Following a solid draft which saw the Detroit Lions addressing their largest looming roster needs, NFL experts have begun to rank teams ahead of the 2026 season.
It's way too early to know how impactful each teams' draft class will, or can, actually be. It's almost the same as draft grades, which can really only work as a means of grading fit, but not as a means of grading actual impact before we see rookies take a single NFL snap.
But, it's still interesting to see what the general consensus about the Lions is, especially after such a disappointing 2025 season. The Lions have a 4th-place schedule on the menu for 2026, and if they can stay mostly healthy on both sides of the ball, they have a chance at repeating their success from their 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Here, we roundup the latest power rankings following the 2026 NFL draft, and ahead of any additional Lions signings in free agency.
Lions power ranking roundup: Detroit underrated ahead of season
USA Today's Nate Davis
Lions ranking: 13
Green Bay Packers ranking: 15
Chicago Bears ranking: 8
Minnesota Vikings ranking: 17
"What seem like high-impact incomers, combined with a last-place schedule in 2026, could very well translate into another impressive playoff entry."
Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport
Lions ranking: 13
Packers ranking: 12
Bears ranking: 9
Vikings ranking: 23
"This Lions team isn't markedly different from last year's squad. But that team was better than its record. The Lions have weapons galore on offense, and if they can get some improvement on defense Detroit will absolutely be in the thick of the chase for the NFC North title."
READ MORE: Mel Kiper says quiet part out loud about Lions' unassuming draft class
NFL.com's Eric Edholm
Lions ranking: 13
Packers ranking: 16
Bears ranking: 11
Vikings ranking: 28
"The Lions can return to the upper reaches of the league if the offense remains dangerous and the defense makes improvements in a few areas. This is not your typical last-place team, which is reflected in the rankings."
The Athletic's Josh Kendall
Lions ranking: 13
Packers ranking: 14
Bears ranking: 6
Vikings ranking: 19
"The second-rounder should not only step right into a starting role, but he’ll do it across from Aidan Hutchinson. Moore had 10 sacks last year at Michigan and has a high enough floor that he can be counted on as a multiyear starter. The Lions defense added free-agent depth, and Moore could help turn things around."
The general consensus seems to be that the Lions will be great again, but maybe not to the level that they need to be in order to overtake the entire NFC North. The Bears, on the flip side, are considered the best team in the NFC North by every expert on this list. That's a fair assumption after the season they had under first-year head coach Ben Johnson.
However, for some slight pushback, it's hard to imagine that Detroit deals with yet another injury-riddled season quite like what they experienced in 2025. Their defense was worst hit, with their top safety duo of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch never consistently on the field with one another.
According to general manager Brad Holmes, both are trending in the right direction with their respective rehabilitations.
With a very easy schedule ahead compared to that of the Packers and Bears, it feels like a safe bet that the battle for the divisional title will come down to the wire, and it won't be a situation where Chicago or Green Bay are running away with it.
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