The Detroit Lions need to fix their offensive line. That goes without saying. But how much of it really needs to be fixed? A center is definitely at the top of the list. The Lions must find their Frank Ragnow replacement, and they need a guy who has experience and is ready to go. So free agency has to be the spot for that.

It’s safe to say they’re good at guard, and with Penei Sewell, they have arguably the best tackle in football. If Taylor Decker decides to retire, the Lions should be looking for another tackle. If Taylor Decker returns, the Lions should be looking for another tackle.

There really aren’t any options in free agency, so the draft is where it has to happen, but as it usually does, the draft is evolving right now, and it’s starting to look like the Lions don’t have to hit at 17 with a tackle to find their next guy.

The 2026 NFL Draft is shaping up to be one of the deepest tackle drafts we’ve seen in a while

Coming into the pre-draft process, four tackles were on everyone’s radar as potential day one starters. That was Utah’s Spencer Fano, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, Utah’s Caleb Lomu, and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor. That list has now grown to maybe eight guys to watch.

Iowa’s Gennings Dunker, Clemson’s Blake Miller, Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor, and Oregon’s Isaiah World are all starting to creep up the board. There were six tackles taken in the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft; in 2026, there could be up to 10. It’s that deep right now.

So that’s where you have to do some thinking. If the Lions get to 17 and they can get one of the best edge rushers in the class or one of the best cornerbacks, should they pass on them when they can get a good tackle in the second round? Brad Holmes has shown to be all about the best player available, and if you get to 17 and Clemson’s TJ Parker is there, man, you have to take him, right?

Let’s think a little deeper. Left tackle is an important position, but maybe it’s not the one the Lions are actually drafting for. The assumption has always been that the Lions would move Penei Sewell from the right side to the left side, and Bucs tackle Tristan Wirfs has shown how well that can work. So then you’re trying to find your new starting right tackle. It’s easier to find a right tackle than it is a left tackle, generally.

So now you get to 17, and one of the best edge rushers is there, you take him. Then go to 50, where you can get a guy like Dunker, and you take him at 50, and he starts at right tackle in his rookie season and does well.

You just killed two birds with one stone and protected yourself from what was your biggest problem last year. You wanted an edge rusher, and nobody let you move up to get one. The edge class isn’t as deep as the tackle class is, so when you get your shot, you have to shoot it.

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