For the Detroit Lions, trading up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft does not make sense
The Lions have a lot of options in the 2026 NFL Draft, but trading up just doesn’t feel like one of the good ones
The 2026 NFL Draft is just four weeks away, and there is going to be a lot of talk about what the Lions may do when it comes to trades. There’s one thing we just can’t see happening.
The Lions trading up in the first round just doesn’t make much sense
The Lions are sitting at the 17th pick, and that’s actually a pretty good spot for them based on what they need. We know they need either a tackle or an edge rusher above anything else. They have a chance to get multiple guys in that range.
| Edge | Average Draft Postion | Tackle | Average Draft Position |
| Keldric Faulk | 15th | Monroe Freeling | 17th |
| Cashius Howell | 29th | Caleb Lomu | 25th |
| T.J. Parker | 32nd | Kaydn Proctor | 31st |
| Akheem Mesidor | 33rd | Blake Miller | 38th |
| R Mason Thomas | 34th | Max Iheanachor | 41st |
| Zion Young | 42nd | Gennings Dunker | 49th |
| Gabe Jacas | 50th | Caleb Tiernan | 78th |
| Derrick Moore | 65th | Isiah World | 89th |
I’m not saying the Lions would take all of these guys at 17th. I’m just showing how deep things can get for them at these two positions of need between 17th and 50th. This doesn’t account for guys who will fall in the draft. Some of these guys are definitely going to do just that.
When you look at who’s out of range, you’re talking about guys who the Lions would probably have to move up as high as you can get to have a chance to draft.
| Edge | Average Draft Position | Tackle | Average Draft Position |
| David Bailey | 3rd | Franic Mauigoa | 5th |
| Ruben Bain | 4th | Spencer Fano | 12th |
Now, if by some miracle, one of these guys falls into the teens, then you can understand the Lions getting into striking position to get one. But that’s just not likely to happen. In terms of some of the players who are really good and not in positions of need, guys like LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane or Penn State guard Vega Iaone, those guys could realistically have a chance to be there at 17. So they wouldn’t have to move up for them.
So when you lay all that out, moving up just doesn’t make much sense without a fall that’s unlikely to happen. If you trade up, it’s to the top five, and you’re giving a lot to make that happen, and you better be sure about the guy you’re getting. Trading down just makes a lot more sense for Detroit.