Lions Have Discussed Trading No. 7 Pick in 2021 NFL Draft, GM Brad Holmes Says

Currently slated to pick seventh in the 2021 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions are open to making a trade if the right deal comes along. 

Speaking to reporters on a predraft press conference, Lions general manager Brad Holmes said they have had discussions with other teams interested in the No. 7 pick. 

"There has been discussion with other teams," Holmes said. "I will keep those in-house but there has been discussions."

Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell are heading into their first season with the Lions. They appear to be leading the organization into a rebuild after trading Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams and not re-signing Kenny Golladay in free agency. 

The Stafford deal gave Detroit extra first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. The team also got Jared Goff in the trade to provide a steady hand at quarterback for the time being, but Holmes and Campbell have the ability to draft one of the top players at the position. 

Detroit's defense ranked last in the NFL in points allowed last season. There are several high-caliber defensive players in this year's draft class, including Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons and Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II, if that's the direction the front office wants to go. 

One benefit of being in a full-scale rebuild is it affords a team the luxury of doing anything without feeling pressure to address an individual position. 

The Lions currently have six picks in this year's draft, including four of the first 101 selections.