The Detroit Lions have had an extra first-round draft pick three times in recent seasons, and they acquired talented players with all three picks.
Tight end Brandon Pettigrew (2009) and running backs Jahvid Best (2010) and Kevin Jones (2004) all had highlight moments and made an impact.
Unfortunately, Best and Jones had their careers cut far too short by injuries. Pettigrew also encountered injuries but was able to play a reasonably full career before being forced into early retirement.
The Lions have two first-round picks. Their first pick is No. 2 overall. They also have the No. 32 pick from the trade that sent quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Rams.
Here is a look at the careers of Pettigrew, Best and Jones:
Brandon Pettigrew:
Acquired with the 20th pick in the first round with a pick from the Dallas Cowboys.
Career stats: In seven seasons, Pettigrew played 93 games with 85 starts. He had 301 receptions for 2,965 yards and 17 TDs.
Early in his career Pettigrew was a valuable outlet receiver for then rookie quarterback Mathew Stafford and a solid blocker.
Pettigrew had 243 receptions in his first four seasons. Injuries began to pile up and affected his play. He had only 17 catches combined in his last two seasons.
Highlight moment: Pettigrew was the receiver on Stafford's celebrated touchdown pass vs. the Browns in his rookie season.
Stafford returned to the game after sustaining a shoulder injury on a hit when scrambling to get off a pass.
Initially, backup Daunte Culpepper was sent in for the Lions' last play. After being helped to his feet, Stafford returned to the huddle and connected with Pettigrew to win the game.
Bottom line: Until injuries took a toll, Pettigrew was one of the NFL's top receiving/blocking tight ends. His value was underrated.
Jahvid Best:
Acquired with the 30th pick from a draft-day trade.
Career stats: In 22 games, 945 yards rushing and six TDs, 85 receptions for 774 yards and three TDs.
His career ended because of a concussion sustained in Game 6 of 2011, his second season. Best had a history of concussions from his college days at Cal.
What he brought: Speed, acceleration, good hands and the ability to change direction in a flash, he lived up to what the late Charlie Sanders said in his role as assistant personnel director.
"He's a matchup nightmare," Sanders said in Best's first training camp.
Best made an immediate impact as a rookie. He scored five TDs in his first two games -- four rushing, one receiving.
Highlight moment: The Lions won their first five games of 2011, and Best was the star of a 24-13 win over the Bears in Game 5 at Ford Field.
On Monday Night, the atmosphere was electric. Best rushed for 163 yards and broke the game open with an 88-yard TD run in the third quarter.
Bottom line: Tragically, he sustained a concussion in the next game -- a loss to the 49ers -- and never played again. It cost Best his career, and took away a dynamic player from the Lions' offense.
View photos of the tight end prospects who were invited to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine.
Colorado State tight end Trey McBride (85) looks to run with the ball after making a catch during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Hawaii, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Darryl Oumi)
Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert plays against Oregon during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Virginia tight end Jelani Woods (0) dives for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday Nov 27, 2021, in Charlottesville, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Wisconsin's Jake Ferguson gets past Northwestern's Brandon Joseph for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Oklahoma tight end Jeremiah Hall (27) during an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Nebraska tight end Austin Allen (11) catches a pass against Iowa during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. Iowa defeated Nebraska 28-21. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
National Team tight end Cole Turner of Nevada runs through drills during practice for the Reese's Senior Bowl Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
San Diego State Aztecs tight end Daniel Bellinger (88) in an offensive stance during the NCAA college football game against the Nevada Wolf Pack, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 in Carson, Calif. (Ric Tapia via AP)
UCLA Bruins tight end Greg Dulcich (85) runs a route during the an NCAA college football game against the Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2021 in Pasadena, Calif. Oregon won, 34-31. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Maryland tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo (9) carries during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Iowa State's Chase Allen (11) runs with the ball around Texas Tech's Eric Monroe (11) during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)
Michigan State's Jalen Nailor, right, runs as Connor Heyward (11) blocks during an NCAA college football game against Western Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
SMU tight end Grant Calcaterra runs a route against Navy during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Annapolis, Md. SMU won 31-24. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Washington tight end Cade Otton warms up before the team's NCAA football game against Stanford in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
Coastal Carolina tight end Isaiah Likely (4) blocks against Arkansas State during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in Jonesboro, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Indiana tight end Peyton Hendershot (86) in action during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Bloomington, Ind. Michigan State won 20-15. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Oregon State tight end Teagan Quitoriano (84) runs during an NCAA college football game against Southern California Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Arizona State tight end Curtis Hodges (86) during an NCAA football game against Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Virginia Tech's James Mitchell #82 is seen pre-game against West Virginia during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Morgantown,W. Va. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Iowa State tight end Charlie Kolar (88) plays against UNLV during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Texas A&M tight end Jalen Wydermyer (85) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Denver. Texas A&M won 10-7. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kevin Jones:
Acquired in 2004 with the 30th pick from a draft-day trade.
Career stats: In five seasons -- the first four with the Lions -- he played 64 games with 49 starts. All starts were with the Lions.
In four seasons as a Lion, he rushed for 3,067 yards and 24 TDs, with 132 receptions for 1,011 yards and three TDs.
Highlights: Jones rushed for 1,133 yards as a rookie. He was one of the best backs in the NFL the second half of the season.
He had four games of more than 100 yards rushing, with a high of 196 yards.
He followed his rookie season with rushing totals of 664, 689 and 589 yards with 19 rushing TDs in his final three seasons as a Lion.
Bottom line: Jones was a power runner with speed. He had the potential to be a consistent Pro Bowl back, but injuries that hit him after his rookie season lessened his ability and shortened his career.
