Back to the Detroit Lions Newsfeed

Detroit Lions NFL draft grades: Here's what pundits think of T.J. Hockenson

Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson speaks to the media at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press

National pundits couldn't reach a consensus on Detroit Lions first-round draft pick T.J. Hockenson.

Hockenson's selection received marks up and down the grading scale from local and national pundits after he was taken eighth overall on Thursday at the NFL draft in Nashville, Tenn.,

Here's how the pick graded out:

Freep's Carlos Monarrez

Grade:C-minus

The buzz: "Hockenson might become a star eventually, but tight ends are slow to develop and produce as rookies, and the Lions need impact players this season.