Lions Must Learn from 2023 Draft Busts

Injuries limited him, including a preseason knee issue that sidelined him for most of last year. Plus, when he was available, he was largely ineffective. 

Across two seasons, Martin appeared in only five games, logging just four tackles and 28 total defensive snaps. For a third-round pick, that glaring lack of impact is inexcusable.

Both players are now gone, released before they could establish themselves. 

To Holmes’ credit, he recognized the mistakes, and moved on instead of stubbornly holding onto failed investments. 

Yet, the misfires carry with them a valuable lesson: The Lions cannot afford to squander valuable draft assets on projects that carry more risk than reward, especially now that they’re in the middle of a championship window.

Future quarterback assessments, in particular, must be more rigorous. 

If Detroit is going to utilize draft capital on a passer, it needs to be on someone with long-term starter traits, durability and developmental upside – not an older, injured prospect whose ceiling is limited. 

The same goes for defensive linemen: traits and measurables matter, but so do polish, competition level and proven production. 

Drafting for “potential” cannot outweigh drafting for reliability, especially in the critical third and fourth rounds.

Holmes has largely rebuilt the Lions with shrewd, forward-thinking moves. 

But, the Hooker and Martin cases serve as reminders that even the most competent GMs can outsmart themselves and make mistakes. And in an NFL where every roster spot matters, avoiding misfires in the middle rounds is just as vital as finding stars at the top, like Gibbs and Campbell.

If Detroit applies those lessons, the 2023 draft won’t just be remembered for its hits and misses. It will be remembered as the moment the Lions learned how to turn a contender into a perennial league power.