2026 Detroit Lions mock draft, way too early predictions see the Lions do something crazy in the first round

Yes, I realize that it's Week 1 of the NFL season and the Detroit Lions haven't even taken the field yet, but I'm a sick individual who might be a little too obsessed with doing mock drafts, and I'm willing to bet there are some sick individuals who might be a little too obsessed with reading them.

So here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to do this one mock draft before the season, and then I'm not doing another one until much later. Like, when there's snow on the ground and we're begging for spiring to just hit already. Without further ado, here's my way-too-early 2026 Lions mock draft:

32nd pick: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

I told you it was something crazy in the first round. Look, the Hendon Hooker thing didn't work out, but that does not mean that the Lions are just never going to look for a quarterback again. This is expected to be a very good quarterback draft this year, and the Lions have a chance to get in on it and find their man of the future. Mendoza is 21 years old. He can come in and work and develop off the bench, and by the time 2028 rolls around and Goff's deal is done, or maybe earlier if it's warranted, the then 24 or 25-year-old Mendoza will be ready to go.

64th pick: Xavier Chaplin, T, Auburn

Taylor Decker isn't going to be around forever, and while Giovanni Manu is a fun experiment that could work out, the Lions have to play it safe here with a pretty solid tackle here. Chaplin didn't get a lot of starting time at Auburn last year, but he was very good at Virginia Tech. So far, he's starting for the Tigers, and he had a pretty good game, allowing just one pressure in his first SEC start. Chaplin could come in and sit for a year and then be the instant starter when Decker walks away.

138th pick: Trey Moore, Edge, Texas

Hey, an edge rusher. I know Lions fans will be super stoked about this one. The former AAC Defensive Player of the Year heads to the Lions in the fourth round. Moore had a big 14-sack season for UTSA and then transferred to Texas the next year. In 2024, he started for the Longhorns and had 5.5 sacks. If he had stayed at UTSA, he probably could have been drafted in this year's draft. Nevertheless, he should have a solid year at Texas, and the Lions could grab him.

171st pick: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

Drafting another guard a year after the Lions took two guards might seem strange, but Lions GM Brad Holmes said last week that the vision is still to have Tate Ratledge move to center at some point. With that in mind, they're going to need his replacement. Plus, Graham Glasgow isn't getting any younger. PFF recently named Ioane as one of the most important returning interior offensive linemen in college football.

188th pick: Jack Velling, TE, Michigan State

The Lions showed a lot of interest in tight ends over the course of the offseason, and they never really walked out with anyone. I think they will do that again next year, and there is a tight end just up the road a ways who has been showing some solid stuff. Velling is a strong blocker and a good receiving tight end that the Lions can get later in the draft. He fits what the team likes to do.

210th pick: Jyaire Hill, CB, Michigan

On the way back from Lansing, the Lions stop off in Ann Arbor to pick up Hill. The Lions have really good cornerback group right now, but there are some depth questions. We don't know if Ennis Rakestraw ever really shakes the injury bug, and then Rock Ya-Sin and Khalil Dorsey are only here for a year as things stand. So why not grab a corner that played fairly well last year and is already off to a decent start?

245th pick: Ben Bell, Edge, Virginia Tech

Grabbing another edge rusher here for some extra depth. Bell was a big-time pass rusher at Texas State, and now he's trying his hand in the ACC for Virginia Tech. He had three pressures and a sack in his debut for them last week. Let's see where that goes.

256th pick: Squirrel White, WR, Florida State

His name is Squirrel. I'm not going to lie, that had something to do with me picking him here. That and this is the Mr. Irrelevant spot, and I don't have a ton of confidence in whoever gets this spot making the team. But White is a fun player who has some return man ability. You never know.