Lions alumni Billy Sims and Cory Schlesinger will play a role in the team’s 2019 NFL Draft weekend. The Detroit standouts will announce the Lions draft selections in the second and third rounds of the draft later this month.
Sims will handle the second round while Schlesinger gets the nod for the third round. They will announce any additional picks the Lions might acquire in those rounds along with the currently scheduled ones.
Sims was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1980 NFL draft and was well on his way to superstardom for the Lions before knee injuries ravaged his promising career. He rushed for over 2,700 yards and 26 TDs in his first two pre-injury seasons.
Schlesinger came to Detroit in the sixth round in 1995 as a hard-nosed fullback. He played all 12 of his NFL seasons with the Lions and was a fan favorite for his brutality in blocking but surprisingly soft hands as a receiver out of the backfield.
The NFL has welcomed popular players for each franchise to announce the Day 2 picks over the last few years. It’s a fun tradition and a great chance to remember some Lions greats.
