As the Detroit Lions push toward the start of the NFL draft, they are beginning to whittle down their draft board and hone in on the players they like the most for positions of major need.
On both sides of the ball, the Lions have to make smart choices in order to find players that are ready to play a major role from the start of the 2026 season to the finish. While it's not easy to find rookies that are completely polished and league ready, getting consistency from young players is a huge goal for a franchise.
Interestingly, one of Detroit's favorite options may well be Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor. The Lions need a tackle after the release of Taylor Decker, and Proctor is already beginning to stand out as perhaps the top option in the draft to replace him.
There's just one problem. As much as Proctor comes primed with athletic ability, he also packs significant questions that could quickly derail his candidacy for many franchises. ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler recently took a closer look at the most polarizing players in the draft. Not surprisingly, Proctor was on the list.
As analysis showed, scouts and executives love Proctor, but realize that he has significant question marks regarding his body as well as motivation.
"One NFL team executive was blunt when assessing Proctor. "He should be a top-five pick," the exec said. "He can be so good if he wants to be."
"That last line implies Proctor hasn't met his potential, which is tricky to entertain because he was a three-year starter at Alabama and is a surefire first-rounder. He's too good to fall far."
"But some of the questions surrounding Proctor have to do with his weight, which scouts say ballooned to around 390 pounds early in the season. He played his way into shape. He's around 350 pounds now and looked great at his pro day."
"The weight dynamic, however, fuels concerns about why Proctor's performance didn't always match his immense physical talent."
If the Lions choose to select Proctor, which player will they be getting? Can they manage to tap into the significant talent which the youngster possesses, or will they fall victim to the inconsistency questions which dogged him periodically at Alabama? That's the tightrope that Brad Holmes will have to walk prior to the start of the first-round.
As Fowler's analysis proves, Proctor is likely to be selected very early in the draft, but it doesn't mean that the decision will represent any less of a gamble for the team that makes the leap given the intangibles at play.
Lions have decision to make regarding what kind of player to select
The scout's take on Proctor represents an interesting dynamic the Lions will have to weigh this draft season. There is obviously immense talent, but enough question marks to perhaps make decision makers gun-shy about prioritizing a selection at pick No. 17 or even trading up.
In the last few seasons, the Lions have been burned by project players. Holmes usually ignores players who have obvious character concerns, but has been known to take gambles on fundamentals and measurables that he finds irresistible. In Proctor, he may well be infatuated with these same characteristics.
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Detroit also has a major need for a pass rusher, and will have to decide if a player with perhaps a bit more polish on the defensive side represents more of a safe bet. Either position figures to need a solution within the first two rounds of the draft.
If Proctor is the selection, Holmes will have to trust Dan Campbell and Detroit's coaching staff as well as the veterans on the roster to get the rookie in the right headspace coming into the league. If he fails to meet his potential, it would be a tough story given how talented he is and how much need the Lions have for a strong offensive tackle.