The Detroit Lions’ season is officially over, and now the focus shifts to how this team can get better. Doing it through the draft is definitely one way to do it.

Today, we’re dropping our end-of-the-season mock draft, and we’ll be taking a short break on them until after the Senior Bowl at the end of the month. Here’s what we got for this one.

Trade down with Chargers

The 17th pick is awesome, but when I saw the opportunity to move down a few spots and get some extra picks, I called the Chargers and offered them the pick. Here’s the deal we got done:

Lions get: 22nd and 54th picks
Chargers get: 17th pick, 228th pick, and 255th pick

22nd pick: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Getting Lomu’s teammate Spencer Fano would be the dream, but he’ll be in the top 10. Lomu is no consolation prize. This guy can ball, and he can play left tackle, whereas Fano has predominantly been a right tackle. Lomu has allowed just two sacks in three years at Utah. He is a day one starter for the Lions, assuming Taylor Decker retires.

47th pick: Kamari Ramsey, S, USC

With the Lions’ second-round pick, they get one of the best safeties in this draft. Ramsey is our third-ranked safety on our bug board, and he would fit in very well for a team that likely won’t have Brian Branch early in the season and has questions about Kerby Joseph’s long-term health.

Trade down with the Raiders

The Lions don’t have a third-round pick, so I felt it would be nice to go and get one. The Raiders were nice enough to give me one so they could move up into the second round.

Lions get: 65th and 101st picks
Raiders get: 54th pick

Blockbuster trade with the Giants brings Kayvon Thibodeaux to Detroit

I’ve been talking about it for weeks. The Lions’ best bet for a big-time edge rusher addition is to call the Giants and trade for Thibodeaux. Now the Lions have a former first-round pick who they have full contractual control over for the 2026 season, and then they have control over the new deal he could get. It’s just a perfect move for the Lions.

Lions get: Kayvon Thibodeaux
Giants get: 65th pick

101st pick: Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama

I fully believe that the Lions will go all in on Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, and I think that aside from that, the Lions will spend money on other positions in free agency.

With that said, part of rebuilding this offensive line is ensuring you have the best depth you can have. So having a backup center who could also be a starter is super important. We know Brad Holmes has been out to watch him and the Tide play this year.

115th pick: Boubacar Traore

The same thing goes for the other side of the trenches. Just because you get Thibodeaux, that doesn’t mean the Lions shouldn’t continue to build upon the depth of the defensive line — the more guys who can get after the passer, the better.

154th pick: Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah

We don’t know how long Sam Laporta will be out. Lions head coach Dan Campbell has some belief that he could be back at training camp in August. Still, either way, the Lions need more tight end talent.

Bentley brings blocking ability and elite-level athleticism. Bentley is arguably the most athletic tight end in the draft. The Lions could do a lot of damage with him and LaPorta.

• 193rd pick: Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt: He’s not Sonny Styles, but he has some ability that the Lions can grow.
• 205th pick Jam Miller, RB, Alabama: The Lions could be looking for a new setup at running back in 2026. Miller is the type of hard runner the Lions like.

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