With the injury-ravaged Lions four wins behind current No. 6 seed Minnesota in the chase for the playoffs, it’s safe to say the postseason is not going to happen for Detroit in 2019. But those fans clamoring for a crash to get a top-5 draft pick are going to be disappointed, too.
After Week 10 wrapped with Seattle knocking off the last unbeaten team in San Francisco, the Lions 3-5-1 record is just the 11th-worst in the league. If the draft were held today, Bob Quinn and the Lions would hold the No. 11 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
It will be tough to get much higher than No. 5 or No. 6. The Lions’ tie game means teams would have to win four games to climb above them (presuming Detroit loses out). The eye test says there’s no chance Cincinnati, Washington or either New York team get to that level. As rough as the Lions look right now, their play in the Week 10 loss to Chicago would handily prevail in the upcoming game against Washington.
The current draft order out to No. 17 and 5-win Oakland, courtesy of Tankathon:
