Tomorrow night is the night. The 2026 NFL Draft is finally here, and we’re finally going to find out who the Detroit Lions will be picking with the 17th pick, assuming they stay there.

After free agency, the NFL Combine, top-30s, Pro days, mock drafts, rumors, and Intel. We’re ready to narrow down the list to 10 guys. We fully believe the Lions will walk out of the first round with one of these 10 players. Here goes nothing.

Vega Ioane, IOL, Penn State

If we’re talking best player available at 17, if Ioane is there right now. This has to be the pick. This guy is so ready to jump right in at left guard and never leave that spot for the next decade. He just fits this team so well.

Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

Faulk is someone that we’ve been told the Lions like. You can understand why when you see the tape of him setting the edge in the run game. He’s very good at that. He brings pressure, but he didn’t get home very often last year. You have to hope he can get back on track with some one-on-one opportunities granted to him by the attention Aidan Hutchinson gets.

Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Now here’s a guy the Lions are rumored to love. You can understand why when you see him play. He has great athleticism and a frame that is just made to play in the NFL. He might need to drop some pounds, but there is so much upside here.

Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

The most plug-and-play edge in this draft, if you ask us. He was the best run defending edge in the nation in 2025, and he can get him in the pass rush game. He is 25 years old, and he will be 30 when his rookie deal ends, but that also means he has more experience than anyone in this draft.

Ruben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

If Bain falls in the draft like some think he might, the Lions could be one of the teams that are really interested in him. They’ve known about the traffic incident with him, and Brad Holmes himself said that it did not affect their thoughts on him. If he’s there, he could be coming to Detroit.

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The best cornerback in this draft outside of LSU’s Mansoor Delane, who is not likely to make it to 17. McCoy is strong in coverage, strong in the run game, and can even have a little bit of pass-rush juice. The concern is that he didn’t play in 2025 due to an injury. He should be ready to play this year, but do the Lions risk it at 17?

Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Potentially the best tackle in this entire draft. If the Lions walk out with Fano, they walk out with the steal of the night. That means he somehow fell to 17. He’s a day one starter and is really good in the run game and pass game. He allowed five pressures and no sacks in 2025. It would be a dream pick for Detroit.

Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

The most Dan Campbell-type guy in the entire draft, probably. The big thing here is that he’s been starting at right tackle since he was a freshman at Clemson. He’s ready to go right now. Really good at pass blocking and ok at run blocking. You have to wonder if the Lions are ok with ok.

Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

It’s not the player we would draft, but you can totally understand the draw here. In terms of ceilings, Freeling has the highest one. But he is not ready to play in the NFL right this minute. The Lions would have to let him bake off the bench and in that swing tackle spot for at least a season. If he grows to what some think he can, he’s a Pro Bowler. If he doesn’t, he’s a regret.

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Yes, I know it’s crazy that I’m putting a receiver on this list. But the Lions are just crazy enough to do it. They were at his personal workout, and there’s got to be interest there if he falls in the draft. He’s expected to be a top 10 pick. With Tyson, the Lions have potentially three elite receivers, with Tyson fitting that X role they’ve been trying to nail down for a long time.

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