We’re less than four weeks away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and with nine installments of our Mock Draft Roundup in the books, it’s a good time to begin releasing a mock draft of our own.
At this stage of the offseason, free agency has slowed to a crawl, and the Detroit Lions are putting the final touches on their roster ahead of the big event. At this time, the team has 67 players on its offseason roster and holds nine draft picks, leaving 14 available spots for undrafted and unrestricted free agents.
For this exercise, our focus is on the nine draft picks and projecting players the Lions may consider selecting with those picks. To help us keep things fair and realistic, we used PFF’s Mock Draft Simulator to supply us with the prospects to choose from at each selection.
Alright, let’s jump in.
Rd. 1 (No. 17): Blake Miller, RT, Clemson
The Lions have prioritized rebuilding the offensive line with youth and physicality, and the addition of Blake Miller would be the final part of the rebuilt engine. This move would require the Lions to shift All-Pro Penei Sewell to left tackle, but with 54 starts at right tackle at Clemson, Miller is a plug-and-play option who should start from Day 1 in the NFL.
With an ideal combination of height (6-foot-7), length (34.25-inch arm length), strength (32 reps on bench press), and athleticism (RAS: 9.9), Miller has the raw traits and intangible skill set that will make him appealing to the Lions. Miller uses his wrestling background to control defenders at the point of attack, leveraging his body to anchor against the pass rush and drive-block in the run game. However, it’s his mental makeup that makes him the perfect fit in Detroit. Not only does he bring a finisher’s mentality to the field, but he also almost never misses an opportunity to play with his teammates. In his four years at Clemson, he missed only one practice, due to a broken wrist, and he was back on the practice field in a cast the next day.
(Note: Offensive tackles Francis Mauignoa, Spencer Fano, and Monroe Freeling were off the board in this mock draft, but I did elect to draft Miller over projected first-round tackles Kadyn Proctor, Caleb Lomu, and Max Iheanachor.)
Rd. 2 (No. 50): Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
Lions fans finally get their pass rusher. An ideal defensive end to pair opposite Aidan Hutchinson, Jacas game has been compared to that of Trey Hendrickson (Todd McShay), due to his relentless motor, instincts, and hand usage/technique. Jacas (6-foot-3, 260) is another former wrestler, and those traits show up when setting a firm edge and when shedding blocks. His overall game is power-based, but he has a terrific first step that allows him to leverage blockers.
Rd. 4 (No. 118): Bud Clark, FS, TCU
With questions surrounding Kerby Joseph’s knee, the addition of Clark would give the Lions long-term insurance at safety, as well as a player who can challenge for multiple starting roles as a rookie. Clark (6-foot-1, 188) is a ballhawking safety with 15 career interceptions, two of which went for touchdowns, who has the positional range to roam from single-high as well as cover from the slot. The three-time captain at TCU is also experienced on special teams, making him a potentially valuable contributor as a rookie.
Rd. 4 (No. 128): Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
Boettcher (6-foot-1, 233) began his college career as an elite center fielder on Oregon’s baseball team (he’s already been drafted by the Houston Astros), but couldn’t resist the temptation to also walk on to the football team, worked his way up into a starting MIKE/captain role, and has since prioritized his NFL career. Boettcher’s outfielder-like vision allows him to see the entire field, while his instincts and attacking downhill mentality consistently keep him around the ball. As a rookie, he would challenge for a starting WILL role, while also immediately contributing in all five phases on special teams.
“I haven’t met a lot of people that share my same passion and love of the game, and I think it shows on my tape,” Boettcher told Jeremy Reisman at the NFL Combine.
Rd. 5 (No. 157): Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M
An inline TE-Y who will remind you of a young Tyler Conklin, Boerkircher (6-foot-6, 245) is a balanced tight end who can give you reliable blocking and pass-catching reps as a rookie, with the upside to develop into a starter with time. With the Lions presumably expanding their offense to include more 13 personnel (1 running back and 3 tight end sets), Boerkircher’s blocking technique and efficiency will get him on the field, and his underrated pass-catching skills could make him an unanticipated receiving mismatch for defenses.
Rd. 5 (No. 181): J’Mari Taylor, RB, Virginia
Taylor (5-foot-9, 200) is a compact, explosive runner who is an ideal power complement to an RB1 speedback like Jahmyr Gibbs. Taylor is a bit of a north-south one-cut runner, but he has elite contact balance and consistently gains positive yards. His ability to contribute as a pass catcher and execute above-average pass protection skills makes him a viable contributor on all three downs. In Detroit, Taylor would provide insurance to Isiah Pacheco with future RB2 upside.
Rd. 6 (No. 205): George Gumbs Jr., EDGE, Florida
Gumbs (6-foot-4 1/2, 245) began his college career as a tight end at Northern Illinois, switched to defensive end, then transferred to Florida. He’s still developing his overall skills, but he has a solid “floor” of traits, rushing the passer and defending the run, with the intelligence and upside to grow into a heavy rotational contributor on the edge. His ability to drop into zone coverage will also give him some SAM linebacker range in the Lions’ scheme. As a rookie, Gumbs would provide the Lions with an immediate special teams contributor and could see the field in a lot of different defensive situations.
Rd. 6 (No. 213): Tyler Onyedim, DL, Texas A&M
After four years at Iowa State playing at the 5-technique, Onyedim (6-foot-3 1/2, 292) transferred to Texas A&M, pushed inside to the 3-technique, and his production took off. With three years starting in both 2-gapping and 1-gapping schemes, Onyedim offers a diverse skill set, but also one that needs polishing. In Detroit, Onyedim would offer the Lions an interior pass-rushing 3-technique, while also having the ability to kick to the 4i/5T and set a firm edge. As a rookie, he would likely challenge Mekhi Wingo and Tyler Lacy for a depth role, with the hopes of developing into a Levi Onwuzurike-like player.
Rd. 7 (No. 222): Jadon Canady, DB, Oregon
Canady (5-foot-10 1/2, 181) is viewed by most draft analysts as a slot corner with starting potential, but I believe he has the range to play multiple spots in the secondary, projecting to see the field players like Christian Izien and Avonte Maddox. Canady is a reliable defender who uses his intelligence/instincts to locate the ball early and the aggressiveness to compete in the passing and run game. In Detroit, Canady would compete for time in the slot, while also providing insurance at other spots in the secondary.
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