If you flipped a coin on whether or not the Detroit Lions were going to be honing in on an offensive lineman, or a safety, or an edge rusher, at 17th overall in the upcoming NFL Draft...the coin would probably just keep spinning on its edge forever and ever.
That's how up in the air the Lions' draft strategy feels at the moment, with so many needs that could, and should, be addressed in the first and second round of the draft.
With Taylor Decker's status for 2026 pretty unknown, the Lions' desperate need for an improved pass rush, and health woes set to impact Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch's seasons, this 17th overall pick is weighing pretty heavily on the Lions' roster construction philosophy.
The NFL Combine is, thankfully, coming up on February 23. It's a great time for fans to get familiar with the risers and fallers in this year's class, and an excellent time for Lions fans to see if any tackles, guards, edge rushers, or safeties standout enough to make the 17th pick a no-brainer.
4 Lions prospects to watch during NFL Combine
T Kadyn Proctor
This draft is chock-full of excellent tackles. That's a bad thing for Detroit, unfortunately. Several other teams in need of addressing their offensive line, such as the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants, are picking before the Lions. It feels safe to assume that the Lions aren't going to trade up for a tackle, which leaves them Proctor as a safe bet to fall to them at 17.
Proctor isn't really a consolation prize, though. He's a genuinely good tackle who can, given the right amount of time to backup a veteran, become a great starter. Throwing him into a starting role in his rookie year might not be the best move for this Lions staff, but of course, it might not be up to them if Decker simply retires. It'll be interesting to see how Proctor fares in the combine against some other top tackles.
T Gennings Dunker
Dunker is an interesting tackle option for the Lions in the 2nd round if he falls there. He has versatility along the line, similar to Tate Ratledge, and he was one of the better pass-protecting tackles in college football last season.
He had a great Senior Bowl showing, which might work against the Lions' ability to take him at 50. His combine could further make or break Detroit's chances of snagging him if they pass on tackle at 17th and hope to get him in the 2nd round.
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S Dillon Thieneman
As mentioned above, safety is not looking like a strong positional group for the Lions in 2026. Branch could miss most of the year after suffering an Achilles tear late in the 2025 season, while Joseph is dealing with a chronic knee injury that might keep him sidelined throughout the year. It makes addressing at least one of their roster spots pretty huge in either free agency, through a trade, or in the draft.
Thieneman is being lost in the Caleb Downs conversation, and understandably so. But, he is a hard-hitting safety who earned a comparison to Jevon Holland from NFL.com draft expert Lance Zierlein. He might not last all the way at 50th for the Lions, but he's someone potentially worth trading up for given their huge need at safety.
EDGE Derrick Moore
Moore would be a great fit alongside Aidan Hutchinson, having just come off a 10 sack season with the Michigan Wolverines. He's a bit more of a project defender than other edge rushers in this year's draft, but he's specifically proficient at the pass rush.
Detroit might be swinging for the fences for a pass rusher this offseason, but Moore would be a great get at 50th overall if they address their O-line or safety room at 17th.
Moore's a nice consolation for Detroit if they lose Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency this season and if they're unable to land a big fish on the trade market, and he could make some noise at the combine and become a viable first-round pick depending on how much he stands out in drills.