The Detroit Lions’ 2025 season was a tale of two campaigns in one. Before their Week 8 bye, they looked like a genuine contender. After that, they were one of the most inconsistent teams in the NFL. They have the tools to be competitive, but they need to shore up some key areas, mainly an aging offensive line.
Here are the moves they could do during the draft to change their fortunes.
Detroit Lions Team Needs for the 2026 NFL Draft
The biggest need for the Detroit Lions is the offensive line, as their starters are either retiring or getting on in years. Frank Ragnow is retiring, and it’s unlikely that Taylor Decker has much left in the tank at this point. With the No. 17 overall pick of the draft, they’re well-positioned to bring an offensive lineman who could start from day 1.
Beyond that, they need to bring an edge rusher to the team to complement the work of Aidan Hutchinson. Due to injuries, Brian Branch is recovering from an Achilles issue. They could also look to strengthen their secondary.
Detroit Lions Watchlist for the 2026 NFL Draft
| Player | Position | School | Why should the Lions get him? |
| Francis Mauigoa | OT | Miami | A massive player who could be the long-term successor to Taylor Decker. |
| Kadyn Proctor | OT | Alabama | This could be the “safe” pick at No. 17. He affords them flexibility. He could start at guard before moving to tackle. |
| Connor Lew | C | Auburn | He’s most likely the best center in the class, a logical Frank Ragnow replacement. |
| Akheem Mesidor | EDGE | Miami | He has already had contact with Detroit. Mesidor fits the “win-now” window and Dan Campbell’s culture. |
| Gennings Dunker | OL | Iowa | The kind of versatile and resilient pick the Lions could make in Day 2, while fixing their offensive line needs. |
| Emmanuel McNeill-Warren | S | Toledo | This would help them shore up their secondary and bring versatility. |
Detroit Lions 2026 NFL Draft Strategy
They’re likely to use their first round pick on an offensive lineman to cover an immediate need. They won’t trade up, as No. 17 is already a very good spot for them to pick a significantly good lineman. If anything, they could take a team’s offer to trade down and extract more value.
In the second round, they could try to get someone versatile and pro-ready, like Akheem Mesidor. The problem is that Mesidor is a borderline first-rounder. That makes the idea of trading down to get more picks interesting. They could get Mesidor in the first round and use more second or third round picks to grab two or three linemen that, in unison, could do the work of a first-round offensive lineman.
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