Dane Brugler sends a combine standout to Lions in latest mock draft

It's been a whirlwind past few weeks for the Detroit Lions, which saw the announcement that tackle Taylor Decker will return for another season, the release of center/guard Graham Glasgow, and the trade that sent running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, landing depth guard Juice Scruggs in the process.

With that, mock drafts need a slight refresh. The latest two-round mock draft from The Athletic's Dane Brugler adapts to those moves ever so slightly, giving the Lions players that fit two major needs.

At #17, Brugler's sees Alabama tackle/guard Kadyn Proctor landing with the Lions. Brugler notes Decker's return, but recognizes that the Lions' offensive line woes extend far beyond LT for next season.

"The return of Taylor Decker in 2026 gives the Lions options on draft night, but it doesn’t eliminate offensive line from being the move here. Proctor has the talent to give Detroit immediate depth at both tackle and guard, especially after the release of Graham Glasgow. He’d be a long-term building block."

Proctor is seen as one of the top OL in the draft, typically finding himself in the mid-to-late first round in other mock drafts, so it wouldn't come as a shock to see him on the board when the Lions are on the clock.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has Proctor as his #4 OT on his big board behind Miami's Francis Mauigoa, Utah's Spencer Fano, and Georgia's Monroe Freeling, all of whom Brugler has off the board before the Lions' pick.

Proctor had an overall good showing at the NFL Combine, with an unofficial Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.26 out of 10, which is good for the 114th-ranked OT out of 1,519 since 1987.

It would be a dream come true to draft Mauigoa, Fano, or Freeling, and it's always possible one falls to the Lions, or they trade up. If all three are gone, Proctor would still be a fantastic pick-up as the team looks toward life after Decker, whether that's in the near future to free up money or the following season.

If Decker stays with the team for next season, Proctor would be able to get live NFL experience at guard, especially if the Lions ultimately move Tate Ratledge to center, which has been the growing expectation since he was drafted a year ago.

Regardless of the makeup of the OL, Proctor would have a great chance to be a day one starter, which, at the OL position, is what the Lions desperately need.

Lions get a rising EDGE in the second round

With the Lions going OL with their first pick, Brugler addresses the other major need for the Lions: pass rush. At #50, he has Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton going to the Lions.

Brugler offers no explanation for the pick, not that he needs one, as it's a position of need. Whether or not Dennis-Sutton is available at #50 remains to be seen because he was one of the Combine's biggest winners. RAS scored him at a staggering 9.96 out of 10, which ranks as the 9th-best DE out of 2,046 since 1987. It's also the highest score among EDGEs at the 2026 Combine.

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RAS' comps compare Dennis-Sutton's athletic performance to notable names such as Jevon Kearse, Danielle Hunter, and Maxx Crosby. Given the many trade scenarios that would bring Crosby to Detroit, Dennis-Sutton would be a good alternative if the Lions could get him in the second round. There's certainly the unknown factor surrounding rookies, but if nothing else, Dennis-Sutton's athleticism is not in question.

If Brugler's mock comes to fruition, what a haul that would be. A first-round offensive lineman and an athletic powerhouse at EDGE could give the Lions the jolt they need to return to Super Bowl contention. Of course, general manager Brad Holmes has a lengthy history of going against mock drafts, but playing it by the book here might be in his best interest this go around.