Everyone assumes the Detroit Lions will take an offensive tackle in the first round, and Georgia's Monroe Freeling is frequently seen as one of the top candidates to land in Detroit.
We may have gotten our first report that the Lions might not be interested.
In his mock draft 4.0, Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett has the Lions going with Alabama's Kadyn Proctor at #17. That's normal, just about every mock draft on draft day has the Lions taking Proctor, whether at #17 or trading up to get him.
Birkett also shares some buzz surrounding the Lions' thinking, such as general manager Brad Holmes hosting UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence for a Zoom call this past week. But as for why he thinks the pick will be Proctor and not someone like Freeling, it's simple: They've spent time with Proctor, but never brought Freeling in for a visit.
"(T)he Lions reportedly spent time with (Proctor) in the pre-draft process and didn’t bring Freeling in on a visit. Historically, that’s been a tell of a Holmes draft pick."
Given the Lions' strong need at OT, it is curious that the Lions wouldn't host a visit with Freeling. That doesn't confirm a lack of interest, as there could have been scheduling issues or they want to diversify their visits among positions. It's also possible the Lions met with him in other capacities, such as at the NFL Combine.
The Lions do have Freeling's former line mate, Tate Ratledge, on their current OL, and the desire for a reunion is mutual between the former teammates. The Lions could have picked Ratledge's brain on Freeling, and maybe then felt they could better use their visits for players they have less information on.
Do the Lions draft players they haven't hosted?
Birkett says visits and meetings, as they've had with Proctor, have "historically" been a "tell." How true is that? Which former Lions pick has visited the Lions?
Last year, they did host eventual first-round pick defensive tackle Tyliek Williams for a visit. They also hosted wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa, but that could be a local visit instead of a top-30. Notably, the Lions seemingly did not host Ratledge for a visit, whom they traded up to select, but did interview him at the Combine.
In 2024, the Lions hosted cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw, along with OT Giovanni Manu, and running back Sione Vaki. A year before that, they hosted tight end Sam LaPorta, safety Brian Branch, and quarterback Hendon Hooker. They seemingly did not host either of their first-round picks that year in RB Jahmyr Gibbs and linebacker Jack Campbell, but like Ratledge, the team did interview them prior.
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In 2022, the Lions hosted EDGE Aidan Hutchinson and safety Kerby Joseph. The Lions' other first-round pick, WR Jameson Williams, was recovering from an ACL injury, but did reportedly have visits with other teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
Visits do seem like a strong tell of the Lions' interest, but it isn't a be-all-end-all indicator of who they will draft. In Freeling's case, they could already be satisfied with what they know about him. Maybe they'll be happy to take him if he's there, and Proctor's not. Freeling could possibly be the target all along, and the lack of a visit is a smokescreen to encourage other teams to trade up for someone the Lions weren't planning on taking, anyway.
Thankfully, the wait is almost over, and answers will become abundantly clear tonight once the Lions make their selection.
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