back 130-plus-yard rushing efforts. Though, the shoulder injury slowed him shortly after that stretch. Last season, the Lions gave Williams 262 carries. The vocal veteran thrived, but Swift (99 totes) expressed frustration about his role midway through the year. With Montgomery and Gibbs looking set to split time next season, Swift may soon see a chance at a fresh start.
Lions Select LB Jack Campbell At No. 18
After using the No. 12 pick on an offensive player, the Lions are using their second first-round selection on a defender. Detroit is selecting Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell with the No. 18 pick.
Tossing caution to the wind regarding positional value for top-20 picks, the Lions have now taken a running back (Jahmyr Gibbs) and an off-ball linebacker. After the Gibbs pick doubled as a borderline luxury investment, the Lions addressed a more pressing need with their second selection tonight.
This pick can be seen as a bit of a reach, however. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranked Campbell 58th overall coming into the draft; NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah barely squeezed the Iowa product inside his top 50, slotting him 49th on his big board. Campbell finished the first round as the only off-ball linebacker selected. This was not believed to be a strong class at the off-ball positions, with neither the linebacker crop nor safety group — zero safeties went off the board in Round 1 — receiving tremendous pre-draft accolades.
Campbell brings intriguing size — at 6-foot-5, 249 pounds — and delivered bigtime production at the Big Ten program. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native combined for 265 tackles and four interceptions over the past two seasons. The former state champion high school basketball player earned All-American acclaim; he will join a Lions team that ranked last defensively in 2022.
Although the Lions improved down the stretch, Aaron Glenn‘s unit submitted ugly statistics on the whole. The Lions ranked last in total defense and 28th in points allowed. Pro Football Focus gave the Lions’ top linebackers middle-of-the-pack grades, slotting Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone just outside the top 45 at the position. Campbell will join this crew, which also includes Jalen Reeves-Maybin, whom the team brought back in late March. The Lions also re-signed Anzalone. In Campbell, however, the team made a bigger investment and bucked pre-draft rankings do so. Will the move pay off?
Lions Select Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs At No. 12
Jahmyr Gibbs saw his draft stock rise in recent weeks, and that culminated in him being selected with the No. 12 pick. The Lions have used their selection on the Alabama running back. 
After transferring from Georgia Tech, Gibbs put together a 1,370-yard, 10-touchdown season with the Crimson Tide. Almost a third of his total yards came in the receiving game, leading scouts to assume that he’ll serve in a Swiss Army Knife-type role in the NFL.
We’ve haven’t seen a single running back selected in the top 20 since 2018, and now Gibbs joins Bijan Robinson as the second prospect at the position to be selected in the top 12 tonight. While there have been some concerns regarding Gibbs’ 5-foot-11, 200-pound frame, he’ll now be a foundational piece on Detroit’s offense.
Gibbs was seen almost universally as the second-best back in the 2023 class, but recent reports indicated some NFL teams may have had him ranked higher than Robinson. In any case, it was assumed by the time tonight’s draft started that he would be a first-round lock. Most of the teams connected to Gibbs were slated to pick toward the end of the round, and in Detroit he will join a crowded backfield. Gibbs’ receiving chops were believed to have moved him, according to some teams, closer to Robinson. That pre-draft assessment of the backs’ draft stock turned out to be accurate.
The Lions have 2020 second-rounder D’Andre Swift in the fold, though he has struggled with injuries and generally failed to live up to expectations. Detroit inked David Montgomery on one of the most lucrative running back deals of free agency, a move which presumably set him up for the lead role. Gibbs should be able to establish himself as a pass catcher early on, though. His addition could lead to increased questions regarding Swift’s future in the Motor City, but in any event, the Lions’ rushing attack should be well-positioned for years to come.