Motown Bombers

PFF has Brodric Martin as one of their biggest sleepers in the draft. "Martin is a discount store version of Jordan Davis, last year’s first defensive tackle drafted. He has egregiously long arms (34 3/8 inches) for an over 7-foot wingspan and holds 337 pounds with ease. He’s got all the makings of a two-gapper at the next level. He took a massive step forward with his performance this past fall, racking up 23 pressures and earning a 77.5 pass-rushing grade." https://www.pff.com/news/draft-biggest-sleepers-2023-nfl-draft-class

5 of the 6 picks look to be immediate contributors which is nice for a team looking to contend. At the end of the day, Holmes came away with 6 players taken in the top 100 and still has picks left.

My grade: B This seems like another one of those picks where Brad Holmes locked in on a guy and decided to go and get him, and I’m all for that. Martin is a beefy, run-stuffing nose tackle who fits a very similar profile to Isaiah Buggs, who the Lions just re-signed to fill their interior. This pick gives the Lions depth at the position beyond just Buggs, and will help keep them both fresh. It also frees up Alim McNeill to spend more time playing at the three technique, where he had the most success at last season. It looks expensive for the Lions to give up what they did for Martin, but I don’t have a problem with it. The Lions roster is not what it was in years past; if the Lions walked away from day three with five new players, a good chunk of them would not have made the final 53-man roster. Instead, the Lions honed in on a guy who fills a specific role that they know is important to the success of their defense. Martin certainly doesn’t test as an elite athlete with a RAS of 2.14, but that’s to be expected of a nose tackle. You’re drafting him for his beef and size on the interior, not for his pass rushing skills or his agility. We’re at the point in the draft where players are filling niche roles; you’re probably not getting a starter or instant significant contributor on a roster as deep as that of the Lions. That being said, I’m all for the Lions getting their guy and getting some necessary depth. Grading the Detroit Lions’ 2023 NFL Draft selection of Western Kentucky defensive tackle Brodric Martin - Pride Of Detroit

Do you put McNeil and Martin on the field at the same time? That's a lot of beef for the middle of the line.

The Lions defense immediately got better after they got Snacks. If Martin can eat space and free up and LB and pass rushers this could turn into a solid pick. The Lions got gashed in the run at times last year. They seem to be addressing that with Campbell and now Martin. They had already addressed the pass defense and they have spent resources in the past on pass rushers.

Honestly, I think they just wanted to get rid of some picks. They're coming away with 6 players in the top 100 and still have a couple picks left.

This is Snacks Harrison RAS: Run stuffing space eaters are generally not great athletes. They did struggle against the run at times.

If he's a space eater who can free up the linebackers it may not be that bad.

It all went to hell when Holmes got a hooker.

This seems to go against Holmes strategy of drafting top athletes.

He's even less athletic than Tavai. I guess the upside is he could be a Snacks Harrison type.

What an odd pick. Hooker and now Martin? Is there a carbon monoxide leak in the Lions draft room?

I think Brodric Martin ate all the Lions picks.

The post I was quoting was literally suggesting Goff was going to cost too much and that's why you move on to Hooker. If they are unwilling to pay Goff then, why would they pay Hooker?

But you have Goff for at least one year. You save at most for 3 seasons and you are right back to where you are now. I find this salary cap argument to be weird.

Is there a trade? I see Detroit at 96?

I mean, if you're not willing to pay Goff why would you pay Hooker?

So what happens if Hooker is good? He's going to be almost as old as Goff when it comes time to sign him.

If I would have said I love the Hooker pick, Buddha would then attack me as being a homer since I was against taking a QB before the draft. It is a no win situation.

Willis and Corral were drafted in the 3rd last year and both of those teams are drafted QBs high the very next year. Thankfully they both passed on Kerby Joseph.