Detroit moved from No. 51 to No. 43 in the 2018 second round,…
Detroit moved from No. 51 to No. 43 in the 2018 second round, sending New England picks No. 51 and No. 117 to select running back Kerryon Johnson. Kerryon Johnson flashed as a rookie and topped 1,000 scrimmage yards in 2018, but injuries limited his Detroit tenure and he was gone after three seasons. New England turned the two selections into additional draft capital rather than one long-term star, giving the Patriots broader value and the better risk-adjusted return.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 2018 2nd round pick (43rd overall, Kerryon Johnson )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2018 2nd round pick (51st overall subsequently traded, Anthony Miller )
- pick 2018 4th round pick (117th overall subsequently traded, Jordan Whitehead )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Detroit moved from No. 51 to No. 43 in the 2018 second round, sending New England picks No. 51 and No. 117 to select running back Kerryon Johnson. Detroit was trying to fix a running game that had ranked near the bottom of the league, so the aggressive move for an SEC-tested back made football sense on draft night. New England, meanwhile, preferred extra bites at the draft and continued its familiar habit of trading around the board.
Why the Value Moved
Kerryon Johnson flashed as a rookie and topped 1,000 scrimmage yards in 2018, but injuries limited his Detroit tenure and he was gone after three seasons. New England turned the two selections into additional draft capital rather than one long-term star, giving the Patriots broader value and the better risk-adjusted return.
How the Trade Aged
The trade aged in favor of New England Patriots because the most meaningful contribution came from that side of the exchange. The original draft-slot gap was only part of the equation; durability, starting value, postseason usefulness and any follow-on value matter more once the careers are known. The losing side still received something useful in most cases here, but not enough to erase the difference in realized impact.
Why This Trade Still Matters
This trade is a useful reminder that draft charts and announcement-day reactions cannot settle a verdict. A move up can be justified when the targeted player becomes a long-term starter, while a move down can win when extra selections create more total contribution. The fairest historical view follows what the clubs actually received and how long that value lasted.
Final Verdict
New England Patriots Win. The grades are Detroit Lions C+, New England Patriots B. The winning grade reflects the stronger realized football return, while the lower mark recognizes that the other club still acted within a defensible roster or draft strategy at the time.