right now (and all this will change probably) i see the lions as a 5-7 win team next year picking in the 5-10 range. if they need to move up to 1-3 to get a qb its gonna cost them multiple first round picks. the niners gave up 3 to get to #3. the bears gave up 2 to get to where they picked fields. and one of the picks i see the lions giving up is going to be low first.
"they could have just picked fields". sure. perhaps they didnt like fields? he was terrible this year (in fairness, all the rookies in bad situations were terrible). perhaps the lions want an offense with a good surrounding cast BEFORE taking a rookie qb in order to maximize his rookie salary time? take the qb last after you have all the other pieces? no use wasting a year of fields' development on this team without any skill players to help him (see what happened to him on the offensively talentless bears).
spending three picks to get up to take a qb at the top of next year's draft wouldnt be a waste of anything. to the contrary, it would be a wise use of picks if you dont like any qbs this year or you want to draft some more high end receiver and defense talent this time around and then have some money to spend in free agency and a fancy new qb next time.