Teams must nail their top picks in order to be successful, but what turns hopeful squads into contenders is the development of later-round picks into full-on starters. The Detroit Lions have way more holes across the roster than the first two days of the draft — or big-ticket free agents — can fill, so some dart throws need to turn into real NFL pieces.
Derrick Barnes is more than just a lottery ticket, but the fourth-rounder is also far from a sure thing. The Lions were excited to grab him on Day 3 in last year’s draft, but entering his sophomore season, now is the time for potential to turn into actual on-field production, at least enough to validate some of the hope around him.