At this point, it almost feels like we’ve exhaused the conversations about the Detroit Lions taking an offensive tackle or defensive end with their 17th overall pick and their second-round selection (50th overall). Everyone has made their opinion known on their preference for this year’s offensive line class, and most have picked their favorite pass rusher.
And while those two positions may clearly be Detroit’s biggest needs in 2026, we all know Lions general manager Brad Holmes doesn’t like to draft by positional needs, he rather simply selects the players he views as best. Needs are fluid and can change in an instant (see: the Lions’ safety position going into 2025 vs. 2026). If best player available matches an immediate need, great! But Holmes, based both on his words and his actions, has proven that he’ll prioritize talent of position if the confidence in his evaluation is high enough.
So on this week’s Midweek Mailbag podcast, Erik Schlitt and I discuss a Lions draft that goes outside of conventional thinking.
First, we simply explore the likelihood that the Lions leave Day 1 and Day 2 of the draft without an offensive tackle, defensive end, or even both. Is the Lions’ public faith in Larry Borom as a starting right tackle legitimate or a smokescreen? Does Detroit have a post-draft free agency play at EDGE that could help them bolster the room if the come away from the draft empty handed?
Then we dive into some Day 1 and Day 2 prospect at other positions that may be too enticing to pass up. What if a top linebacker, cornerback, or safety falls to Detroit at 17? Would the Lions take a gamble on tight end Kenyon Sadiq given the uncertain nature of that position’s future? And who are some non-OT/EDGE Round 2 prospects that could be the pick at 50?
We discuss that and a whole lot more on this week’s Midweek Mailbag podcast. You can catch the show on your favorite podcasting platform or via Spotify in the player below:
If you want more Lions draft discussion, or just prefer to watch the PODcast on a video platform, this episode is also available on our YouTube page and our Twitch channel.
