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The Detroit Lions won't be on the clock for about two months, but Lions fans are still speculating about what the Lions will do with their first-round pick.
The Lions have the No. 17 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after finishing in last place in the NFC North in 2025. And while the Lions have many positional needs entering the 2026 season, there's no consensus on what position the Lions will be focusing on come draft time.
But there are a few themes emerging.
The Lions will likely be looking to improve their interior line after the offensive line struggled down the stretch in pass protection and run blocking. That might include looking for a new starting center, though it's possible the Lions will try to find one via free agency or trade with little first-round talent available at the position.
But with the possible retirement of longtime left tackle Taylor Decker, the Lions might look to find his replacement early on in the draft.
The Lions could also look for a defensive lineman to pair with All-Pro edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, as there should plenty of edge rushers available in the middle of the first round for the Lions to take. In fact, Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft has the Lions taking an edge rusher who started his career at Michigan State.
Here's a roundup of the latest mock drafts from NFL experts and what they say the Lions will do with their first-round pick.
STAFF LIST: Lions 2026 coaching staff has Mike Kafka as pass game coordinator
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has the Lions selecting a pass rusher in the first round, one who spent his fist two college seasons at Michigan State before transferring to Missouri in 2024.
Zion Young put up 6½ sacks in 13 games as a senior for the Tigers in 2025 while leading the team with 16½ tackles for loss. His 20 solo tackles in 2025 were also more than he had combined in his first two seasons as a Spartan (16).
"Although the interior offensive line might warrant a look (Penn State's Olaivavega Ioane?), Detroit has to address the lack of depth on the edge," Kiper writes. "Young has strong hands and good quickness, and he had 6.5 sacks and 46 pressures last season."
NBC's Eric Froton also believes the Lions will select an edge rusher with their first-round pick, settling on Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker.
Parker has recorded 16 sacks and 29 tackles for loss over the last two seasons at Clemson, with Froton saying that Parker had "back-to-back impact seasons" for the Tigers.
"His edge setting took a year-over-year hit, with Parker logging 22 run stops in 2025 vs. 35 in 2024. Even as Clemson reduced his snap load from 640 to 548, TJP’s pass-rushing acumen made him a centerpiece of the Clemson front, solidifying his profile as a durable, pressure-oriented Edge with matching run-defense capabilities."
The Athletic's Scott Dochterman thinks the Lions will look for an offensive tackle in the first round, potentially to replace Decker as the starter.
"The Lions’ offensive line has some aging pieces and requires some attention," Dochterman writes. "Lomu, who formed the nation’s top tackle tandem with [Spencer] Fano, played 800 snaps at left tackle last season and allowed only two quarterback hits, according to PFF. That’s the type of stat that will make Jared Goff smile."
Speaking of Fano ...
Pro Football Focus' Dalton Wassserman has the Lions selecting Utah's other star tackle, emphasizing Fano's flexibility either as a tackle or a guard.
"Detroit’s offensive line struggled down the stretch and is in flux going into the offseason," he writes. "Utah's Spencer Fano would give the Lions some options after he earned an FBS-leading 92.0 PFF overall grade over the past two seasons. Whether he plays tackle or guard, he would be a welcome addition to the Lions’ offense."
CBS Blake Brockermeyer thinks the Lions will select an offensive tackle who didn't play for Utah, Georgia junior Monroe Freeling.
"Freeling is a long, athletic left tackle and one of the few true pure left tackles in this year's draft," Brockermeyer writes. "He shows good feet and the versatility to play either tackle spot. A solid run blocker with a big frame and good hand usage, Freeling moves well in space and at the second level and offers a nice ceiling."
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You can reach Christian at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions mock draft picks for 2026 NFL Draft entering combine
Continue reading...
The Lions have the No. 17 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after finishing in last place in the NFC North in 2025. And while the Lions have many positional needs entering the 2026 season, there's no consensus on what position the Lions will be focusing on come draft time.
But there are a few themes emerging.
The Lions will likely be looking to improve their interior line after the offensive line struggled down the stretch in pass protection and run blocking. That might include looking for a new starting center, though it's possible the Lions will try to find one via free agency or trade with little first-round talent available at the position.
But with the possible retirement of longtime left tackle Taylor Decker, the Lions might look to find his replacement early on in the draft.
The Lions could also look for a defensive lineman to pair with All-Pro edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, as there should plenty of edge rushers available in the middle of the first round for the Lions to take. In fact, Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft has the Lions taking an edge rusher who started his career at Michigan State.
Here's a roundup of the latest mock drafts from NFL experts and what they say the Lions will do with their first-round pick.
STAFF LIST: Lions 2026 coaching staff has Mike Kafka as pass game coordinator
ESPN: DE Zion Young, Missouri
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ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has the Lions selecting a pass rusher in the first round, one who spent his fist two college seasons at Michigan State before transferring to Missouri in 2024.
Zion Young put up 6½ sacks in 13 games as a senior for the Tigers in 2025 while leading the team with 16½ tackles for loss. His 20 solo tackles in 2025 were also more than he had combined in his first two seasons as a Spartan (16).
"Although the interior offensive line might warrant a look (Penn State's Olaivavega Ioane?), Detroit has to address the lack of depth on the edge," Kiper writes. "Young has strong hands and good quickness, and he had 6.5 sacks and 46 pressures last season."
NBC: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson
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NBC's Eric Froton also believes the Lions will select an edge rusher with their first-round pick, settling on Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker.
Parker has recorded 16 sacks and 29 tackles for loss over the last two seasons at Clemson, with Froton saying that Parker had "back-to-back impact seasons" for the Tigers.
"His edge setting took a year-over-year hit, with Parker logging 22 run stops in 2025 vs. 35 in 2024. Even as Clemson reduced his snap load from 640 to 548, TJP’s pass-rushing acumen made him a centerpiece of the Clemson front, solidifying his profile as a durable, pressure-oriented Edge with matching run-defense capabilities."
The Athletic: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
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The Athletic's Scott Dochterman thinks the Lions will look for an offensive tackle in the first round, potentially to replace Decker as the starter.
"The Lions’ offensive line has some aging pieces and requires some attention," Dochterman writes. "Lomu, who formed the nation’s top tackle tandem with [Spencer] Fano, played 800 snaps at left tackle last season and allowed only two quarterback hits, according to PFF. That’s the type of stat that will make Jared Goff smile."
Speaking of Fano ...
PFF: OT Spencer Fano, Utah
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Pro Football Focus' Dalton Wassserman has the Lions selecting Utah's other star tackle, emphasizing Fano's flexibility either as a tackle or a guard.
"Detroit’s offensive line struggled down the stretch and is in flux going into the offseason," he writes. "Utah's Spencer Fano would give the Lions some options after he earned an FBS-leading 92.0 PFF overall grade over the past two seasons. Whether he plays tackle or guard, he would be a welcome addition to the Lions’ offense."
CBS: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
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CBS Blake Brockermeyer thinks the Lions will select an offensive tackle who didn't play for Utah, Georgia junior Monroe Freeling.
"Freeling is a long, athletic left tackle and one of the few true pure left tackles in this year's draft," Brockermeyer writes. "He shows good feet and the versatility to play either tackle spot. A solid run blocker with a big frame and good hand usage, Freeling moves well in space and at the second level and offers a nice ceiling."
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions mock draft picks for 2026 NFL Draft entering combine
Continue reading...
