Detroit Lions' future draft picks after the trade deadline

Another NFL trade deadline has come and gone, with some big names on the move, such as cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions had a quiet trade deadline, standing pat amid various injury and performance concerns for the Super Bowl contender. This shouldn't be too much of a shock, given general manager Brad Holmes' drafting proficiency and having invested a bulk of the future cap space in the core roster. Still, it's a frustrating outcome for panicking fans who see a Lombardi trophy slipping through the Lions' hands.

Going forward, the Lions have plenty of draft capital to work with for offseason and draft moves. It's worth noting that teams cannot trade picks more than three drafts in advance, so a 2028 draft pick would have been the latest the Lions could've dealt during the trade deadline. There's also the possibility that the Lions are awarded picks in the future through compensatory means.

Detroit Lions 2026 draft picks

• 1st Round (Lions)
• 2nd Round (Lions)
• 4th Round (Lions)
• 5th Round (Lions)
• 6th Round (Browns)
• 6th Round (Jaguars)
• 7th Round (Browns)
• 7th Round (Lions, Conditional)

The 2026 NFL Draft is where the Lions have been the most active. During the 2025 NFL Draft, they traded that year's third-round pick and their two 2026 third-round picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for Isaac TeSlaa. In that trade, the Lions also acquired the Cleveland Browns' sixth-round pick, which was held by the Jaguars at the time. The second 2026 3rd Round pick traded away was awarded to the Lions for former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn being hired as the New York Jets' head coach.

READ MORE: Lions finally make a move after major injury (but not the one fans wanted)

That isn't the only deal the Lions made with the Jaguars. The Lions acquired a 2026 sixth-round pick for WR Tim Patrick. Additionally, the Lions traded their seventh-round pick to the Jaguars for kicker Riley Patterson in 2023. It's a conditional pick, and it's unknown what those conditions are. It's possible this pick will return to the Lions.

The Lions do get the Browns' seventh-round pick, regardless, thanks to the Za'Darius Smith trade last season. The Lions sent their own 2026 sixth-round pick in the deal, which now resides with the Cincinnati Bengals via the Joe Flacco trade. The Lions are set to receive a compensatory pick for losing free agents like guard Kevin Zeitler and CB Carlton Davis III, but where that pick falls will be determined closer to the 2026 NFL Draft.

Detroit Lions 2027 draft picks

• 1st Round (Lions)
• 2nd Round (Lions)
• 3rd Round (Lions)
• 4th Round (Lions)
• 5th Round (Lions)
• 6th Round (Lions)
• 7th Round (Lions)

As of the 2027 NFL Draft, the Lions own all of their picks. They do not own another team's picks, either. A clean slate, but it's unlikely this will remain the case during the draft, as Holmes is known to wheel and deal during the draft.

Detroit Lions 2028 draft picks

• 1st Round (Lions)
• 2nd Round (Lions)
• 3rd Round (Lions)
• 4th Round (Lions)
• 5th Round (Lions)
• 6th Round (Lions)
• 7th Round (Lions)

It's the same story for the 2028 NFL Draft. Lions, once again, have all of their original picks. They also do not own anyone else's picks in that draft. The Lions own all of their picks from 2029 onward, by virtue of being unable to trade any of those picks.

The Lions' immediate future is now clear: dance with the ones who brought them. Any significant roster moves will need to be done through free agency, the waiver wire, and the practice squad. It's not what fans wanted out of the trade deadline, but Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell feel they can win with the squad they have now. Let's hope they're right.