5 Best Detroit Lions Draft Picks of All Time

Building a perennial contender in professional football hinges on exceptional talent evaluation in the annual selection meeting. The Detroit Lions have endured prolonged championship droughts and difficult rebuilds across multiple eras, largely because sustained success in the NFL demands consistent hits on draft weekend. When front offices miss on premium early-round assets, organizations can languish for decades searching for foundational leadership.

Yet across Detroit's long gridiron history, several draft selections altered the identity of the franchise and earned their place in Canton. From unheralded middle-round gems to can't-miss superstars who lived up to monumental expectations, these picks represent masterclasses in identifying elite athleticism, football intelligence, and enduring competitive spirit. Examining these selections illuminates how strategic roster construction can transcend organizational turbulence.

At a glance: Detroit's five premier draft selections

Evaluating draft picks requires balancing overall draft slot against career accomplishments, longevity, and championship impact. The five players below represent the pinnacle of Detroit's drafting history across distinct eras of the sport.

Player	Draft Year & Pick	College	Primary Position	Career Accolades	Hall of Fame Year
Joe Schmidt	1953 (86th overall)	Pittsburgh	Linebacker	9x All-Pro, 2x NFL Champion, 2x Top-5 MVP	1973
Barry Sanders	1989 (3rd overall)	Oklahoma State	Running Back	10x All-Pro, 2x AP Offensive Player of the Year	2004
Alex Karras	1958 (10th overall)	Iowa	Defensive Tackle	3x All-Pro, 4x Pro Bowler, 100 Sacks	2020
Calvin Johnson	2007 (2nd overall)	Georgia Tech	Wide Receiver	3x All-Pro, NFL Single-Season Yardage Record	2021
Lem Barney	1967 (34th overall)	Jackson State	Cornerback	2x All-Pro, 7x Pro Bowler, 56 Interceptions	1992

The 5 best Detroit Lions draft picks of all time

Each of these historic picks represents a moment where Detroit's scouting department correctly identified exceptional ability. Whether finding superstars in the second or seventh rounds or making bold calls in the top three, these selections transformed the franchise.

5. Lem Barney

• Draft selection: 34th overall (Round 2, 1967)
• College: Jackson State
• Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1992
• Key milestone: 56 career interceptions

The Detroit Lions entered the 1967 NFL/AFL Draft with the seventh overall pick, which they utilized to draft UCLA running back Mel Farr. While Farr turned into a productive, solid contributor, the team found true greatness when they turned to the second round. With the 34th overall pick, Detroit selected Lem Barney, an unheralded defensive back from Jackson State who quickly became one of the grandest steals of his generation.

Barney made an immediate impact, proving that dominant defensive back play could be found well outside the traditional powerhouse college programs. He played 11 seasons in the NFL, spending his entire career in Detroit. Across that span, Barney earned seven Pro Bowl invitations, collected two All-Pro selections, and gained inclusion on the NFL's All-1960s team. With 56 career interceptions, his ball-hawking ability disrupted opposing passing attacks for over a decade, culminating in his 1992 induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

4. Calvin Johnson

• Draft selection: 2nd overall (Round 1, 2007)
• College: Georgia Tech
• Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2021
• Key milestone: 1,964 single-season receiving yards (2012)

Heading into the 2007 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders selected quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the first overall pick, a choice that famously turned into one of the largest busts in league history. Detroit held the second overall pick, faced with an excruciating dilemma. The Lions had suffered through repeated early-round wide receiver busts in previous drafts, leading many analysts to suggest the team should avoid the position entirely. Instead, the front office trusted the tape and selected Calvin Johnson out of Georgia Tech.

Nicknamed "Megatron" for his rare combination of size, leaping capability, and straight-line speed, Johnson silenced all skepticism. Though he retired at the age of 30 after nine dominant seasons, he established one of the greatest wide receiver resumes the game has ever seen. In 2012, Johnson set the all-time NFL single-season receiving record with 1,964 yards. He retired with 11,619 receiving yards, 83 touchdowns, and three First-Team All-Pro honors, earning a first-ballot entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Surplus draft value is defined not merely by talent, but by discovering Hall of Fame cornerstones in rounds where other front offices find only depth.

3. Alex Karras

• Draft selection: 10th overall (Round 1, 1958)
• College: Iowa
• Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2020
• Key milestone: 100 career sacks

The opening nine picks of the 1958 NFL Draft were tightly controlled by just three franchises: the Chicago Cardinals, the Los Angeles Rams, and the San Francisco 49ers, all holding multiple selections. Immediately after San Francisco took Jim Pace and Charlie Krueger with back-to-back picks, the Lions stepped to the podium at pick ten to draft Iowa defensive tackle Alex Karras. Karras would stand apart as the first player from the 1958 draft class to earn an eventual bust in Canton.

Known affectionately as "the Mad Duck"—and later recognized nationally for his acting role on the television sitcom Webster—Karras provided the Lions with an impenetrable interior presence. He spent all 12 of his NFL seasons in Detroit, tallying 100 career sacks despite missing a full season due to a gambling suspension. A three-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, Karras commanded double teams throughout the 1960s and anchored a feared Detroit defensive front.

2. Barry Sanders

• Draft selection: 3rd overall (Round 1, 1989)
• College: Oklahoma State
• Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2004
• Key milestone: 15,269 rushing yards and 99 rushing touchdowns

The 1989 NFL Draft opened with the Dallas Cowboys securing their future by selecting quarterback Troy Aikman first overall. With the second pick, the Green Bay Packers drafted offensive lineman Tony Mandarich, who became an infamous high-profile bust. Sitting at number three, running back was not considered a pressing positional emergency for the Lions. However, general manager decisions must prioritize extraordinary talent over short-term roster gaps, and Detroit promptly selected Oklahoma State star Barry Sanders.

Sanders delivered a legendary career that redefined the running back position. His agility, balance, and signature cutback style terrorized defenses throughout the 1990s. Over ten seasons, Sanders was named an All-Pro in every single year of his career and collected two AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards. He compiled 15,269 rushing yards, 99 rushing touchdowns, and nearly 3,000 receiving yards before his early retirement. His individual brilliance carried the Lions into postseason contention throughout an entire decade.

1. Joe Schmidt

• Draft selection: 86th overall (Round 7, 1953)
• College: Pittsburgh
• Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1973
• Key milestone: 2x NFL Champion (1953, 1957)

Finding an elite starter in the early rounds is the goal of every front office, but finding an all-time great near the end of a draft represents the ultimate scouting triumph. In the 1953 NFL Draft, the Lions had already secured a pair of future Pro Bowl players in earlier rounds. Then, with the final selection of the seventh round at pick 86, Detroit drafted University of Pittsburgh linebacker Joe Schmidt, securing the most valuable selection in franchise history.

Schmidt transformed the middle linebacker role, serving as the on-field brain and defensive heart of the team across 13 seasons, all played in Detroit. He earned nine All-Pro selections, received ten Pro Bowl invitations, and finished among the top five in league MVP voting on two separate occasions. Most importantly, Schmidt anchored the defense during Detroit's golden era, helping bring two NFL Championships to the city, including the franchise's most recent title in 1957. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973, Schmidt remains the benchmark against which all Lions draft choices are measured.

Historical context: navigating Detroit's draft record

To fully grasp the magnitude of these selections, one must evaluate the historical backdrop of the Lions franchise. Detroit has grappled with extended championship droughts and lengthy postseason victory absences. In a league governed by salary caps and roster parity, sustained success relies almost exclusively on drafting well. When a team misses on high draft choices, the ripple effects can set an organization back five to ten years.

Over the decades, Detroit's front office frequently stumbled by reaching for prospects who could not adapt to professional competition. The sting of those misses makes the historic hits shine even brighter. While other franchises found consistency through systematic coaching, Detroit's most competitive eras were sparked directly by singular, transcendent draft picks who carried rosters through sheer individual capability.

Inside the modern NFL draft evaluation process

Modern draft evaluation is a relentless, year-round operation designed to minimize risk and uncover hidden advantages. Front offices utilize multiple evaluation phases before finalizing their draft boards each spring:

• Scouting and film study: Regional scouts spend autumn on college campuses, breaking down game tape to assess technical fundamentals, diagnostic speed, and competitive temperament against quality opposition.
• All-star showcases: Postseason all-star games allow evaluators to watch prospects from smaller programs compete directly against athletes from powerhouse conferences in unfamiliar systems.
• The NFL scouting combine: Indianapolis hosts hundreds of prospects each winter for standardized athletic testing, extensive medical imaging, and intensive team interviews to test football acumen.
• Campus pro days: College programs stage private workout sessions where prospects run position-specific drills in controlled, familiar environments under the watch of head coaches and general managers.
• Draft board construction: Front offices build a graded master board that balances scheme fit, medical risk, and raw talent tiers to guide decision-making on draft weekend.

How to evaluate historical draft value

Football analysts and fans evaluating whether an individual pick qualifies as a historic success can apply a systematic five-step framework:

1. Calculate surplus value against draft slot: Determine the difference between where the player was selected and their eventual career output. Late-round picks who become starters deliver far higher surplus value than top-five picks who merely meet baseline starter expectations.
2. Measure career longevity with the drafting team: Assess the number of productive seasons the athlete spent with the club. Players like Joe Schmidt (13 seasons) and Alex Karras (12 seasons) provided compounding organizational value by never leaving Detroit.
3. Tally elite individual honors: Count First-Team All-Pro selections, Pro Bowl invitations, and major awards. All-Pro selections are especially telling, as they represent the consensus best players at a given position league-wide.
4. Assess championship and postseason impact: Examine how the player elevated the team in crucial moments. Schmidt's leadership across two championship campaigns elevates him over players with comparable individual statistics who never won titles.
5. Check franchise and league record books: Look for statistical dominance that stands the test of time, such as Calvin Johnson's 1,964 receiving yards in 2012 or Barry Sanders' perennial dominance among all-time rushing leaders.

Scouting pitfalls and common draft mistakes

Drafting college athletes remains an inexact science filled with cognitive biases. Reviewing draft history reveals recurring errors that general managers must work diligently to avoid:

• Drafting for immediate need over pure talent: Selecting an inferior athlete because a starting role is currently vacant often backfires. Detroit resisted this urge in 1989 by drafting Barry Sanders despite having other roster holes, landing an all-time icon.
• Allowing past draft trauma to dictate present decisions: Front offices frequently avoid an entire position group after suffering a high-profile bust. Detroit overcame this trap in 2007 by selecting Calvin Johnson despite recent receiver failures.
• Overvaluing raw physical metrics over game film: Prioritizing workout numbers over demonstrated football instincts leads to high-profile busts, such as Oakland taking JaMarcus Russell over Calvin Johnson in 2007 or Green Bay taking Tony Mandarich over Barry Sanders in 1989.
• Overlooking small-school talent: Scouts who limit their attention to major conferences miss out on elite competitors. Lem Barney's journey from Jackson State to Canton highlights the folly of ignoring smaller football programs.

Positional shifts and the legacy of Detroit's elite picks

Modern analytical trends have reshaped how NFL front offices value specific positions. In today's league, running backs are rarely considered worth top-five capital due to short career lifespans and the replaceable nature of rushing production. Barry Sanders represents the rare exception: a runner whose singular elusiveness transcended scheme and offensive line play, generating offense when none appeared available.

Conversely, the premium placed on lockdown cornerbacks and dominant perimeter pass catchers has only escalated since Lem Barney and Calvin Johnson entered the league. Elite cornerbacks who take away an opponent's top receiver and wideouts capable of commanding constant double coverage remain the most sought-after assets in modern roster construction outside of quarterbacks.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Joe Schmidt considered Detroit's best draft pick over Barry Sanders?

While Barry Sanders is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, Joe Schmidt was selected at pick 86 in the seventh round. Combining that massive draft surplus value with Schmidt's nine All-Pro honors and his defensive leadership on two NFL Championship teams makes him the most impactful draft choice in franchise history.

How many of Detroit's top five draft picks made the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

All five players on this list—Joe Schmidt, Barry Sanders, Alex Karras, Calvin Johnson, and Lem Barney—have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Did Calvin Johnson hold any major NFL records when he retired?

Yes. Calvin Johnson set the NFL single-season receiving yardage record in 2012 by catching 1,964 yards, a benchmark that remains an elite standard across professional football.

What made the 1989 NFL Draft selection of Barry Sanders so notable?

The 1989 draft featured two major draft busts in the top five, including Tony Mandarich at pick two. Detroit chose Barry Sanders at pick three despite running back not being an urgent roster need, choosing generational talent over short-term roster construction.

How long did Alex Karras play for the Detroit Lions?

Alex Karras spent all 12 of his active NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions, recording 100 sacks and earning three All-Pro selections between 1958 and 1970, despite missing the 1963 campaign due to a league suspension.

The bottom line

Championship rosters are not assembled by luck; they are constructed through disciplined talent evaluation, bold decision-making, and identifying elite traits that translate to the professional level. While Detroit has experienced its share of draft-day disappointment, selections like Joe Schmidt, Barry Sanders, Alex Karras, Calvin Johnson, and Lem Barney prove that transformative Hall of Fame talent can be uncovered across every round of the draft.