Lions 2026 Mock Draft: 7 Targets to Save the Super Bowl Window

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions stumbled to a 9-8 finish in 2025, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2022. General Manager Brad Holmes refuses to sit idle ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The front office injected life into the roster during early free agency, replacing the retired Frank Ragnow with center Cade Mays and trading David Montgomery to clear space for the punishing Isiah Pacheco. But patching holes in March doesn’t win championships. Detroit needs elite, young talent immediately.

Protecting Jared Goff: The Left Tackle Dilemma

The chilly March wind whipping off the Detroit River mirrors the cold reality inside the Allen Park facility: the Lions desperately need an offensive tackle. With Taylor Decker gone, a massive void exists on Jared Goff’s blindside. Detroit locked up superstar Penei Sewell on a massive long-term contract, solidifying the right side. Now they need a partner.

Utah’s Spencer Fano brings terrifying power. At 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, he obliterates defenders in the run game. Drafting Fano forces a massive decision: flip Sewell to the left side or teach Fano a new stance. If Detroit wants a pure pass protector, Caleb Lomu fits the bill. The other Utah standout stands 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds. He locked down the left side for two years. The Lions possess the coaching staff to unleash his run-blocking potential.

Then there is Clemson’s Blake Miller. He crushed the NFL Scouting Combine, posting the highest athleticism score among all offensive tackles according to Next Gen Stats. His long arms and lightning-quick feet offer massive flexibility. For those chasing pure upside, Monroe Freeling out of Georgia leads the conversation. He crushed the Combine testing but only brings one year of starting experience. Finally, Alabama giant Kadyn Proctor casts the largest shadow. Measuring 6-foot-7 and 352 pounds, he punches massive holes in the defensive front. He started 40 collegiate games and erases pass-rush moves with ease.

Hunting Quarterbacks: The Search for Hutchinson’s Partner

Aidan Hutchinson operates on an island. He fought through double teams relentlessly in 2025, racking up pressures while the rest of the defensive line struggled to finish. The Lions watched Al-Quadin Muhammad and Marcus Davenport leave. They signed D.J. Wonnum and Payton Turner, but the depth chart behind Hutchinson remains dangerously thin. Tyler Lacy and Ahmed Hassanein need reinforcement.

Miami’s Akheem Mesidor brings chaotic energy. He turns 25 before the draft and struggles with consistency, but his flashes of brilliance terrorize offensive coordinators. Detroit simply needs bodies who can collapse the pocket. Auburn’s Keldric Faulk offers a massive lump of clay. He graded out at a mediocre 66.0 PFF pass-rush score in 2025, but his run defense is elite. The 6-foot-6, 285-pound edge setter posted an 85.5 PFF run-defense grade. He is not yet 21 years old. Give him to defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and watch him morph into a monster.

“We tasted what it’s like to sit at home in January, and it makes you sick. We aren’t building for next year. We are building to win right now. The guys we bring into this building better be ready to bite some kneecaps.”
— Dan Campbell, Head Coach

Playoff Implications / What’s Next

Nailing the 17th overall pick dramatically shifts the balance of power in the NFC North. The Packers and Bears continue to load up on offensive firepower. Detroit cannot afford a gap year. If Holmes secures a day-one starter at offensive tackle, the rushing attack built around Pacheco and Jahmyr Gibbs will dictate the clock. If they hit on an edge rusher, the defense stops bleeding late-game yards. The Lions possess nine draft picks. They have the ammunition to trade up for a premium talent like Freeling or slide back to accumulate depth. The decisions made this April determine if the 2025 stumble was a fluke or the beginning of a rapid decline.