7-Round Detroit Lions Mock Draft: Using the 3 tenets of what the Lions actually do in the draft, not what we all think they should do

The Detorit Lions have been telling us for years how they like to do the draft. Today we attempt to actually listen to them

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer

Apr 1, 2026 11:06 AM EDT

Earlier today, we wrote a story about how we’re all looking at the Detroit Lions’ draft strategy the wrong way. With that in mind, we wanted to do a mock draft a little earlier in the week than usual to demonstrate what that could look like.

The three tenets here are…

best player available, not need
Positional versatility
Go get your guy

In addition to that, we’re excited to announce our brand new mock draft simulator. The A to Z Sports NFL mock draft simulator offers a deeply customizable and data-driven experience with never-before-seen features. Try the mock draft simulator today, before the 2026 NFL Draft arrives! Here are our picks.

17th pick: Vega Ioane, IOL, Penn State

We’ll start it off with the first tenet. Everyone believes the Lions will take a tackle at this point in the draft because that’s a big need, but keep in mind that the Lions just don’t work that way very often. They go after the best player available, and at 17, if Ioane is there, he is the best player the Lions could win up with.

We’re talking about a guy who might be the most NFL-ready prospect in the first round or close to it. If the Lions took him, they have thier starting left guard for the next decade plus.

50th pick: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

Yes, the Lions are taking a linebacker high again. But this is the point here. Best player available. When you get to 50, most of the top tackles are gone, and so are the top edge rushers. This does not mean there aren’t good players left. We’ll get to the plan for both of those positions soon.

Golday is a very good Will linebacker coming in to replace the Will linebacker the Lions just lost in Alex Anzalone. He can pass rush, he’s great in coverage, and he’s very good against the run. Exactly what the Lions are looking for.

Trade up with the Jaguars

Now it’s time to get into the zone where the Lions go get their guy. To do that, they’re going to do a move they usually do, trade up. This time, they’re doing it with the Jaguars to get into the third round. The Jags send away one of their three third-round picks.

Lions get: 88th pick
Jaguars get: 118th pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick

88th pick: Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan

The Lions want an edge rusher who can do more than one thing, and Moore is that guy. He can rush the passer very well. He had 41 pressures and 11 sacks in 2025. He can also stop the run really well. Plus, he can drop into coverage and play well enough to make things happen. This guy has Lions written all over him. This fits the go get your guy mold and positional versatility.

128th pick: Travis Burke, OT, Memphis

It’s probably time to go get that tackle right? I know the response is going to be “I can’t believe you waited till the fourth round to get a tackle.” But I really think Lions fans might be in denial that Larry Borom is probably going to be their right tackle in 2026.

With Burke, the Lions get a guy that teams have been super interested in as of late. He’s doing a lot of top 30 visits right now, and when you see what he did at Memphis, you can understand why. He was their starting right tackle in 2025 and allowed just 13 pressures and three sacks. On top of that, he put up elite run-blocking grades.

He’d previously been a left tackle, but moved to the right for Memphis, and it really unlocked what he had been missing. Did I mention that he’s a giant? At 6-foot-9, he’s the next Dan Skipper, but with more upside. That’s what the Lions want here.

This is not Giovanni Manu. You do not have to teach Burke how to play football. This kid is ready to go, and that size profile and athleticism are something to behold. Give him a year behind Borom, and he’s ready to go.

157th pick: Anthony Lucas, Edge, USC

Ok, now the Lions are doubling up on edge. Lucas brings that dual threat ability of being able to rush the passer and stop the run. He just has a lot less experience than Moore. But Lucas did start for the Trojans all season in 2025, and he played very well.