If you’ve been following our weekly Detroit Lions mock draft roundups, you know that pairing the team with an offensive tackle in the first round has been the most common selection for well over a month.
It makes sense, obviously. Detroit parted ways with left tackle Taylor Decker after the veteran offensive lineman requested his release. And while the Lions have signed Larry Borom, who comes to Detroit with 38 starts, including 11 last year for the Dolphins, he has been mostly a swing tackle for his entire five-year career. The Lions’ only options beyond Borom are Giovanni Manu and Devin Cochran.
Beyond just need, it also seems to match up nicely with what players may be available for the Lions’ 17th pick. There could be up to seven offensive tackles taken in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and players like Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, and Clemson’s Blake Miller all project to go off the board right around Detroit’s pick.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Do the Lions need to take a tackle in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft?
My answer: Need is a strong word, but at this point, I would be highly disappointed if they didn’t.
I know Lions general manager Brad Holmes doesn’t like to chase needs in the draft, but his offseason moves have put him in a tough spot. This offseason, the team talked about how important it is to maintain and upgrade the offensive line. While you could certainly argue they’ve gotten better at center with the addition of Cade Mays, and they’ve added some interior offensive line competition, they’ve inarguably gotten worse at tackle. Decker to Borom is a clear downgrade, and beyond that, there simply aren’t any clear long-term options at tackle. If this team were serious about upgrading the offensive line room this offseason, it would require an early investment at tackle in the draft.
Detroit could theoretically wait until the second round, but the hit rate at tackle beyond Day 1 is not historically very good, and if there is an early run on tackle—as many are projecting—the Lions would be sacrificing a couple tiers of talent if they wait until Pick 50.
So while I wouldn’t quite say the Lions need to draft an offensive tackle with their first-round pick, I don’t think they will have succeeded at upgrading the offensive line this offseason if they don’t.
What do you think about the Lions’ need at tackle? Is it less pressing than I believe, or are you in agreement? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know!
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