With the 2025-26 Super Bowl in the rearview mirror and free agency still roughly a month away, most NFL communities turn their attention to mock drafts, as fans gather information on prospects headed to the NFL Combine.
Typically, the post-Super Bowl window generates a plethora of mock drafts, and this week was no different, as we were able to track 42 mock drafts for this installment of the Mock Draft Roundup. What was a bit unusual was the fact that, despite the number of mock drafts nearly doubling, the number of positions projected to the Detroit Lions was reduced, as the Lions were only projected to select prospects who play on the offensive and defensive line.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at which NFL Draft prospects are being mocked to the Lions this week.
Offensive linemen
Francis Mauigoa, RT, Miami (6-foot-6, 325)
Source: Ayrton Ostly (USA Today), Brian Bosarge (Draft Countdown)
“Detroit has its pick of offensive linemen here with Mauigoa as our prediction. The Miami tackle spent most of his career on the right side but may have a higher ceiling at guard. That’d be fine for the Lions, who could use an upgrade on the interior.” — Ostly
Spencer Fano, RT, Utah (6-foot-5, 300)
Source: Ben Natan (Bleeding Green Nation), Devin Jackson (Philadelphia Inquirer), Tarringo Basile-Vaughn (NFL Mocks), Nicholas Rome (Saturday Blitz), Tim Crean (Clutch Points)
“The Lions have been successful in years past because of their offensive line. This year, the unit took a step back with age and injuries. Spencer Fano would be a great bookend to pair with Penei Sewell and get the Lions back to mashing.” — Natan
Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama (6-foot-7, 360)
Source: Cynthia Frelund (NFL.com), Dan Parr (NFL.com), Max Chadwick (PFF), Cody Williams (Fansided), Rob Staton (Seahawks Draft Blog), Anthony Rizzuti (Panthers Wire), Matthew Gideon (Live Score)
”Proctor (6-7, 366 pounds) is essentially the size of a refrigerator, and his run-blocking metrics are a style fit for this team. If longtime Lions LT Taylor Decker decides to return for Year 11, it stands to reason that Proctor could start out at guard in 2026, and then eventually slide out to tackle.” — Frelund
Monroe Freeling, LT, Georgia (6-foot-7, 315)
Source: Field Yates (ESPN), Rob Rang (Fox Sports), Logan Fulmer (TWSN)
”With Taylor Decker’s future uncertain, the Lions must shore up the left tackle spot. Freeling is a player I’m higher on than most draft analysts, ranking him third among offensive tackles. I believe he has a real shot to skyrocket his draft stock between now and April. Freeling has only 18 career starts and under 1,600 snaps played, but the upside is massive. He stands at nearly 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds with 35-inch arms; those measurables combined with great pass protection skills are hard to find. Freeling allowed only two sacks last season.” — Yates
Caleb Lomu, LT, Utah (6-foot-6, 305)
Source: Nate Tice and Charles McDonald (Yahoo Sports), Mike Renner (CBS Sports), Jeff Risdon (The Big Lead), Lou Scataglia (NFL Spin Zone), Jared Feinberg (SI fans – Chiefs)
”While the center position might be the most important area for the Lions’ offense to improve this season, a tackle succession plan might not be too far behind, especially now that Dan Skipper is retiring. Lomu plays calm with light feet, and he has a good frame but could stand to add strength to take his game to the next level. I’m bullish on Lomu and think he could end up as a good starter on the blindside as he matures. A timeline behind Taylor Decker with Hank Fraley coaching him would be an ideal situation.” — Tice
Vega Ioane, LG, Penn State (6-foot-4, 335)
Source: Nick Baumgardner (The Athletic), Chad Reuter (NFL.com), Curt Popejoy (Draft Wire), Kyle Dvorchak (NBC Sports)
”If the Lions are going to rebound next season, they have to reset the interior of their offensive line. Ioane, who has played right and left guard (and even some right tackle), is an absolute hammer in the run game and has enough power to make an impact as a rookie.” — Baumgardner
Erik’s Thoughts:
In last week’s Roundup, we saw a shift to more projection on the defensive line than on the offensive line, but things got back to normal this week, with 26 of the 42 mock drafts we looked at pairing the Lions with an offensive tackle or guard.
I’m still a bit surprised to see the Lions being mocked Mauigoa and Fano—as I believe they’ll be drafted earlier than the Lions pick—but the trio of Proctor, Freeling, and Lomu seems to be where most of the more established draft analysts are landing. This group will have my full attention at the Combine.
Ioane remains a bit of a wild card for Detroit, as the Lions need at tackle appears to be more pressing, but there’s no arguing the big man’s talent, and if the Lions landed him at pick No. 17, they’d get value for the selection.
Defensive tackle
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State (6-foot-2, 326)
Source: Ryan McCrystal (Sharp Football)
“Defensive Tackle: Detroit’s run defense held the team back last year, and with D.J. Reader hitting free agency, the interior line is a glaring need.” — McCrystal
Erik’s Thoughts:
This projection is a bit tougher for me to buy into, as the Lions have invested in Alim McNeill (contract extension) and Tyleik Williams (drafted in the first round in 2025), but the fit is certainly there, as McDonald is the type of player who can solidify a front.
Edge rusher
Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (6-foot-6, 275)
Source: Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today), Ian Cummings (Pro Football Network)
“A 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive end who bagged just two sacks in his final season might not be a surefire top-20 pick to some, but this shouldn’t be a hard sell for Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes. Whether kicking inside or working on the edge, Faulk might make for a fascinating running mate for Aidan Hutchinson given his untapped upside as a pass rusher.” — Middlehurst-Schwartz
Akheem Mesidor EDGE, Miami (6-foot-2 1/2, 273)
Source: Garrett Podell (CBS Sports), Joel Klatt (Fox Sports), Brent Sobleski (Bleacher Report), Brian Martin (Blogging the Boys), Matthew Freedman (Fantasy Life), Mark Morales-Smith (SI – Fantasy)
“The Lions need an edge rusher who can come in on the cheap and immediately contribute opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Mesidor, who will turn 25 years old this year, can check those boxes. He ranked among college football’s top five nationally in sacks (12.5, tied for third in the FBS), tackles for loss (17.5, tied for fifth in the FBS) and quarterback pressures (67, tied for fourth in the FBS) in 2025 opposite the aforementioned Bain at Miami. Mesidor has the ideal build, pass-rush technique and motor. The power and handwork never stop, and he does a great job freeing himself from offensive tackles. He can also win with speed rushing inside against guards. Mesidor’s wingspan and power allow him to anchor down on the edge in the run game. That’s what the Lions need.” — Podell
T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson (6-foot-4, 263)
Source: Mark Schofield (SB Nation), Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News), Garrett Buroughs (Vikings Wire), Jack Wargo (Sleeper CFB)
“T.J. Parker is a stout, physical defensive end who can offer support in the run game and bolster the Lions’ pass rush as well. And he is coming off a massive performance at the Senior Bowl that boosted his draft stock after a tough regular season.”— Schofield
Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-foot-2, 249)
Source: Todd McShay (The McShay Report), Andrew Harbaugh (Bucs Wire), Mike Pendleton (Bears Wire)
“Howell is undersized and will get picked apart throughout the predraft process. But he’s relentless on the field, combining excellent takeoff speed with quick hands, change-of-direction suddenness, and a vicious motor. I think he can be effective rushing the passer as a rookie opposite Aidan Hutchinson and give Detroit some much-needed long-term upside off the edge.” — McShay
Erik’s Thoughts:
If the Lions grab an edge rusher in the first round, Faulk and Messidor seem like very logical picks based on how the Lions’ defensive front operates. Both are big-bodied base ends with upside and would be plug-and-play options opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
Though a tick smaller than the two edge rushers above, Parker would also fit in the Lions’ scheme. Heading into the Combine, I have him a tier below Faulk and Messidor, but I’m still doing homework on the edge class, so he has a chance to rise.
Howell is certainly as talented as the other edge players we’ve mentioned, and arguably the best pure pass rusher amongst them, but he is very undersized for the Lions’ system, and there are legitimate questions about his run defense. There’s certainly an argument to be made that the Lions need a burner off the edge, but it would be a bit off-script for the Lions to pick a player with his size and traits in the first round.
Linebackers and Defensive backs
None
Erik’s Thoughts:
With the volume of mock drafts produced this week, it was a bit surprising to see that no analysts projected the Lions to select either a linebacker or a defensive back.
Earlier this week, I joined Meko and Morgan on the Pride of Detroit YouTube channel to discuss some early draft prospects to know heading into the Combine, and while I spent time talking offensive line and edge rushers, I also made sure to discuss why I think the Lions may still consider drafting a linebacker and safety in the first round.
While I encourage you to watch the 40-minute video, at the 27-minute mark, I break down why I believe Lions fans need to prepare for Brad Holmes to go off-book and draft an off-ball player, if the value is too good to pass up.
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