Lions draft picks 2026: Full list of team's round-by-round selections

A year after going 15-2 and earning the NFC's No. 1 seed, the Detroit Lions failed to make the NFL playoffs.

Dan Campbell's squad posted just a 9-8 campaign in its first season after losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets. Detroit still sported a top-five offense but posted just a 3-5 record in one-score games while boasting a middle-of-the-pack defense.

The Lions are attempting to change their fortune after their last-place finish in the NFC North. The team made Johnson's replacement, John Morton, a one-and-done hire and brought in Drew Petzing to replace him. They also attempted to revamp their offensive line in free agency, added a few key veterans to their secondary and traded veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans.

Will the new-look Lions be improved enough to make it back to the playoffs? It's too early to tell, but Campbell and Brad Holmes will have a chance to continue bolstering their roster during the 2026 NFL Draft.

Here's everything to know about Detroit's picks, needs and outlook for the 2026 NFL Draft:

Lions 2026 NFL Draft picks

The Lions have eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's the complete list:

• Round 1, Pick 17: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
  • An All-ACC right tackle with a wresting background, he'll complete the offensive line here following the departure of LT Taylor Decker − and likely necessitating All-Pro Penei Sewell's to the left side. Miller played 54 games in college and only gave up roughly one sack per season. – Nate Davis
• Round 2, Pick 44 (from Cowboys through Jets): Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan
  • A guy who had 10 sacks in 2025 now becomes the wingman for fellow former Wolverine Aidan Hutchinson. A bit undersized (6-4, 255), Moore will have to figure out how to handle run D assignments better. – Nate Davis
• Round 4, Pick 118: Jimmy Rolder, LB, Michigan
  • Rolder plays downhill and is instinctive. He does lack speed and athleticism. – Tyler Dragon
• Round 5, Pick 157: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
  • Abney is quick and and move his hips well. He doesn't have the size to be an outside corner in the NFL. – Tyler Dragon
• Round 5, Pick 168 (from Bills): Kendrick Law, WR, Kentucky
• Round 6, Pick 205 (from Jaguars): Skyler Gill-Howard, DT, Texas Tech
• Round 7, Pick 222 (from Browns): Tyre West, DT, Tennessee

Lions NFL draft grades

17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson - Grade: B

The Lions' need and desire to address the void at offensive tackle after Taylor Decker's release was obvious. Less clear, however, was just whom Brad Holmes would zero in on. Perhaps more people should have seen this one coming, though. Miller is experienced, astute and athletic with an optimal frame for handling NFL edge rushers. With the bulk of his experience coming at right tackle, however, this signals that Penei Sewell should be making the switch to the left side. – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

44. Detroit Lions (from Cowboys via Jets): Derrick Moore, DE, Michigan - Grade: C-

Well, Dan Campbell certainly has a type. Moore is ultra-physical and persistent, and he can be counted on to hold up against both the run and pass. But he might not be sufficiently dynamic to finish off plays in the backfield beyond clean-up work. This felt a bit high for him, especially in a trade-up scenario. – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

118. Detroit Lions: LB Jimmy Rolder, Michigan – Grade: B

The Lions keep building out their defense with Michigan picks, adding Rolder after taking Derrick Moore in the second. The linebacker came on strong in his lone year as a starter, establishing himself as a legit NFL prospect. He can make immediate contributions in stopping the run while growing his comfort zone in coverage.

157. Detroit Lions: CB Keith Abney, Arizona State – Grade: A-

Abney was a great contested catch cornerback at Arizona and generated 21 pass defenses and five interceptions over his last two college seasons. His smaller size (5-10, 187 pounds) may make him a nickel back at the professional level, but the Lions can let him compete for playing time early in his NFL career.

168. Detroit Lions: WR Kendrick Law, Kentucky – Grade: B

Law never translated his considerable speed into consistent production at Alabama or Kentucky, but he's got legit pull-away ability. Detroit could tap into his explosiveness, particularly as a run-after-catch threat.

205. Detroit Lions: DT Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech – Grade: B+

Gill-Howard is undersized at 6-1, 291 pounds, but showed off a good motor and explosiveness during his lone season at Texas Tech. He has some injury concerns after missing half of last season with an ankle injury, but it's easy to envision him becoming a solid rotational lineman in Detroit's defense.

222. Detroit Lions: DT Tyre West, Tennessee – Grade: B-

The Lions are adding another late-round defensive tackle to the fold. West (6-1, 278 pounds) is small for an interior lineman but had 10 sacks over his four seasons at Tennessee. He was only a five-game starter, so his ceiling is probably as a rotational defensive lineman.

Lions undrafted free agent signings

The Lions continue to build their roster by signing undrafted free agents. You can follow the complete team-by-team list for all 32 here.

Lions 2026 NFL Draft needs

Offensive tackle

The Lions released Taylor Decker after 10 seasons and saw their top swing tackle, Dan Skipper, retire during the offseason. Detroit will need to find a long-term bookend for Penei Sewell at some point and could consider adding a tackle like Kadyn Proctor or Monroe Freeling with their first-round pick.

Edge rusher

Aidan Hutchinson generated a league-high 89 pressures for the Lions last season, per NFL Next Gen Stats, but no other returning member of the defense had more than 24 pressures. The Lions need to add a quality, No. 2 option across from Hutchinson and could look to do so early in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Linebacker

The Lions lost Alex Anzalone in free agency and may soon have the same happen to Jack Campbell, who will be a free agent in 2027 if Detroit doesn't exercise his fifth-year option. That could lead the Lions to target potential depth and insurance at the position with one of their nine draft picks.

Lions 2026 NFL mock draft

Here's what the Lions could do come draft night, per Ayrton Ostly's seven-round mock draft:

• Round 1, Pick 17: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
  • This worked out pretty perfectly for the Lions. They get one of the top left tackle prospects in this class and didn’t have to sacrifice any draft capital to do it. Freeling is an athletic outlier with a powerful frame who anchors well in pass protection. He needs some refinement to his game, specifically with his hand usage, but he could grow into a solid heir at left tackle for the Lions.
• Round 2, Pick 56*: Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
  • Aidan Hutchinson is an ace off the edge for the Lions but he needs help around him. Dennis-Sutton is a long, powerful edge at 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds. He can set the edge in run defense and his hand usage bodes well for development as a pass rusher. He will need to improve his consistency but the tools are there for the Lions to get the most out of him.
• Round 4, Pick 118: S Jakobe Thomas, Miami (FL)
• Round 4, Pick 128: TE Sam Roush, Stanford
• Round 5, Pick 147**: OT J.C. Davis, Illinois
• Round 5, Pick 181: QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State
• Round 6, Pick 198^: IOL Anez Cooper, Miami (FL)
• Round 6, Pick 213: DT David Gusta, Kentucky

* Projected trade with Jacksonville Jaguars.

** Projected trade with Washington Commanders.

^ Projected trade with New England Patriots.