What's the NFL Draft without a little trade chaos?
While the Detroit Lions have been known to trade back in recent years, sometimes for questionable targets, there hasn't been any noise surrounding the teams' potential intent to do the same in 2026. Of course, we won't even know what general manager Brad Holmes has up his sleeve until draft weekend.
That seems to be what ESPN's Bill Barnwell is banking on in his latest, chaotic mock draft. In the piece, he facilitates an entire first round made up of trades between teams, swapping picks and players for all 32 selections in this year's draft. For the Lions, as ridiculous as it might sound, Barnwell's two suggestions don't actually seem that bad.
Barnwell's chaotic mock draft could actually entice Lions
To kick off the trading, Barnwell has the Lions swapping firsts with the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the AFC teams' third rounder. However, Detroit gives up their 2nd round pick in this scenario. This is a trade-up that could hold some weight if the latest rumors about their infatuation with Kadyn Proctor hold any weight.
Proctor is seen as one of the most intriguing linemen in this year's draft, and Detroit is rumored to be open to making a draft day deal to ensure they land their guy. Barnwell thinks this is a move they'd make for an edge, not a tackle, but that doesn't seem to align with everything they've signaled.
"The Lions might have somebody fall to them at No. 17, but if they're thinking about adding an edge rusher across from Aidan Hutchinson, moving up might be necessary. The Cowboys, Ravens, Buccaneers and Jets all draft between Nos. 11 and 18 and would have their eyes on Akheem Mesidor (Miami) and T.J. Parker (Clemson), who both could land in this range."
His other big-brain move?
Moving down in the draft, swapping first rounders with an NFC rival in order to get back a 3rd round pick this year.
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Barnwell has the Lions sending their 17th overall pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for their 23rd overall pick, while also landing their 3rd round compensatory pick. It's not a haul in the slightest, but this is the kind of move that Holmes would probably get behind.
"The former Rams executive might share his former team's disdain for picks at the bottom of the first round, but moving down to No. 23 shouldn't take anything off the table for Detroit. Getting back a third-round pick, albeit in the compensatory section of the third round, would be helpful for Holmes as he reimagines his roster. If the Lions are thinking right tackle, they shouldn't have too much trouble still landing their preferred option."
Barnwell makes a solid point regarding the Lions' ability to still get a good right tackle at 23rd overall instead of 17th overall. Blake Miller, Caleb Lomu, or even Proctor could all still be around at this spot, but the Lions would also risk needing to swing up for a tackle if all other projected first round RT's are gone. Max Iheanachor is a name to watch for a reach like that.
There are pretty wild trade scenarios all over this list, but to be honest, Barnwell's Lions takes don't seem that far fetched. Detroit could certainly use a third round pick in this year's draft, and the latter projection here isn't a terrible solution to that problem.