Draft preview: The Lions enter the draft with picks 17, 50, 118, 128, 157, 181, 205, 213, and 222. Brad Holmes has a track record of trading up way more than trading down. No 3rd round pick creates a noticeable gap between 50 and 118. Holmes would probably like to get a 3rd rounder but might need to dip into the 2027 picks to do it. This roster has some holes coming off of a 9-8 season. Things are fairly set at the skill positions so I don’t see this draft doing much to shake up the Lions fantasy projections for 2026. As for positions of need, they could use immediate help at offensive tackle and edge defender. But you could make a case for other positions as well if you look at long term needs and want to truly stick to the board and go best available. Here is a look by position at what we could expect.

QB: With only two quarterbacks on the roster it’s possible the Lions draft a developmental quarterback with a late round pick. QB Jared Goff is signed long term and QB Teddy Bridgewater is set as the backup for this year. They will obviously add a third quarterback at some point and it could be in the draft, an undrafted rookie, or a veteran. They haven’t prioritized the backup spot(s) behind Goff. What we are looking at is help for the offensive line to protect Goff. Tackle is a big need with Taylor Decker gone. It looks like they are moving Penei Sewell to left tackle. Picking a tackle at 17 that could step in and start at right tackle would make a lot of sense There could be up to 7 tackles going in round 1 and a lot of mock drafts have the Lions taking a tackle at 17.

RB: With the Gibbs/Montgomery combo broken up, it could be time for the Lions to select a running back in this draft. Gibbs is a stud of course and will be near the top of all fantasy rankings for 2026. RB Isiah Pacheco is on a one year deal. RB Sione Vaki might not develop into more than a special teams player. So it’s a little thin behind Gibbs. I would think they could use a late round pick on a running back.

WR/TE: It seems like the Lions are pretty solid with their top 3 on the depth chart at receiver. They could draft one to compete for a backup spot. There hasn’t been much info coming out about what players the Lions have hosted for a pre-draft visit this year. One receiver that visited was Donovan McCulley from Michigan, a big receiver who projects as a late round pick. Tight end could be interesting. Between coming off a serious back injury and knowing the Lions cap situation, could the clock be ticking on TE Sam LaPorta in Detroit? The Lions haven’t been shy when it comes to giving extensions to players they have drafted and developed. LaPorta is entering the final year of his rookie deal – he was a 2nd rounder so he doesn’t have that 5th year option. If Kenyon Sadiq is on the board at 17 it’s a possibility. Not a strong one, but we know the new offensive coordinator has liked multiple tight end sets in the past so this is a sneaky position of need.

DST: As usual, the Lions need another edge rusher to pair up with Aidan Hutchinson. I think the board is going to fall in a way that sets them up for an offensive tackle more than an edge at 17 but who knows. Could you still get edge help at 50? Defensive tackle is also a position that could use some help. Also, there are questions all over the secondary, with both safeties having injury concerns and there is also a strange off the field situation with CB Terrion Arnold that he didn’t seem to be directly involved in but it is going to take some time to play out. The current roster has some versatile guys that can swing between corner and safety so Holmes could add to this group in different ways in this draft. PK Jake Bates officially signed his tender so they won’t be drafting a kicker.

That’s it for now. Next month we will review the draft.

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