The Draft That Changed the Lions

Round 3, pick 101 — DB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse

After an injury to Jeff Okudah in the 2021 season opener, Melifonwu entered his second-career game as a starter at cornerback. However, he suffered a thigh injury that would result in an injured reserve stint during that game. He would play seven games with four starts as a rookie.

Injuries became an unfortunate theme for Melifonwu's tenure with the Lions, as an ankle injury limited him to 10 games in 2022. He was in the midst of a position change, moving from cornerback to safety starting in his second year.

Melifonwu experienced a breakout late in his third season, as he overcame a hand injury to become a key player defensively with his unique blitzing ability from the safety position. He picked off Nick Mullens to seal Detroit's first NFC North division title late in the 2023 season, one of two interceptions he had in the season's final three weeks.

Expectations were high for Melifonwu heading into the 2024 season, however injuries again derailed his ability to contribute. He missed the season's first 14 games with Achilles and finger injuries, and signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins in free agency this offseason.

Round 4, pick 112 — WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC

The fourth-round pick of St. Brown may be Holmes' best value pick of his tenure, as St. Brown has greatly surpassed expectations throughout his first four NFL seasons. Labled as undersized and too slow based on pre-draft testing, St. Brown has emerged as one of the NFL's best wide receivers.

He became the team's top receiving option late in his rookie year, as he had at least eight catches and 70 yards in each of the team's final six games. His first-career touchdown came at the buzzer of the team's first win in 2021, giving him the first of many clutch moments in his career.

After setting the team record for receiving yards by a rookie, he has surpassed 100 catches and 1,000 yards in each of the last three seasons. He's 149 yards away from 5,000 receiving yards for his career, and has three Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pro selections to his name.

Like Sewell, St. Brown inked a four-year extension last offseason worth $120 million.

Round 4, pick 113 — LB Derrick Barnes, Purdue

Barnes learned a new position at the professional level, which resulted in some growing pains. After working more as an edge rusher in college, the Lions transitioned him to a linebacker. He struggled for long stretches throughout his first two years and was considered to be falling down the depth chart when the team drafted Jack Campbell in the first round of the 2023 draft.

However, Barnes improved greatly throughout the offseason and ultimately beat out Campbell for a starting spot to begin the 2023 campaign. He has since become a key piece of Detroit's defensive attack, emerging as the team's SAM linebacker and owning a role that asks a player to work both as an edge rusher and a traditional linebacker.

Barnes suffered an unfortunate knee injury that ended his season after three games in 2024, but Detroit felt strongly enough about his ability to sign him to a three-year extension this offseason worth $25.5 million.

Round 7, pick 257 — RB Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State

After making the roster out of training camp, Jefferson saw action in seven games as a rookie. He carried the ball 15 times for 74 yards and two touchdowns. However, he was waived at the conclusion of training camp the following year.

He returned to the organization on the practice squad, where he has spent a majority of his time since. Jefferson went nearly three years without appearing in a game before the injury to David Montgomery prompted the team to call him up from the practice squad late in the 2024 campaign.

Though his impact has been minimal statistically, Jefferson was a player the coaching staff clearly trusted. He is not currently on the roster and remains a free agent.

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