We’re almost there. This week, the Detroit Lions will be getting in the war room to decide who the future of their team is going to be in the 2026 NFL Draft. Before that, we’re going to take one last stab at what we believe they’re going to do.

To do that, we’re going to refer to everything we’ve learned this offseason. We’ll be looking at things through the best player available eyes that Brad Holmes often looks through. We’re considering who they met with at the NFL Combine, who they’ve had in for top 30 visits, rumors from Insiders, things players are saying, and Intel that we’ve learned about. Here we go.

17th pick: Vega Ioane, IOL, Penn State

If you want to talk about the best player available, there is no better player available to the Lions at 17 if Ioane truly makes it there, as so many models have shown. Guard is not necessarily the Lions’ top need, but again, this team doesn’t draft for need unless the player fits the team. Ioane is the best player available, and he fits the team. It’s the perfect marriage. He gives the Lions a future Pro Bowl guard for the next decade plus.

50th Pick: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana

Again, the best player available with the 50th pick. In this situation, he actually fills one of the Lions’ top needs as well. Ponds is the best slot corner in this year’s draft, and it’s not even close. He would immediately challenge new Lions corner Roger McCreary for the job and would likely beat him out. This is a steal at 50.

Trade up with the Cardinals

At this point, it would be spectacular if the Lions traded down to try to get into the third round, but history tells us that’s just not Holmes’ style. He’s traded up way more than traded down. So with that in mind, the Lions called the Cardinals and gave a pretty big offer to get the first pick in the third round.

Lions get: 65th pick
Cardinals get: 118th pick, 222nd pick, and a 2027 third-round pick

65th pick: Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan

The Lions moved up to get an edge rusher who perfectly encapsulates what they want to achieve and what fans want to achieve. Moore is capable of setting the edge in the run game for the Lions and is solid at getting to the quarterback for Lions fans. He fits in on the cultural side of things, too. It’s just one of those picks you can feel good about, maybe betting $5 on happening.

128th pick: Travis Burke, OT, Memphis

Just be ready, Lions fans. One of the downsides to doing best player available, and Holmes has been telling you this over and over again, is that maybe you don’t pick needs every time, and that could push needs down the road. That’s what happens here with tackle.

With that said, the Lions absolutely score a gem here in the fourth round with the pick of Burke. Imagine a guy who’s the same size as Dan Skipper, but plays like Taylor Decker. That’s what the Lions are getting here. He might need to bake for a year while Larry Borom starts, but he’s ready to go in 2027. Maybe even halfway through 2026.

157th pick: Mikail Kamara, Edge, Indiana

An absolute steal at this point in the draft. If you look at his 2025 stats, they don’t look that great. But if you look at Indiana’s film in 2025, you’ll see that so many other guys on the Hoosiers defensive line capitalized because of the attention that he was getting. This is what the Lions need. Someone who can get attention put on him to open up one-on-one opportunities.

181st pick: Jimmy Rolder, LB, Michigan

Another Wolverine is staying in Michigan here. Rolder might be the most instinctual linebacker in the draft. You see it in the film. His anticipation is there, and his nose for the ball is there. The Lions need a guy to replace Alex Anzalone at the Will, and Rolder fits really well into that spot. He had a top-30 with the Lions as well.

205th pick: Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati

This is your classic example of taking a flier on a player who was once expected to go as high as the second round, but dealt with some scary health issues and saw his draft stock fall. He’s still a very good player despite the issues. He’s also passed two medical checks during the pre-draft process.

The Lions get a younger and more muscular version of DJ Reader here, who can play a big part of the team’s rotation as a nose tackle. He’s worth the risk.

213th pick, Andre Fuller, CB, Toledo

Toledo has been building a regular defensive back factory over there for a while now. They have so many DBs in this draft. Fuller is one who fits the Lions really well, and although they already have so many DBs on this team, you probably could never have too many.

Undrafted Free Agents

• Behren Morton, QB, Texas Tech
• Ceyair Wright, CB, Nebraska
• Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria
• Shad Banks Jr, LB, UTSA
• Tyre West, Edge, Tennessee
• Desmond Reid, RB, Pitt
• Miles Kitselman, TE, Tennessee
• Patrick Payton, Edge, LSU

Detroit Lions News

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Mike Payton April 16, 2026