The 2024 NFL Draft is just weeks away and we’ve talked a lot about the Detroit Lions and what they might do in the draft, but we haven’t talked about what they need to hope their rivals don’t do.

That’s what we’ll do today. We’ll pick one player for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears that the Lions have to be hoping they don’t draft. Let’s get it started with the Packers.

Green Bay Packers: Brian Thomas, WR, LSU
The Packers are always doing that thing where they wind up being good even though they probably shouldn’t be. I’m not at all ready to give Jordan Love the praise that a lot are giving him, but I could be if he winds up with a guy like Brian Thomas. That’s just what the Lions don’t want in the NFC North. Another big bodied receiver that can go up and grab the contested catches. Especially one with the speed that this guy has.

Minnesota Vikings: Laitu Latu, ED, UCLA
The Vikings lost Danielle Hunter and DJ Wonnum. They were able to bring in Jonathan Bullard from the Texans and that’s a good get, but Latu is a player that has scary ability. The guy has a lot of moves that make him dangerous. The last thing the Lions want is for the Vikings to have another top pass rusher after years of Jared Allen and then years of Danielle Hunter.

Chicago Bears: Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
The Bears are getting Caleb Williams. There’s no doubt about that. It’s happening. The last thing the Lions want is for him to then get one of the best receiver prospects that we’ve seen come out in a long time. He was expected to be the top one off the board, now Malik Nabers is moving up the board and maybe Rome Odunze will as well. So there’s a slight chance he gets to nine. The Bears could also do the crazy thing and try to move up for him. The Lions really don’t need the Bears offense to get any better.