The NFL free agency period has slowed to a crawl, and with owners’ meetings on the horizon, most of the NFL is turning its attention toward the NFL Draft.
In this installment of our 2026 Mock Draft Roundup, we looked at 40 different mock drafts published within the last week, and with roster building seemingly paused, not much has changed in analysts’ projections. Offensive tackle continues to dominate predictions, with 35 mock drafts pairing one of five linemen with the Detroit Lions. The remaining mock drafts stay in the trenches, but look to find the best defensive linemen the Lions could be interested in.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at which NFL Draft prospects are being mocked to the Lions this week.
Offensive linemen
Spencer Fano, RT, Utah (6-foot-5 1/2, 311)
Source: Chad Reuter (NFL.com), Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today), Pete Prisco (CBS Sports), Ryan McCrystal (Sharp Football Analysis), Tyler Orginski (FTN Fantasy), Matthew Freedman (Fantasy Life), Brian Bosarge (Draft Countdown)
“A rather dire situation up front for Detroit doesn’t seem likely to be answered other than with a first-round draft pick. The most straightforward option for the Lions might be to move Penei Sewell to the left side to cover for the Taylor Decker divorce and then grab the best right tackle available. In this scenario, there’s little question that would be Fano, an agile blocker built to counter the modern NFL pass rusher.” — Middlehurst-Schwartz
Blake Miller, RT, Clemson (6-foot-7, 317)
Source: Nolan Bianchi and Rich Silva (Detroit News), Vic Tafur (The Athletic), Jaime Eisner (The Draft Network), Tim Crean (Clutch Points)
“The Taylor Decker era is over in Detroit and a new left tackle is needed. Enter Blake Miller, a name that is rising up draft boards as we inch closer to April. Miller has a phenomenal college resume with good size and a ton of power. He’s played mostly right tackle, but he should have no issues moving over to the left side if needed or sticking at right tackle with Penei Sewell moving over. Miller and Sewell can form a formidable bookend tandem in Detroit.” — Eisner
Monroe Freeling, LT, Georgia (6-foot-7 1/2, 315)
Source: Todd McShay (McShay Report), Dillon Appleman (Big Cat Country), Ben Arthur (Fox Sports), Mike Pendleton (Bears Wire), Johnny McGonigal (Penn Live), Ian Harper (NFL Mocks)
“With the departure of longtime starting left tackle Taylor Decker, the Lions have a glaring need at the position. Freeling’s 18 career starts—along with some erratic tape driven by inexperience—raise valid concerns, but I firmly believe he has the talent to compete for a starting job right away and that he’ll look like a different player in year two. Among left tackle prospects in this draft class, Freeling stands out as the guy. He’s 6 feet, 7 3/8 inches and 315 pounds, with prototypical arms (34 3/4 inches) and massive hands (10 3/4 inches). He brings elite movement skills (4.93 40) and impressive lower-body explosion (33.5-inch vertical, fourth best among offensive linemen).” — McShay
Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama (6-foot-7, 352)
Source: Charles Davis (NFL.com), Field Yates (ESPN), Devin Jackson (Philadelphia Inquirer), Jack McKessy (USA Today), Josh Edwards (CBS Sports), James Elling (Oakland Post), Matt Rooney (Bleacher Nation), Nicholas Rome (Saturday Blitz), A.J. Schulte (AtoZ Sports), Andy (Andy NFL), Matthew Jones (Fantasy Pros), Chris Gregory (Rotoballer)
“I’ve been saying it throughout the process: Proctor just feels like a Lions offensive lineman to me.” — Davis
Caleb Lomu, LT, Utah (6-foot-6, 313)
Source: Luke Easterling (Anthon Sports), Jacob Infante (Pro Football Network), Mike Fanelli (Fantasy Pros), Bobby Bishop (Dynasty Nerds), Rob Staton (Seahawks Blog)
“After the departure of Taylor Decker, the Lions have a void to fill at left tackle for the first time in a decade. Thankfully, this scenario would give them an ideal successor in Lomu, who has a proven track record of success at the position, and some impressive film that shows flashes of Pro Bowl potential. If he can get stronger and polish his technique a bit, he could quickly develop into the kind of reliable presence Decker was for years in Detroit.” — Easterling
Erik’s thoughts:
This time of year, projections tend to gain more focus, and that is evident in the heavy amount of offensive tackles paired with the Lions. However, with as many as seven offensive tackles projected to be selected in the first round, it’s a bit unusual to see so many evenly distributed opinions on which OT the Lions would prefer: Fanu had seven, Miller is rising boards and had five, Freeling was at six, Proctor led the way with 12, and Lomu climbed into the mix with five himself.
I believe Fano’s projected slide will end in the weeks leading up to the draft, and his projections to the Lions will dissipate, but the other four are going to stay close in their rankings. When exploring the group of four, it could simply come down to stylistic preference. If the Lions stay true to their previous drafting beliefs, Miller’s experience and readiness could give him an edge. However, with the Lions appearing to shift their focus this offseason to youth and upside, that could propel Freeling, Proctor, or Lomu up their boards—then they decide between which superpower they desire: Athelticism vs. power vs. pass blocking.
Defensive tackle
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson (6-foot-3, 302)
Source Curt Popejoy (Draft Wire)
“Fortunately for Detroit, they don’t have any glaring roster needs and the ones they do have don’t have a great option with this pick. With that, we go for defensive tackle Peter Woods, who can back up both inside defensive lineman spots and provide real punch up the middle.” — Popejoy
Erik’s thoughts:
I bet most Lions fans would disagree with the first sentence in this evaluation, but I included this projection because I wanted to address the Lions’ lack of attention on the interior defensive line. Yes, they have Alim McNeill and Tyleik in starting roles, but their depth has lost bodies (Roy Lopez signed in Arizona, and DJ Reader is visiting other franchises) and hasn’t been replaced, save for the return of Levi Onwuzurike from injury.
Defensive tackle is a sneaky need for the Lions, but it’s hard to say when they’ll address it. That being said, I’d be surprised if it were in the first round.
Edge rusher
Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (6-foot-6, 276)
Source: Alyssa Barbieri (Touchdown Wire)
“While there’s still some intriguing offensive tackle options on the board, the Lions desperately need to find some help opposite All-Pro Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit adds one of the top EDGE talents in Keldric Faulk out of Auburn. The 6-foot-6, 276-pound defensive lineman had seven sacks in 2024. Hutchinson is a happy man on draft night as the Lions’ defense gets better.” — Josh Helmer, Lions Wire (via Touchdown Wire)
Akheem Mesidor EDGE, Miami (6-foot-3, 259)
Source: Bucky Brooks (NFL.com), Jordan Plocher (PFF), Garrett Podell (CBS Sports)
“The Lions need to find a complementary edge to alleviate some of the pass-rushing burden on Aidan Hutchinson. Despite his advanced age (turns 25 in April), Mesidor is perfect for the role as a high-motor defender with a loaded toolbox.” — Brooks
Erik’s thoughts:
Projections of edge rushers continue to decline, but Faulk and Mesidor remain the most likely two that the Lions would consider at pick No. 17. Like at tackle, the two are likely going to end up being graded very similarly for the Lions, and it’s not entirely clear how the Lions would approach a tiebreaker between them. Faulk fits the traditional mold for what the Lions look for in a base end, and also has youth on his side as one of the youngest players in the draft. However, Mesidor is an instant-impact player who can disrupt games as both a pass rusher and a run defender. I go back and forth on which way I think the Lions will lean.
Mock Draft Spotlight
This week, with not many changes in the above picks, I thought I’d bring back an old Mock Draft Roundup segment where I focus on one specific multiple-round mock draft from the week and break it down a bit further. For this exercise, I am using The Draft Network’s Jaime Eisner’s Lions-focused 7-round mock draft.
Here are the nine prospects he paired the Lions with in each round:
- Round 1, pick 17: Blake Miller, RT, Clemson
- 2, 50: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
- 4, 118: Le’Veon Moss, RB, Texas A&M
- 4, 128: Tyreak Sapp, DL, Florida
- 5, 157: Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
- 5, 181: Jalen Farmer, RG, Kentucky
- 6, 205: Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan
- 6, 213: Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana
- 7, 222: Enrique Cruz, Swing OT, Kansas
Erik’s thoughts:
I’ve previously discussed why I’d like the Miller selection in the first round, and if the Lions wait until pick No. 50, I do believe Dennis-Sutton will be in the mix. Right now, I have him a bit behind other players projected to potentially be available—such as Gabe Jacas (Illinois) and Derrick Moore (Michigan)—but if there is a run on edge players, he could end up being the best available, while also being a solid fit at base end. His size, length, and athleticism will appeal to the Lions.
Moss is a solid back with rotational-starter potential and a balanced skill set that is based in power. I have Sapp a bit lower in my rankings, but it’s easy to see his appeal in the Lions front. Sapp fits the mold of Josh Paschal, as he could fit in as a base end or could add some weight/strength and shift inside to the 3-technique. Davis isn’t a clean fit in the Lions scheme (he’s better in zone than man), but at 6-foot-4 with possible safety range, he could have some appeal in Detroit. Farmer is good value in the fifth round, but he’s a bit redundant with Miles Frazier, and with all his experience coming at right guard, he would have a hard time being considered more than just depth. As an inline TE-Y with upside, Klein is one of my favorite tight ends in this class for the Lions, and I believe they would consider him in the fourth round, so I’d be very much on board grabbing him in the sixth. Waiting until the sixth to grab a linebacker is not necessarily my preference, but Fisher has character and leadership skills the Lions prefer. Cruz has some appealing late-round traits for certain, but drafting a third offensive lineman is a bit overkill for a roster that doesn’t have the space for three rookie OL.
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