Draft day can build a dynasty—or haunt a franchise for decades. For the Detroit Lions, a few picks since 2000 didn’t just miss… they passed on greatness and rewrote the team’s future for all the wrong reasons.
The Detroit Lions have endured their fair share of draft-day heartbreak over the past two decades. From missed opportunities on generational talent to outright busts, these decisions have helped shape the franchise’s long-standing struggles. Fortunately, the tide has turned in recent years under general manager Brad Holmes, whose track record has brought stability and optimism back to Detroit.
Before diving into the three worst draft picks since 2000, it’s worth acknowledging a few honorable mentions. Players like Jarrad Davis, Teez Tabor, and Laken Tomlinson didn’t live up to expectations, but they don’t quite reach the level of the franchise-altering mistakes that follow.
1. Eric Ebron (2014)
This one still stings for Lions fans. With the 10th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Detroit selected tight end Eric Ebron out of North Carolina. Ebron was viewed as an elite athlete with the potential to elevate the offense alongside quarterback Matthew Stafford. However, what followed made this pick infamous.
Immediately after Ebron was selected, a string of elite talent came off the board. Taylor Lewan, a three-time Pro Bowl left tackle, was picked next. Then came Odell Beckham Jr., one of the most dynamic wide receivers of his generation, followed by Aaron Donald, widely considered one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history. To make matters worse, the Dallas Cowboys later selected Zack Martin, a future Hall of Fame-caliber offensive lineman, at pick No. 16.
Ebron’s production in Detroit never matched expectations. Over four seasons, he appeared in 56 games, totaling 2,070 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Drops became a recurring issue, and his confidence appeared to waver. Eventually, frustration from fans boiled over, with boos becoming a regular soundtrack to his time in Detroit. While Ebron had moments of success later in his career, his tenure with the Lions is remembered more for what could have been than what actually was.
2. Mike Williams (2005)
Another painful miss came in 2005, when the Lions selected wide receiver Mike Williams with the 10th overall pick. Williams had immense talent coming out of USC, but concerns about conditioning and his year away from football proved to be valid.
What makes this pick particularly frustrating is who came next. The Dallas Cowboys selected DeMarcus Ware immediately after, a future Hall of Fame pass rusher. In addition, four of the next five players drafted became All-Pro talents, including Shawne Merriman, Derrick Johnson, and Thomas Davis.
Meanwhile, Detroit struggled to find stability at linebacker, cycling through players like James Davis, Earl Holmes, and Teddy Lehman—none of whom made a lasting impact.
Williams’ NFL career never took off. In two seasons with the Lions, he started 22 games and recorded just 37 receptions for 449 yards and two touchdowns. He briefly stepped away from football before returning for a short stint with the Seattle Seahawks, but by then, the damage to his career was already done.
3. Jeff Okudah (2020)
The selection of cornerback Jeff Okudah at No. 3 overall in 2020 is a more recent example of a pick that didn’t pan out. Unlike the Ebron and Williams selections, this one came with less immediate regret in terms of who was drafted right after, but it still represents a significant miss given the draft position.
Okudah entered the league as one of the most highly touted cornerback prospects in years. However, injuries and inconsistent play derailed his development in Detroit. While he showed flashes, he never established himself as the shutdown corner the Lions envisioned.
One notable player taken shortly after Okudah was Derrick Brown, selected seventh overall by the Carolina Panthers. Brown has developed into a reliable and productive defensive lineman, and he could have filled a major need for Detroit’s defense.
Overall
The Lions’ draft history since 2000 is filled with “what-if” scenarios that have haunted the franchise for years. These three picks—Ebron, Williams, and Okudah—stand out not just because of their lack of production, but because of the elite talent that Detroit passed on.
The good news? Things have changed. Under Brad Holmes, the Lions have built one of the most promising young cores in the NFL. Holmes has already drafted multiple All-Pro-caliber players and continues to reshape the roster with smart, impactful selections. Players like Jahmyr Gibbs are already trending toward stardom.
No general manager is perfect, and every team has draft misses. But compared to the past, Detroit is finally operating with a clear vision—and for the first time in a long time, fans have reason to trust the process.