The 2026 NFL Combine is in the books, and there was a lot of action both heading into Indianapolis and leaving the big event. With all the coverage, it’s easy to miss some information, so to help out our Detroit Lions fans, we’ve collected all our articles from this year’s NFL Combine into one easy-to-access place.
Additionally, we have included our thoughts on each position group’s biggest riser up the Lions draft board, which player could be a realistic target for Detroit, and a sleeper pick that could interest the Lions if the situation presents itself.
Quarterback
Pre-Combine watchlist: 6 QBs the Lions should be scouting
Combine winners: 3 winners from the quarterbacks group
Rising prospect: Cole Payton, North Dakota State (6-foot-2 1/2, 229)
Realistic target: None
Sleeper: Haynes King, Georgia Tech (6-foot-2 1/2, 212)
Running back
Pre-Combine watchlist: 10 RBs the Detroit Lions should be scouting
Combine winners: 5 winners from the running backs group
Rising prospect: Mike Washington, Arkansas (6-foot-1, 223)
Realistic target: Kaytron Allen, Penn State (5-foot-11, 216)
Sleeper: Jam Miller, Alabama (5-foot-10, 209)
Wide receiver
Pre-Combine watchlist: 7 WRs the Lions should be scouting
Combine winners: 5 winners from the wide receivers group
Rising prospect: Eric Rivers, Georgia Tech (5-foot-10, 196)
Realistic target: Barion Brown, LSU (5-foot-11, 177)
Sleeper: Zavion Thomas, LSU (5-foot-10 1/2, 190)
Tight end
Pre-Combine watchlist: 10 TE prospects the Lions should be scouting
Combine winners: 5 winners from the tight ends group
Character fits: 4 high-character tight ends that fit the Detroit Lions
Rising prospect: Sam Roush, Stanford (6-foot-6, 267)
Realistic target: Martin Klein, Michigan (6-foot-6, 248)
Sleeper: Nate Boerkircher, Texas A&M (6-foot-6, 245)
Offensive tackle
Pre-Combine watchlist: 10 OT prospects the Lions should be scouting
Combine winners: 12 winners from the offensive tackle/guard group
Character fits: 7 high-character offensive linemen for Detroit Lions
Rising prospect: Monroe Freeling, LT, Georgia (6-foot-7 1/2, 315)
Realistic target: Blake Miller, RT, Clemson (6-foot-7, 317)
Sleeper: Max Iheanachor, RT, Arizona State (6-foot-6, 321)
Offensive guards
Pre-Combine watchlist: 10 IOL prospects the Lions should be scouting
Combine winners: 12 winners from the offensive tackle/guard group
Character fits: 7 high-character offensive linemen for Detroit Lions
Rising prospect: Chase Bisontis, LG, Texas A&M (6-foot-5, 315)
Realistic target: Kaylan Rutledge, RG, Georgia Tech (6-foot-4, 315)
Sleeper: Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa (6-foot-5, 319)
Center
Pre-Combine watchlist: 10 IOL prospects the Lions should be scouting
Combine winners: 5 winners from the centers group
Character fits: 7 high-character offensive linemen for Detroit Lions
Rising prospect: Sam Hecht, Kansas State (6-foot-4, 303)
Realistic target: Jake Slaughter, Florida (6-foot-4 1/2, 305)
Sleeper: Logan Jones, Iowa (6-foot-3, 299)
Defensive tackle
Pre-Combine watchlist: 8 interior defensive linemen the Lions should be scouting
Combine winners: 5 winners from the defensive tackle group
Character fits: 4 high-character defensive linemen for Lions fans to know
Rising prospect: Tyler Onyedim, 3T/5T, Texas A&M (6-foot-3 1/2, 292)
Realistic target: Rayshaun Benny, 4i/3T, Michigan (6-foot-3, 298)
Sleeper: Zane Durant, 3T, Penn State (6-foot-1, 290)
Edge rusher
Pre-Combine watchlist: 10 EDGE rushers the Lions should be scouting
Combine winners: 5 winners from the edge rusher group
Character fits: 4 high-character defensive linemen for Lions fans to know
Rising prospect: T.J. Parker, Clemson (6-foot-4, 263)
Realistic target: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State (6-foot-5 1/2, 256)
Sleeper: Malachi Lawrence, UCF (6-foot-4, 253)
Off-ball linebacker
Pre-Combine watchlist: 10 LB prospects the Lions should be scouting
Combine winners: 5 winners from the linebacker group
Character fits: 5 high-character LBs to know for Detroit Lions
Rising prospect: Sonny Styles, Ohio State (6-foot-5, 244)
Realistic target: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech (6-foot-1 1/2, 231)
Sleeper: Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh (6-foot-0, 220)
Cornerback
Pre-Combine watchlist: 12 defensive backs the Lions should be scouting
Combine winners: 5 winners from the cornerbacks group
Character fits: 5 high-character defensive backs for Detroit Lions
Rising prospect: Avieon Terrell, NB/CB, Clemson (5-foot-11, 186)
Realistic target: Jadon Canady, NB, Oregon (5-foot-10 1/2, 181)
Sleeper: Charles Demmings, CB/Gunner, Stephen F. Austin (6-foot-1, 193)
Safety
Pre-Combine watchlist: 12 defensive backs the Lions should be scouting
Combine winners: 7 winners from the safeties group
Character fits: 5 high-character defensive backs for Detroit Lions
Rising prospect: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo (6-foot-3 1/2, 201)
Realistic target: Bud Clark, FS, TCU (6-foot-1, 188)
Sleeper: VJ Payne, FS, Kansas State (6-foot-3 1/2, 206)
