Lions met with multiple draft prospects at All-Star games, including one of the draft’s top left tackles
The Lions had a chance to talk to Kadyn Proctor at the Shrine Bowl
Welcome to draft season. We’re in it for the next few months until the 2026 NFL Draft comes around. Over the last week, the college All-Star games began. The Shrine Bowl is the big headliner, but the Hula Bowl, American Bowl, Dream Bowl, and the College Gridiron Showcase are all spots where players get noticed, and the Lions have scouts at all of them.
Here are some of the players they met with at these games.
Shrine Bowl
Alabama left tackle Kaydn Proctor did not play in the Shrine Bowl, but he was in the house to support his Alabama teammates who were playing. While he was there, multiple teams pulled him aside to talk with him. The Lions were one of those teams. This is not a formal meeting, but it is the only shot the Lions will have to talk to him until the NFL Combine, when they can get him in the room for a formal meeting. This is a good start.
A source tells A to Z Sports Detroit that the Lions spent a lot of time talking with Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King after his throwing session. Lions coach Dre Thompson is coaching DB’s at the event and spent a lot of time talking with Nebraska cornerback Ceyair White after practice. The latter could be Thompson coaching White up.
Hula Bowl
The Lions talked with the following players at the Hula Bowl:
Heldman is likely to get the most intrigue from Lions fans since he’s a local kid and had 10.5 sacks this season, but Banks is intriguing to me since he’s a former Junior Olympian. He also racked up 68 tackles and three interceptions this year.
American Bowl
The Lions talked with the following players at the American Bowl:
- Austin Leausa, G, BYU
- Al’Zillion Hamilton, CB, Fresno State
- Nasir Bowers, CB, Toledo
- Silas Walters, S, Miami (OH)
- Mason Woods, LB, Kent State
Hamilton is the guy to keep an eye on here. The Lions have spent some time around Fresno State in recent years, and Hamilton allowed a passer rating of 52.2 this year. He also had four picks and four pass breakups. A really good season.
College Gridiron Showcase
Bosma was a solid pass blocker and, more importantly to the Lions, a solid run blocker in Kalamazoo this season. He was also the Broncos’ leading receiving tight end, although Western didn’t pass to any of those guys much. He had 26 receptions for 245 yards and a touchdown.
Dream Bowl
Not sure why the Lions are talking to a punter. But I would not concern myself with the thought that maybe the Lions are fearing the loss of Jack Fox. Although he is going into the final year of his contract.