With the NFL draft now just over a week away, pundits are scrambling to get all of their mocks submitted and pitch every team in the league their ideal rookie additions ahead of 2026.
The Lions have nine draft picks to work with this season, which means they should be able to fill their needs with many capable players. That's the goal when it comes to this year's draft, because Detroit hasn't done much heavy lifting lately after having elite drafts early in Brad Holmes' tenure.
ESPN analyst Matt Miller has taken to putting together some ideal mock drafts for every team. He recently focued his attention on the Lions, and his moves did not dissapoint, from the first-round of the draft up until the seventh.
Miller uses all of Detroit's picks on players who can make an instant impact on the roster, including offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor with pick No. 17. From there, Illinois edge Gabe Jacas is the selection at pick No. 50.
The Lions add USC safety Kamari Ramsey and Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant next, then come back with Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne and Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson in the middle rounds.
Detroit then finishes their draft with wideout Barion Brown from LSU, center Pat Coogan from Indiana and cornerback Collin Wright from Stanford with their final three picks. Miller's justification for these moves is improved depth across the roster.
"The Lions look to get back into the postseason by beefing up the trenches in this draft. In Round 1, a powerful offensive tackle in the form of Proctor allows the team flexibility to keep Penei Sewell on the right side or flip Proctor there. Round 2 is all about getting a pass rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson, with Durant helping there as well. The Lions signed running back Isiah Pacheco in free agency, but Claiborne could provide another spark next to Jahmyr Gibbs."
All in all, this is an ideal draft for the Lions. Not only do they get solid players with their first two picks that could trend toward being immediate difference makers, they add fantastic depth along the way at every spot on the offense and defense. It's a great blueprint for Detroit to follow in order to have a successful draft this year.
Miller's mock offers Lions an ideal way to fix all of their draft needs
It isn't easy to hit all the right notes within every round of a mock, but Miller seems to have done the trick with this exercise. Not only does he fix Detroit's top two needs early on, he manages to add players at other spots of need that can fill a big role for the Lions.
Not only does Miller address Detroit's top needs right away, but he does a good job to make additions that make sense. In the third-round, the addition of Ramsey would add further depth to a needy backfield. Also, the addition of Durant and Jefferson would boost the defense at a pair of important spots.
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While the Lions might not need much theoretically on offense, Miller's mock boosts them there as well. The addition of Claiborne would give their run game more punch, and Brown would help add needed depth at receiver. Additionally, Coogan would bolster a spot that was weakened last year up front.
It's hard not to like this draft start to finish for Detroit given what it will do to boost depth everywhere. Not only do the Lions get a pair of top-flight players in the first two rounds that can become stars, they add others who can make an immediate difference in every round.
The Lions might not want to follow every mock that comes along from the court of public opinion, but they could be well advised to pay attention to the moves Miller makes. Copying this draft could allow them a great chance to patch their biggest holes for the future.
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