The 2021 draft class has turned out to be an incredible one, but is it the best in Detroit Lions history?
When general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell took over for the Detroit Lions back in January of 2021, they talked non-stop about wanting to do things the right way here, and they made it abundantly clear as to what they believed was the correct way of doing things.
Draft players, develop them, and have them build out the foundation of your organization. If you do that, you can compete every year. They weren’t out to be a flash in the pan, or have a few good years and fade back into obscurity. No, Holmes and Campbell’s idea of the Lions back then was more in line with how the Baltimore Ravens operate over in the AFC. Year in and year out, Baltimore is a contender, and it has been that way for a long time. Now we are seeing that plan come to fruition.
At the foundation of the success is the now-historic 2021 draft class. Their first pick was none other than All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell. A few rounds later, they took another All-Pro in receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Fast-forward a few years from 2021 and both Sewell and St. Brown landed giant pay days, and the Lions are widely regarded as one of the best teams in the NFL.
That brings us to today’s Question of the Day:
Is the 2021 draft class the best in the Lions history?
My Answer: It has to be, and before I elaborate on why—let’s clear something up. This draft class would be a historic one for many franchises. Think about it, most teams would be ecstatic about landing an All-Pro in any class, let alone two by the end of year three.
But that is exactly what the Lions have in this historic 2021 class. And we haven’t even mentioned players like defensive tackles Alim McNeill or Levi Onwuzurike. Like Sewell and St. Brown, McNeill just landed an extension of his own, and after injuries slowed him for a while, Onwuzurike is now healthy and really coming into his own. Don’t for get linebacker Derrick Barnes, who had the game-sealing interception in the divisional round of the playoffs in 2023.
Top-to-bottom, this class is special, and hopefully the foundation of a truly special run for Detroit over the next several years.
How about you? Do you think the 2021 class is the best ever in Detroit? Let us know in the comments below.
