A smoke screen is an oft-utilized by teams ahead of the draft to bait other teams into making a mistake, or to cover what that screen-setting team is actually dreaming of getting done.
The Detroit Lions, in the weeks leading up to the 2026 NFL draft, have been potentially setting a smoke screen as it pertains to their interest in Kadyn Proctor. The Alabama tackle is considered one of the best in this year's class, and one of the only Day 1 left tackles worth snagging.
The Lions have told reporters that they're interested in shifting Penei Sewell over to the left side, which would give them the chance to take a right tackle in this year's draft. But, the alleged interest in Proctor throws a wrench in that plan. So, is this a smoke screen, or was the Sewell intel a smoke screen?
One last minute mock draft from NFL Spin Zone's Lou Scataglia has Detroit following through on the latter smoke screen, snagging Proctor at 17th overall.
"The Lions seem to have a ton of interest in Kadyn Proctor, and sometimes, that interest is 100 percent real and isn't a smokescreen at all. Earlier this offseason, long-time Lions left tackle Taylor Decker parted ways with the team, so at one of the tackle spots, a vacancy remains."
Lions follow through on smoke screen in final mock draft
Scataglia notes that Detroit is taking a bit of a risk with Proctor if they are, actually, interested in him. His size is a concern, and some experts have mentioned that he could just end up becoming a guard if tackle doesn't work out. The Lions can't risk this not working out at tackle, so shirking the chance to take Monroe Freeling or Blake Miller for less of a "sure thing" at left tackle is a concerning idea.
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Still, Detroit has a type. They love to take imposing linemen, and it's not like they haven't hit on first-round tackles in the past. Sewell is an All-Pro protector for Jared Goff, and has been one of Detroit's best run game weapons over the last few years. Tate Ratledge has also become one of their better people-movers, adding more power to their interior offensive line.
Proctor, standing at 6-7 and weighing 352 pounds, is quite a force. Again, we won't know if their interest is real (and, for what it's worth, team reporter Tim Twentyman didn't even include Proctor on his list of players the team could be interested in) until the draft kicks off. But, where there's smoke, there tends to be a blaze.
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