Now that April is here, the Detroit Lions are beginning to think about what comes next as it relates to building their roster for 2026. Not surprisingly, mock draft season is in full swing.
While many mocks have been confusing for Detroit's perspective, several come along that would be a dream come true for the Lions. Such was the case when ESPN's Mel Kiper, Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates revealed their latest projection for the draft.
The mock had three rounds included, but the Lions only have picks in the first two rounds, meaning they will have to act quickly to address their biggest needs on both sides of the football. Fortunately, there's a good road map to doing just that.
In the second-round of the draft, the site has the Lions nabbing Michigan defensive lineman Jaishawn Barham with pick No. 50. As the writeup explains, Barham has recently transitioned to being an edge rusher, which the team badly nee
"Detroit goes down the road to get a sudden defender who is still ascending after moving from linebacker to a full-time edge rusher role. Barham could help fill the void opposite Aidan Hutchinson."
Adding Barham in the second-round could be about as good as the Lions could be expected to do for their defensive line, given he piled up 98 total tackles and five sacks the last two seasons for the Wolverines.
Brad Holmes notably hasn't prioritized a lineman early in the draft since selecting Hutchinson in 2022, and to land one with a high upside so early would be a fantastic coup for the front office.
Mock draft also provides Lions a fantastic option at offensive tackle
Lost in the defensive upgrade of this mock could be Detroit's projected first-round pick. Most believe the Lions will be hunting for an offensive tackle in the early stages of this draft, and ESPN has the franchise land on a good one right off the bat.
The selection at pick No. 17 is Georgia's Monroe Freeling, an offensive tackle that many believe has a bright future in the NFL. As the writeup says, the Lions badly need a young tackle and Freeling's athleticism could lead him to a very solid NFL career.
"Regardless of which side Penei Sewell plays next season, the Lions need a long-term answer at the other offensive tackle spot. Freeling started just 18 games in college, but he's long and quick, and his ceiling is high."
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Detroit is lucky to have Sewell as an anchor up front, and his presence would allow a player like Freeling to develop in his own time during the year, perhaps like guard Tate Ratledge did during the 2025 season. It would be an enviable position to be in for the Lions, bringing along multiple young linemen with established veterans in their prime.
If the Lions could land an offensive tackle and a pass rusher in the first two rounds, that would set up the rest of their draft in ideal fashion. Detroit could calmly check off needs and figure out which players to slot in other spots defensively to boost the depth of the roster.
Arguably, this mock is one of the better draft projections Lions fans will see, and it's not just because Barham played for the Wolverines. Detroit would get instantly better in two key spots without the benefit of a third-round selection.