The Detroit Lions' 5 Worst Draft Picks in the Last 10 Years

Drafting is an inexact science. Even the best of the best miss for any number of reasons-injuries, poor scheme fit, off-the-field issues, lack of development, and so on. With the 2026 NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, things should be quiet on the personnel side until training camps open in July.

With that in mind, it seems like the perfect time to go back over the last 10 drafts to identify picks which didn't pan out for each of the 32 clubs. Before we begin, let's set the ground rules: We're starting with the 2016 draft, so no players from the 2026 draft are eligible.

Now that we've established the parameters, here are the Detroit Lions' five worst draft picks of the past decade:

Dishonorable Mentions

• LB Jarrad Davis (21st Overall, 2017)
• DL Levi Onwuzurike (41st Overall, 2021)
• DE Josh Paschal (46th Overall, 2022)

5) DE Julian Okwara, 67th Overall (2020)

Detroit envisioned a hybrid 4-3/3-4 pass rusher when they grabbed Okwara with the third pick of Round 3. What they got was a player who struggled to stay on the field. In four seasons with the Lions, Okwara appeared in 38 of 67 games. He remains on the fringes of the NFL, spending 2025 on Cleveland's practice squad.

4) QB Hendon Hooker, 68th Overall (2023)

There was a lot of hype surrounding Hooker's selection, with some draftniks believing that the Lions had nabbed a future starter. A segment of fans took it a step further, suggesting Detroit was better off with Hooker than incumbent Jared Goff. It's been a tough scene for the "Hendon Hooker Truthers" as the former Vols star lasted just two seasons in Motown before being cut.

3) RB Kerryon Johnson, 43rd Overall (2018)

Given the success the Lions have had with Jahmyr Gibbs, and, to a lesser extent, D'Andre Swift before him, it's easy to forget how bad the franchise was at drafting running backs. Among the first- or second-round picks that failed to pan out were Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure, Ameer Abdullah, and Johnson, none of whom came remotely close to living up to their draft slot.

2) CB Teez Tabor, 53rd Overall (2017)

Tabor was considered a nice fit for Teryl Austin's zone-heavy defensive scheme due to concerns about his range. Scouts were right to be worried. Tabor struggled to climb the depth chart, and when he was on the field, opposing QBs targeted him with impunity. Tabor was cut after two seasons with the Lions and never developed beyond a depth defensive back and special teams contributor.

1) CB Jeff Okudah, 3rd Overall (2020)

The 2020 NFL Draft was a bad one for cornerbacks. So much so that Okudah, a top-tier bust by any metric, is comfortably eclipsed by fellow first-round DBs like Damon Arnette, Jeff Gladney, and Noah Igbinoghene. Injuries were a clear factor in Okudah's career arc, but when names like Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Herbert, and Jordan Love all went later in Round 1, it's hard to put a positive spin on this selection.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 6:00 AM.