Don’t be shocked if the Lions draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Arch Manning, LaNorris Sellers, Fernando Mendoza, and more are out there
Maybe it’s too early to write this since it’s just Week 2 in the NFL and Week 3 in college football, but there’s a reason I’m writing it now and not later. At this point, it feels like it would be a major shock if the Lions didn’t draft a quarterback in the first round […]
Maybe it’s too early to write this since it’s just Week 2 in the NFL and Week 3 in college football, but there’s a reason I’m writing it now and not later. At this point, it feels like it would be a major shock if the Lions didn’t draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Why the Lions seem very likely to go quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft
This is not a shot at Jared Goff at all. If the Lions took a quarterback in the first round of April’s draft, you should still expect Goff to be the man in Detroit until the Lions have their out in 2027 or his contract is up in 2028. I know with that in mind, it might make sense to wait, but the NFL appears to be heading towards one of the best quarterback draft classes we have seen in a very long time. Take a look at some of the names expected to be in this draft:
- Cade Klubnik, QB Clemson
- Arch Manning, QB Texas
- LaNorris Sellers, QB South Carolina
- Garrett Nussmeier, QB LSU
- Drew Allar, QB Penn State
- Sam Leavitt, QB Arizona State
- Fernando Mendoza, QB Indiana
- John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma
- Nico Iamaleava, QB, UCLA
- Carson Beck, QB, Miami
- Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
- Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas
That’s 12 guys there. Of those 12, the first seven are on our top 100 big board and all have first-round grades. The rest currently sit in the second round, and some of them, like Moore and Mateer, are moving towards the first round more and more each day. If you’re Brad Holmes, how do you pass on these guys?
Keep in mind that, despite the way some of you might feel right now after Week 1, the Lions aren’t likely to be picking high in this year’s draft. So if you’re hoping for Sellers, Manning, or Klubnik, it’s probably not happening. Mendoza, Moore, Mateer, and Nussmeier are a little more realistic. There’s even a shot for one of these guys at 32 if the Lions turn things completely around and go win the Super Bowl.
Aside from the draft being a solid quarterback draft, the other reason you’d want to go for it this coming April is that the Lions have a chance to find their guy for the future and spend some time getting him ready. Say the Lions draft Mendoza just as an example. That kid is 21 years old right now. You take him in April, and by the time the Lions have their out with Goff in 2027, he’s 24 years old.
The big problem you could run into is that in 2028, Jared Goff is still just 34 years old. Guys aren’t usually dropping off around that age, but it should be noted that 22 teams have starting quarterbacks in their 20s right now. Teams are shifting towards the younger quarterback and the guy who can be mobile.
We’ll see what happens, but right now it feels like it would be shocking to see this team pass up on a quarterback in April. There are always edge rushers in the second round.
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