.
Amidst the excitement of a rare Detroit Lions victory on Sunday, it is important to note that the team had actually traded one of its key players a week earlier.
In a trade that secured the Detroit Lions an additional second-round pick in 2025 and a third-round pick in 2025, tight end T.J. Hockenson was sent to the Minnesota Vikings.
This is yet another instance where a high draft pick fails to carry on their professional journey with the Lions.
Is this another one of the former Lions who will excel in their post-Detroit journey? Or will they follow the path of fading out like some others before them?
Players who excelled after leaving the Lions
These ex-Lions draft picks departed from the team and went on to achieve successful careers in their respective new franchises.
A’Shawn Robinson, 2016 2nd round, No. 46 overall
The Lions chose the Alabama defensive tackle to fill the role of a run stuffer.
After playing for the Lions for four seasons, he racked up 172 tackles and seven sacks before being granted the opportunity to enter free agency.
Robinson joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 and showcased his talent during the Super Bowl season of 2021, recording a remarkable 67 tackles and achieving two sacks, marking a career-best performance.
He has been in the starting lineup for all eight games of the 2022 season with the Rams.
Laken Tomlinson, 2015 1st round, No. 28 overall
When the Duke guard was drafted, he had doubts about his dedication to football.
After starting 24 games during his initial two years with Detroit, he was traded by the Lions to San Francisco in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
From 2017 to 2021, Tomlinson consistently started every game he played for the 49ers, culminating in notable achievements such as an NFC Championship in 2021 and a Super Bowl appearance in 2019.
After being selected for the Pro Bowl last season, Tomlinson went on to sign a three-year contract with the New York Jets.
Quandre Diggs, 2015 6th round, No. 200 overall
The Lions seemed to have struck gold with this late-round pick, defying the usual low expectations.
For four complete seasons, the safety from Texas played for the Detroit team and made significant progress, eventually becoming a starter in his final two seasons.
In 2018, Diggs displayed an impressive performance with 78 tackles and three interceptions. Unfortunately, due to conflicts with head coach Matt Patricia, his tenure in Detroit abruptly concluded in 2019. As a result, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
After showcasing his talent, Diggs earned the honor of being chosen as a Pro Bowl player for Seattle in both 2020 and 2021. Throughout these two seasons, he displayed remarkable skills, accumulating an impressive total of 158 tackles and 10 interceptions. Demonstrating his commitment to the team, Diggs solidified his future with the Seahawks by signing a lucrative 3-year, $40 million extension in March of this year.
Kyle Van Noy, 2014 2nd round, No. 40 overall
The BYU alum, who was one of several second-round linebackers that didn’t find success in Detroit, had a short-lived stint with the Lions, lasting only 2.5 seasons. During this time, he managed to accumulate 1 sack and 39 tackles.
During the 2016 season, Van Noy was traded to the New England Patriots in exchange for a sixth-round pick and a seventh-round pick.
After joining the Patriots, he began to tap into the potential that had caught the attention of some scouts prior to the 2014 draft. Throughout his time in New England, he accumulated an impressive 20.5 sacks and secured two Super Bowl victories.
Van Noy briefly played for Miami before joining the L.A. Chargers. Throughout his career, he has accumulated 28.5 sacks and 444 tackles.
Darius Slay, 2013 2nd round, No. 36 overall
Slay entered the 2013 NFL Draft with various inquiries.
After recovering from a knee injury, the cornerback from Mississippi State initially had a sluggish first season in Detroit. However, he subsequently transformed into one of the premier defensive backs in the sport.
During his time in Detroit spanning seven seasons, Slay managed to accumulate a total of 19 interceptions. The highlight of his career came in 2017 when he achieved an impressive 8 interceptions, resulting in him receiving All-Pro honors.
After earning three Pro Bowl selections with the Lions, his strained relationship with Matt Patricia resulted in a trade to the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2020. The Eagles acquired him in exchange for a third and fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Slay’s performance for the Eagles has remained consistently impressive, with a notable tally of seven interceptions over the span of three seasons. Having started in 38 games so far, he has proven himself as a valuable asset to the team. Furthermore, in 2021, Slay’s exceptional skills led him to be recognized as a Pro Bowler.
Former Lions the jury is still out on
The Detroit Lions may still be haunted by these early picks in the future as their careers unfold.
T.J. Hockenson, 2019 1st round, No. 8 overall
Hockenson became the Lions’ second tight end chosen within a five-year period as a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft.
At first, the situation appeared promising as Hockenson showcased an impressive performance in his NFL debut, amassing 131 yards and scoring a touchdown on six receptions. However, he struggled to achieve another 100-yard game until he faced Seattle on Oct. 2 of this year, where he managed to secure eight passes and accumulate 179 yards.
In his most remarkable year, which happened to be in 2020, he achieved his personal best performance by securing an impressive total of 67 receptions, accumulating an outstanding 723 yards, and scoring six touchdowns.
Hockenson had an impressive start in Minnesota, making nine receptions for a total of 70 yards.
Jahlani Tavai, 2019 2nd round, No. 43 overall
At the time, Tavai’s selection raised doubts and was widely regarded as a “reach” by numerous analysts.
In his initial two seasons with the Lions, the Hawaii linebacker recorded 58 tackles each year, consisting of a mere two sacks and one interception.
After being released in 2021, Tavai headed to New England where he had a minimal impact, recording only 14 tackles in 13 games last year.
In nine games this season, he has accumulated 33 tackles and secured 1.5 sacks.
Matthew Stafford, 2009 1st round No. 1 overall
For countless fans, the greatest quarterback to grace Detroit’s field is none other than the first pick of the 2009 draft.
Over his 12 seasons with the franchise, Stafford established an impressive legacy, breaking a staggering 30 different Lions passing records. His exceptional performance in 2011 stands out, as he achieved a career-high 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns. Additionally, Stafford played a pivotal role in Detroit’s success, contributing to three playoff appearances.
Stafford was traded to the L.A. Rams in March 2021, as part of a package deal involving Jared Goff and two future first-round picks.
Following his departure from Detroit, Stafford wasted no time in leading the Rams to a triumphant victory in Super Bowl LVI during the 2022 season, silencing his skeptics. In the previous season, he showcased his exceptional skills by throwing for an impressive 4,886 yards and securing 41 touchdowns. However, the Rams are currently encountering difficulties this year, commencing with a lackluster 3-5 record.
Last year, the Lions utilized the Rams’ draft pick to facilitate their acquisition of Alabama receiver Jameson Williams. In the upcoming draft, the Rams’ pick holds the potential to secure a place within the top half.
If Williams and the 2025 first-round pick turn out to be successful for the Lions, this trade has the potential to benefit both teams.
Players who did not do well after leaving the Lions
Although not all severed ties were detrimental to the Lions, Detroit benefited from parting ways with certain high picks, despite the fact that some turned out to be busts.
Kerryon Johnson, 2018 2nd round, No. 43 overall
The Auburn running back displayed glimpses of exceptional talent.
In his rookie season, Johnson sprinted for 101 yards during Week 3, followed by an impressive 158 yards a month later.
Nonetheless, injuries swiftly emerged as a concern for him. In his debut season, he only managed to participate in 10 games, followed by a mere eight appearances in 2019. Subsequently, Johnson’s role began to diminish in 2020 as D’Andre Swift took center stage.
Following his departure from the Lions, Johnson briefly played for both Philadelphia and San Francisco, yet he has not participated in any NFL games since then. Throughout his career, he has accumulated a total of 1,225 rushing yards.
Teez Tabor, 2017 2nd round, No. 53 overall
Tabor stands out as one of Detroit’s infamously unsuccessful draft choices.
Tabor, a cornerback recovering from a knee injury, consistently appeared disoriented on the field during his time with the Lions in Detroit. His tenure spanned only two seasons, during which he started a mere five games.
Tabor’s journeyman career has taken him through various cities including San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, and Seattle. Throughout this season, he has played in four games with the Seahawks, although he has only managed to secure a single tackle.
Tabor has yet to secure his inaugural NFL interception.
Kenny Golladay, 2017 3rd round, No. 96 overall
Golladay stands out as a rare instance where the Lions have effectively utilized the draft and chosen not to overspend on a player in a skill position.
In 2017, Detroit selected the talented Northern Illinois receiver in the third round, which led to an exceptionally fruitful tenure with the Lions.
Golladay’s performance in 2018 included 70 receptions for 1,063 yards and five touchdowns. The following year, he continued to impress with 65 catches for 1,190 yards and an impressive 11 touchdowns.
Golladay’s playing time in 2020 was severely impacted by injuries, causing a predicament for Detroit. Consequently, the team opted against offering him a substantial contract. As a result, Golladay made the decision to join the Giants in New York, signing an impressive four-year deal worth $72 million.
Golladay’s performance from the previous season saw him accumulate 37 catches for 521 yards. However, this year, he has only played in four games, managing to secure just two catches for 22 yards. As a Giant, he has yet to score a touchdown and is currently making minimal impact within the franchise.
The decision made by the Lions to not offer him a top receiver contract is turning out to be the correct one.
Eric Ebron, 2014 1st round, No. 10 overall
Wasn’t Ebron the first tight end selected in the top-10 by the Lions, just ahead of Aaron Donald?
Although Ebron was certainly confident, his self-assurance didn’t translate into many noteworthy performances on the field.
During his time in Detroit, he managed to secure a total of 11 touchdowns across four years. Notably, his most remarkable season was in 2016, where he recorded an impressive 61 catches accumulating 711 yards.
Following the conclusion of the 2017 season, the Detroit Lions decided to part ways with Ebron, subsequently leading him to secure a lucrative two-year contract worth $13 million with the Indianapolis Colts.
To Ebron’s credit, he had an impressive performance in 2018, catching 66 passes for 750 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns. This outstanding performance led to his first Pro Bowl selection. However, his performance took a sharp decline in 2019, as he only managed to catch 31 passes for 375 yards.
After his stint in Indianapolis, Ebron joined Pittsburgh for a two-season stretch where he managed to secure six touchdown catches. However, he is currently not an active player in the league.
Ndamukong Suh, 2010 1st round, No. 2 overall
In 2010, it was evident that Suh was the perfect choice for the Lions at the second spot.
With the Lions, the Nebraska defensive tackle showcased his dominance, securing three All-Pro honors and receiving four Pro Bowl selections.
During his five seasons with the Lions, he accumulated an impressive total of 36 sacks. However, the issue arose as Suh lacked enthusiasm for staying in Detroit, while the Lions were unwilling to offer him a lucrative contract.
In 2015, Suh agreed to a monumental deal with Miami worth $114 million over a span of six years. This contract stood as the most substantial in NFL history for any defensive player. However, his time with the Miami team was short-lived, lasting merely three years. Unfortunately, he failed to replicate the remarkable impact he had achieved during his tenure with the Detroit Lions.
Afterwards, Suh transitioned to a season with the L.A. Rams and spent three years with Tampa Bay. During his time with the Bucs, he achieved victory in Super Bowl LV while accumulating six sacks over the course of 16 games that season.
During the offseason, Suh chose not to join any team and is presently not listed on any active roster.
Since Detroit did not make him the highest paid defender in the NFL, they have been haunted by their lack of options at defensive tackle since Suh’s departure.
