Best draft picks in Detroit Lions history
Stacker compiled a list of the best draft picks in Detroit Lions history using career Weighted Approximate Value (wAV), a metric developed by Pro-Football-Reference.com to estimate career impact. The ranking also lists individual accolades such as Pro Bowl selections, First-Team All-Pro honors, and total years as a starter. Players were assigned to their originally drafted teams, excluding any draft-day trades. Data is as of April 2026.
#10. Fred Biletnikoff (1965, Round 3, Pick 39)
- Position: WR
- Career wAV: 88
- Pro Bowls: 6
- First-Team All-Pro: 2
- Games Played: 190
- Seasons as Starter: 12
#9. Wayne Walker (1958, Round 4, Pick 45)
- Position: LB
- Career wAV: 93
- Pro Bowls: 3
- First-Team All-Pro: 1
- Games Played: 200
- Seasons as Starter: 13
#8. Johnny Robinson (1960, Round 1, Pick 3)
- Position: DB
- Career wAV: 94
- Pro Bowls: 7
- First-Team All-Pro: 6
- Games Played: 164
- Seasons as Starter: 12
#6. Lomas Brown (1985, Round 1, Pick 6) (tie)
- Position: T
- Career wAV: 98
- Pro Bowls: 7
- First-Team All-Pro: 1
- Games Played: 263
- Seasons as Starter: 17
#6. Alex Karras (1958, Round 1, Pick 10) (tie)
- Position: DT
- Career wAV: 98
- Pro Bowls: 4
- First-Team All-Pro: 3
- Games Played: 161
- Seasons as Starter: 12
#4. Ndamukong Suh (2010, Round 1, Pick 2) (tie)
- Position: DT
- Career wAV: 100
- Pro Bowls: 5
- First-Team All-Pro: 3
- Games Played: 199
- Seasons as Starter: 12
#4. Lem Barney (1967, Round 2, Pick 34) (tie)
- Position: DB
- Career wAV: 100
- Pro Bowls: 7
- First-Team All-Pro: 2
- Games Played: 140
- Seasons as Starter: 11
#3. John Hadl (1962, Round 1, Pick 10)
- Position: QB
- Career wAV: 106
- Pro Bowls: 6
- First-Team All-Pro: 1
- Games Played: 224
- Seasons as Starter: 12
#2. Barry Sanders (1989, Round 1, Pick 3)
- Position: RB
- Career wAV: 120
- Pro Bowls: 10
- First-Team All-Pro: 6
- Games Played: 153
- Seasons as Starter: 10
#1. Matthew Stafford (2009, Round 1, Pick 1)
- Position: QB
- Career wAV: 133
- Pro Bowls: 3
- First-Team All-Pro: 1
- Games Played: 239
- Seasons as Starter: 16
