Detroit Lions Mailbag: Does free agency and the draft point to major defensive scheme changes for the Lions? Who is starting opposite Hutchinson in Week 1?
After the 2026 NFL Draft, Lions fans have some good questions. Let’s answer them
The 2026 NFL Draft is now over. The next stop for the Detroit Lions is the schedule release, and then we enter the seventh circle of Hell that is June, where nothing happens before training camp. Let’s answer some questions.
What does the offensive line look like to start the season?
What will the starting offensive line look like at the start of the year?
— UDJG Life (@udjg.life) April 28, 2026 at 7:34 PM
I expect to be what we all expect to be. Penei Sewell moves to left tackle, a healthy Christian Mahogany takes his left guard spot back, Cade Mays at center, Tate Ratledge at right guard, and then the first round pick, Blake Miller, wins the right tackle job in camp.
Left guard is really the only spot I can’t nail down with absolutley certainty. There’s quite a battle brewing there with Mahogany, Juice Scruggs, Miles Frazier, and Ben Bartch.
Are the Lions switching to Zone?
This is going to be a wait-and-see situation. The Lions haven’t told us about any scheme change just yet. We need to see what they do in training camp. But I will say this: At the league meetings, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he and Kelvin Sheppard planned to make the defense more versatile and adaptable.
You can really see that in some of the free agents, they signed the players they drafted. You pointed out one in your question. The Lions want to be able to shift things around and jump into multiple things at the drop of a hat. We’ll see what that looks like in July.
Why do the Lions keep bringing in receivers?
It’s interesting for sure. But one thing you might note about the guys the Lions brought in on Tuesday is that they’re both speedsters who are field stretchers.
At the end of the day, I think the Lions are simply building up a competition for a role and keeping all their options in front of them. The receiver room might not be as deep as it seems right now, past Greg Dortch.
Who is the edge opposite Aidan Hutchinson?
In the long run, it’s Derrick Moore all the way. To start its probably a heavy rotation for Moore and D.J. Wonnum. They may look to have Wonnum in on early downs to help with the run game and then have Moore in on the later downs to rush the passer.
At some point, Moore should be ready to play the majority of downs, but at the end of the day, he’s a rookie. Give it some time.
What’s going on with the interior of the defensive line?
How come there doesn’t seem to be a ton of concern about the DT position? Felt like there were major concerns with McNeil and Tyliek last year, and the depth seems much weaker without Reader and Lopez.
— dubceezway.bsky.social (@dubceezway.bsky.social) April 28, 2026 at 8:01 PM
I don’t know how major those concerns truly were. McNeill was coming off a torn ACL, and after all this time and all of the work he’s been doing in the off-season, he should be back at full strength this coming season. As for Williams, he had a pretty solid rookie season; he just didn’t start down the stretch because they didn’t need him to.
In terms of depth, it was a surprise the Lions let Lopez walk, but they do have some options with Levi Onwuzurike, Mekhi Wingo, Skyler Gill-Howard, Tyre West, and Aidan Keanaaina. That’s not a bad group of guys.
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