The 2023 NFL draft was a roller coaster ride, full of surprises and apprehension. Brian Branch, now known for his talent and capabilities, surprisingly, was still available for the Lions to sweep him at the 45th pick.
His disbelief was grounded in the assurances from the Washington Commanders, who, according to him, had promised to draft him with their first-round pick, 16th overall.
Despite the solid promise, the Commanders chose cornerback Emmanuel Forbes over Brian Branch.
This choice, unfortunately, didn’t pan out as expected, with Forbes dealing with an elbow injury and showcasing a less impressive rookie year compared to Branch.
It seems like a historical blunder of the Commanders, as they missed out on drafting a player who has turned out to be one of the best rookies this season.
What makes this more intriguing is Branch’s humble statement post-draft.
He said, “Commanders said they would draft me. I guess you can’t take their word.”
“The team I for sure thought that was going to get me was the Commanders at No. 16,” Branch said in an NFL Network social media discussion. “I felt like, you know, they told me that if I’m still available at 16, they were going to get me. But I guess you can never take their word, somebody’s word. You got to let it play out. But everything happens for a reason. So I’m glad I’m with Detroit.”
Branch turned out to be a steal for the Lions when they chose him as their 45th pick. The Commanders’ loss truly became Detroit’s gain.
Branch’s NFL debut remains one of the epoch-making events in the history of American football.
in which he intercepted a pass from the game’s titan, Patrick Mahomes, returning it for a 50 yards touchdown in a 21–20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Branch’s interception return for a touchdown in his NFL debut was not an unprecedented accomplishment.
He joined the esteemed ranks of players like Lem Barney, who achieved the same historic feat in the much-celebrated year of 1967.
