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This is the latest in a mock draft roundup series from The Detroit News, which aims to help readers familiarize themselves with the players who could be available for the Detroit Lions at pick No. 17.Here is the latest round of selections from popular national analysts:
▶ Mocked by: Nate Davis, USA Today (April 6)
With each passing week, it seems more and more likely Freeling, one of the draft’s biggest risers, will not make it to the Lions at No. 17. But some are still holding out hope, and he’d be a slam-dunk fit with Detroit: “The 21-year-old may be the best pure left tackle prospect in this draft, and his potential was evident during the scouting combine’s on-field drills,” Davis writes.
Freeling (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) is the consensus No. 11 prospect, per NFL Mock Draft Database, possessing a blend of size and athleticism that is alluring all its own. Freeling still has just one season as a full-time starter and could need some time to acclimate at the next level, but Detroit’s insurance policy of Larry Borom would give the Lions a chance to let him develop at his own pace, and the juice certainly appears to be worth the squeeze.
▶ Mocked by: Chad Reuter, NFL.com (April 3)
Two of the Lions' picks in this roundup involve trades; this one is a trade-up, and the next is a trade-down. The latter seems like a more sensible option for Detroit at this point, given it has just two top-100 picks, but we wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest to see general manager Brad Holmes move up, based on his recent history of doing so. Reuter’s trade has the Lions giving up a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick to move up four spots.
Fano (6-foot-5, 311 pounds) carries concerns about his 32⅛-inch arms, but he’s projected to be extremely versatile at the next level, with some believing that he can play both guard and center. That gives the Lions some options going into next season, with Borom competing for a starting tackle job and several interior offensive linemen prepared to fight it out at left guard.
▶ Mocked by: Daire Carragher, Pro Football Focus (April 6)
In this mock draft, the Lions end up with a player that’s valued lower on the consensus board than we’re used to seeing, but they also fill a glaring need. Carragher didn’t elaborate on which picks needed to change hands for the Eagles to move up to No. 17 and the Lions to fall back to 23, but a move of the sort likely would net Detroit some extra Day 2 capital.
Allen (6-foot-1, 230 pounds) has 41 appearances under his belt and was a consensus All-American in 2025, when he had eight tackles for loss, 3½ sacks, four pass breakups and 88 tackles. Ultimately, Allen’s fit with the Lions might be a bit redundant in 2025 after the return of Malcolm Rodriguez, but could be a strong long-term fit as Detroit looks to move on from Alex Anzalone.
“Allen wore the green dot on Kirby Smart’s defense, and coaches rave about his leadership ability,” Carragher writes. “He has graded as an outstanding run defender over the past two seasons, earning PFF run-defense grades above 88.0 in each year.”
▶ Mocked by: Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic (April 6)
Lomu has been one of the top tackle candidates to land in Detroit throughout the draft process, and he fills a need on the left side that could prevent the Lions from feeling like they need to move Penei Sewell away from the right side, where he’s been historically dominant through his first five seasons.
Lomu (6-foot-6, 313 pounds) redshirted his freshman year, but was a full-time starter in his last two seasons. He still has some room to grow as a run blocker, but should provide immediate impact in pass protection. “Lomu (like Fano, his linemate at Utah) is athletic enough to play on either side — and he’s young enough to benefit from a situation like this,” Baumgardner writes, referring to the Lions having Borom to relieve the pressure of needing a first-round tackle to play immediately.
▶ Mocked by: Nick Shook, NFL.com (April 2)
Hey! A pass rusher! The Lions haven’t taken this position on Days 1 or 2 since 2022, when they selected Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal with first- and second-round picks, respectively. Now that everybody thinks they’re going offensive tackle, wouldn’t it be perfect for Detroit to finally land the edge defender fans have been waiting for?
Howell is more of a true pass rusher than a well-rounded edge defender like the Lions typically want. But his run defense has improved in recent years, and his pass rushing is a tantalizing trait: Over his last three seasons, including one at Bowling Green, he tallied 25 sacks on 119 pressures.
“If there's any general manager in the NFL who has demonstrated a willingness to ignore pre-draft rankings and stick with his guys, it's the Lions' Brad Holmes. He flouts concerns regarding Howell's arm length (30 1/4 inches) and chooses a dynamic rusher who is also highly capable of making a difference against the run, giving the Lions the running mate they’ve needed for Aidan Hutchinson.”
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Mock draft roundup: Could Detroit Lions target linebacker at No. 17?
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Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
▶ Mocked by: Nate Davis, USA Today (April 6)
With each passing week, it seems more and more likely Freeling, one of the draft’s biggest risers, will not make it to the Lions at No. 17. But some are still holding out hope, and he’d be a slam-dunk fit with Detroit: “The 21-year-old may be the best pure left tackle prospect in this draft, and his potential was evident during the scouting combine’s on-field drills,” Davis writes.
Freeling (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) is the consensus No. 11 prospect, per NFL Mock Draft Database, possessing a blend of size and athleticism that is alluring all its own. Freeling still has just one season as a full-time starter and could need some time to acclimate at the next level, but Detroit’s insurance policy of Larry Borom would give the Lions a chance to let him develop at his own pace, and the juice certainly appears to be worth the squeeze.
Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
▶ Mocked by: Chad Reuter, NFL.com (April 3)
Two of the Lions' picks in this roundup involve trades; this one is a trade-up, and the next is a trade-down. The latter seems like a more sensible option for Detroit at this point, given it has just two top-100 picks, but we wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest to see general manager Brad Holmes move up, based on his recent history of doing so. Reuter’s trade has the Lions giving up a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick to move up four spots.
Fano (6-foot-5, 311 pounds) carries concerns about his 32⅛-inch arms, but he’s projected to be extremely versatile at the next level, with some believing that he can play both guard and center. That gives the Lions some options going into next season, with Borom competing for a starting tackle job and several interior offensive linemen prepared to fight it out at left guard.
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CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
▶ Mocked by: Daire Carragher, Pro Football Focus (April 6)
In this mock draft, the Lions end up with a player that’s valued lower on the consensus board than we’re used to seeing, but they also fill a glaring need. Carragher didn’t elaborate on which picks needed to change hands for the Eagles to move up to No. 17 and the Lions to fall back to 23, but a move of the sort likely would net Detroit some extra Day 2 capital.
Allen (6-foot-1, 230 pounds) has 41 appearances under his belt and was a consensus All-American in 2025, when he had eight tackles for loss, 3½ sacks, four pass breakups and 88 tackles. Ultimately, Allen’s fit with the Lions might be a bit redundant in 2025 after the return of Malcolm Rodriguez, but could be a strong long-term fit as Detroit looks to move on from Alex Anzalone.
“Allen wore the green dot on Kirby Smart’s defense, and coaches rave about his leadership ability,” Carragher writes. “He has graded as an outstanding run defender over the past two seasons, earning PFF run-defense grades above 88.0 in each year.”
Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
▶ Mocked by: Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic (April 6)
Lomu has been one of the top tackle candidates to land in Detroit throughout the draft process, and he fills a need on the left side that could prevent the Lions from feeling like they need to move Penei Sewell away from the right side, where he’s been historically dominant through his first five seasons.
Lomu (6-foot-6, 313 pounds) redshirted his freshman year, but was a full-time starter in his last two seasons. He still has some room to grow as a run blocker, but should provide immediate impact in pass protection. “Lomu (like Fano, his linemate at Utah) is athletic enough to play on either side — and he’s young enough to benefit from a situation like this,” Baumgardner writes, referring to the Lions having Borom to relieve the pressure of needing a first-round tackle to play immediately.
Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M
▶ Mocked by: Nick Shook, NFL.com (April 2)
Hey! A pass rusher! The Lions haven’t taken this position on Days 1 or 2 since 2022, when they selected Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal with first- and second-round picks, respectively. Now that everybody thinks they’re going offensive tackle, wouldn’t it be perfect for Detroit to finally land the edge defender fans have been waiting for?
Howell is more of a true pass rusher than a well-rounded edge defender like the Lions typically want. But his run defense has improved in recent years, and his pass rushing is a tantalizing trait: Over his last three seasons, including one at Bowling Green, he tallied 25 sacks on 119 pressures.
“If there's any general manager in the NFL who has demonstrated a willingness to ignore pre-draft rankings and stick with his guys, it's the Lions' Brad Holmes. He flouts concerns regarding Howell's arm length (30 1/4 inches) and chooses a dynamic rusher who is also highly capable of making a difference against the run, giving the Lions the running mate they’ve needed for Aidan Hutchinson.”
[email protected]
@nolanbianchi
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Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here.This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Mock draft roundup: Could Detroit Lions target linebacker at No. 17?
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