Generally speaking, there are a handful of agreed-upon “premium positions” in the NFL. Quarterback is still the most important position in football. Offensive tackles and defensive ends are drastically important for pass protection and pass rush, respectively. Wide receivers are largely considered an essential position, and cornerbacks are creeping into that conversation, too.
But the Detroit Lions have seemingly bucked those trends as of late. While they have high investments in a lot of those positions (see: first-round picks Jameson Williams, Aidan Hutchinson, Penei Sewell), they have also seemingly put a higher value on unconventional spots.