Detroit Lions 7-Round Mock Draft 3.0

As a busy week in the NFL continues, the Detroit Lions are going through a lot of change. Several players are now former Lions, and a few new faces are coming to Detroit. With so much roster turnover occurring, pressure on the Lions to have a successful draft is mounting. Free agency has stripped the team of plenty of talent. Detroit must turn to the draft to replenish its roster with fresh, exciting talent. All of the week’s transactions make this a great time to reveal my Detroit Lions seven-round mock draft 3.0.

Detroit Lions 7-Round Mock Draft 3.0

Who Have The Lions Lost In Free Agency?

To be blunt, the Lions are not a better team now than they were a week ago. The first week of free agency has, so far, seen the Lions lose more than they gain. Reliable, productive starters are gone. Linebacker Alex Anzalone is now a Buccaneer. Joining Anzalone in Tampa is edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad. Lions’ starting nickel corner Amik Robertson left to join the Washington Commanders.

Key reserves are also heading out the door. Wide receiver Kalif Raymond is off to Chicago. Valuable defensive tackle Roy Lopez returned to Arizona. Last year’s QB2, Kyle Allen, is now Josh Allen’s backup in Buffalo. Key special teamer Grant Stuard, also a reserve linebacker, is now a Los Angeles Ram.

Who Has Detroit Signed In Free Agency?

The Lions have made a few notable additions. GM Brad Holmes did well poaching center Cade Mays away from Carolina. Mays’ signing addressed Detroit’s most pressing need. Running back Isiah Pacheco was brought in to replace the traded David Montgomery. Teddy Bridgewater has returned to be Jared Goff’s backup. Holmes also secured much-needed offensive tackle depth, inking Larry Borom from Miami. Plus, Holmes signed former Bucs defensive back Christian Izien to help assuage the loss of Robertson.

Additionally, Holmes wisely retained a couple of Detroit’s most important free agents. Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin is staying in Detroit for another season. Joining him is Malcolm Rodriguez, who has proved to be solid depth at linebacker. Trevor Nowaske, another solid backup LB, is also returning to the fold, along with WR Rom Kennedy.

While free agency is still in its infancy, the changes in Detroit’s roster have created new weaknesses. Other needs have become even more urgent. The Lions will certainly continue to lose and add players before the draft arrives. Will any of those future moves be significant? At this point, it is hard to see Holmes taking a home run swing at any remaining free agents. I expect more cost-effective, under-the-radar moves as Holmes saves money to extend members of his star-studded 2023 draft class.

All of this, plus the NFL’s announcement of teams’ compensatory draft picks, has led to several changes from my previous mock draft. Let’s dive right into my new mock.

Round 1, Pick 17: TRADE!

The Lions, now more than ever, need to acquire as much talent as possible in this deep draft. I am revisiting the trade I made in my first mock draft.

Trade Details:

Cleveland Browns receive: Pick 17
Detroit Lions receive: Picks 24, 70, and 107

Cleveland needs to add as much top-shelf talent as it can if they hope to rise from the AFC North cellar. After selecting a premier tackle with the sixth pick, I think the Browns will be eager to move up to obtain one of the draft’s top wide receivers, either Makai Lemon or Denzel Boston. Trading with the Lions allowed Cleveland to jump teams like Carolina and Pittsburgh (even after trading for Michael Pittman), who may be looking to add a receiver.

The Lions add two quality picks in a loaded draft. With talent needed all over Detroit’s roster, this trade is a win for both teams.

Round 1, Pick 24 (From Jacksonville Via Cleveland): Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

Losing Muhammad in free agency puts an even larger burden on Detroit to find an edge rusher. Mesidor would instantly be a starter for the Lions. Aidan Hutchinson will love this pick, as offenses will have another fierce pass rusher to worry about. Mesidor racked up 12.5 for Miami in 2025. Teams may pass on Mesidor because he will be a 25-year-old rookie. The Lions will scoop him up. Securing Mesidor, who has violent hands, a strong rush arsenal, and an explosive first step, will go a long way toward improving Detroit’s defense. Clemson tackle Blake Miller could also be a trade-back target for the Lions.

Round 2, Pick 50: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

I have mocked Gennings Dunker to Detroit at this spot in my first two mocks. With LT Taylor Decker released, I no longer see Dunker, who will likely be a guard in the NFL, ending up with the Lions.

Caleb Tiernan is a pure tackle, a position the Lions desperately need. At 6’8 and 325 pounds, Tiernan is a massive human being. A polished pass-blocker, Tiernan would become Jared Goff’s new blindside protector. His selection would allow the Lions’ new addition, Larry Borom, to hold down the swing tackle spot. Tiernen showed smooth lateral movement at the Combine. Technically refined, the former Wildcat has a high floor and is NFL-ready. If Detroit elects to switch All-Pro Penei Sewell to the left side, Tiernan could also step in at right tackle.

Round 3, Pick 70 (From Cleveland): Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh

With one of the picks acquired in the first-round trade with Cleveland, the Lions select Anzalone’s replacement. Louis is one of my favorite players in this draft. The versatile 5’11, 224-pounder is a bit undersized. His production, however, cannot be denied. Louis finished his career at Pitt with 201 tackles, 10 sacks, and an impressive six interceptions. Compared to Lavonte David, Louis can play all over the field. Whether lined up in the box, the slot, or right on the defensive line, Louis makes plays everywhere. Linebacker has become a major need for Detroit, and Louis brings plenty of talent to the Lions’ linebacker room.

Round 3: TRADE!

Sticking with the trade I made in my last mock, the Lions acquire an additional third-round pick. With the Steelers looking to acquire 2027 draft capital to better position themselves to move up for a QB, the Steelers agree to trade back with Detroit.

Trade Details:

Detroit Lions receive: Pick 85, 2027 7th-round pick
Pittsburgh Steelers receive: Picks 118, 205, 2027 3rd-round pick

Round 3, Pick 85: Bud Clark, S, TCU

With their new pick, the Lions take safety Bud Clark. The ball-hawking Clark amassed 15 career interceptions in college. Following a strong week at the Senior Bowl, Clark continued to boost his stock at the Combine, running a solid 4.48 in the forty, which helped him achieve an impressive 9.32 RAS score.

Clark, at 6’1 and 188 pounds, needs to add muscle to his thin frame. Doing so would help address durability concerns after a few missed games at TCU. The former Horned Frog, one of this draft’s top sleepers, had an official meeting with the Lions at the Combine. With star safety duo Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph both sidelined with major injuries, Clark would provide an instant jolt to the back of Detroit’s defense.

Round 4, Pick 107 (From Cleveland): Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State

The Lions double-dip in the secondary with the other pick acquired in the Cleveland trade. Davison Igbinosun would be an absolute steal at pick 107. At 6’2, 190 pounds, the versatile corner brings ideal size and impressive physicality to Detroit’s cornerback stable. Known for his skills in press-man coverage, the former Buckeye is a perfect fit for Kelvin Sheppard’s scheme.

With Terrion Arnold’s 2026 availability still in question, Igbinosun would be a terrific pick for Detroit. He possesses tremendous upside and could easily become a reliable starter. Detroit demands its cornerbacks to be involved in run-tackling, and Igninosun shines in that department. If he is available with this pick, I believe the Lions would run their card up to the podium. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Brad Holmes views the young corner as a potential trade-up candidate.

Round 5, Pick 157: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

Roush is another staple of my mock drafts. He provides everything new center Drew Petzing looks for in a tight end. Roush brings good size at 6’5 and 260 pounds. An impressive in-line blocker, Roush would be an immediate asset for the Lions’ run game. With Sam LaPorta still earning the Lion’s share of tight end targets, Roush would still provide quarterback Jared Goff with another safety valve in short and intermediate passes.

The Lions are expected to use more multiple-tight-end sets with Petzing at the helm. Roush could supplant current TE2 Brock Wright as soon as this season.

Round 5, Pick 181 (Compensatory Selection): Tyren Montgomery, WR, John Carroll

Kalif Raymond has left Detroit to join the division rival Chicago Bears. The Lions will draft his replacement in Tyren Montgomery.  Montgomery, who didn’t start playing football until age 21, dominated Division III in 2025. At John Carroll University, the 5’11, 190-pound receiver accumulated 119 catches, 1,528 yards, and a whopping 15 touchdowns in his final season. Against stronger competition at the Senior Bowl, Montgomery continued his success.

With Raymond gone, the Lions will get younger (and cheaper) at receiver. Montgomery is a solid replacement for Raymond. His upside is salivating, as he is just learning the game. I think Montgomery will develop into yet another weapon for Detroit’s explosive offense.

Round 6, Pick 213 (From Seattle Via Jacksonville): Zxavian Harris, DT, Ole Miss

The Lions find a suitable replacement for departing defensive tackle Roy Lopez in Zxavian Harris. At 6’8, 330 pounds, Harris has incredible size that cannot be taught. An Impressive force versus the run, Harris has rare length and power that make his ceiling incredibly high.

Proper development and patience could help Harris become a starter-caliber player. With Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams projected to be the Lions’ top two defensive tackles, Harris could still find playing time as a rookie, as Detroit loves rotating its defensive tackles. Harris is the kind of late-round pick that adds plenty of excitement and potential to a draft class. Now that the Lions need a defensive tackle, I expect them to have plenty of interest in Harris.

Round 7, Pick 222 (From Cleveland): Desmond Reid, RB, Pittsburgh

After addressing several needs throughout the draft, the Lions can spend their final pick on a player who can fill a specific role. Reid is a dynamic player in the return game and can immediately be an impact player for Detroit. The dynamic running back, at only 5’11 and 180 pounds, has durability issues that limit how many snaps he can handle. If used correctly, those limited snaps could pay big dividends. If Reid gets the ball in space, he is a highlight reel waiting to happen. Reid is another of my favorite players in this draft, and he can be reunited with fellow Panther Kyle Louis, who I also have going to Detroit. Reid could be the icing on the cake for a very successful Lions’ draft.

What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Let me know who you are hoping to see the Lions draft.