The Detroit Lions Podcast

# Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party: Live Coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft A Pivotal Night for the Detroit Lions at Pick 17 The Detroit Lions enter the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft with urgency, intrigue, and a clear opportunity to reshape the trajectory of the franchise. Picking at 17 after a season that fell short of expectations, Detroit finds itself in a familiar but critical position. Good enough to compete, not yet complete enough to contend. Tonight is about closing that gap. Our live draft show will bring you inside every moment as the board unfolds. The Lions are sitting in a range where flexibility becomes the story. This is where front offices earn their reputation. Do they stay put and take the best player available, or do they move up to secure a difference maker? Do they slide back and add capital in a draft that many evaluators view as deep in key positions? All eyes will be on how Detroit approaches its roster construction around **Jared Goff**. The offense has shown it can function at a high level when protected and balanced, but the conversation around long term sustainability remains. Whether the Lions lean toward reinforcing the offensive line, adding another weapon, or turning their attention to the defensive side of the ball, tonight will reveal how they see themselves moving forward. What We’re Watching Live on the Draft Show On the Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party, we will track every development in real time as the 2026 NFL Draft unfolds. The early part of the round will set the tone. Quarterbacks, edge rushers, and offensive tackles are expected to come off the board quickly, and that ripple effect could push premium talent into Detroit’s range. The Lions have been tied to several paths in recent weeks. Defensive line remains a focus after inconsistent pressure throughout last season. Cornerback depth has been a talking point across the offseason. At the same time, there is always the possibility that a top tier offensive player slips and forces Detroit into a decision they did not expect to face. We will break down each selection ahead of Detroit’s pick, evaluate how the board is falling, and react instantly when the Lions are on the clock. Expect deep analysis on fit, value, and what the pick signals about the organization’s priorities. If there is a trade, we will dissect it from every angle. Join the Live Draft Party and React With Us This is not just coverage. This is a live draft show built for Lions fans who want to be part of the moment. The Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party will feature live reactions, instant analysis, and the energy that only draft night can bring. We want your voice as part of the show. As the picks roll in and the Lions make their move, we will be engaging with listeners and viewers in real time. Whether you are celebrating the pick, questioning the strategy, or reacting to what could have been, this is your chance to be part of the conversation. Draft night defines franchises. For the Detroit Lions, picking at 17 in the **2026 NFL Draft**, this is a chance to add a cornerstone piece and reset expectations heading into the new season. Stay with us throughout the night as we break down every move and bring you the most complete Detroit Lions draft coverage anywhere. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #topeighttrade #edgerusher #offensivelineman #calebdowns #calebtownsend #jeremiahlove #monroefraley #blakemiller #terrybradshaw #terribletowels #pittsburghdraftstage #chicagodraftsetup #clevelanddraftsetup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft day is here. The board is set. Jeff Risdon opened the Detroit Lions Podcast by staking out pick 17 and sorting the flood of NFL mock drafts pointing toward Detroit. Draft-Day Plan: Risdon’s No-Trade Mock Risdon’s final no-trade mock locks in Blake Miller, the Clemson offensive tackle, at 17 for the Detroit Lions. It is a clean projection and a pragmatic one. He also ran a first three-round exercise with no trades. The approach is consistent: prioritize the offensive line if the board cooperates. There is a clear dream scenario. If Monroe Freeling slips to 17, that is the pick. Full stop. Risdon does not expect Freeling to last that long, which prompted the pivot to Miller in his final version. The premise is simple. Stay at 17. Take the tackle that matches the value. National Mocks: Offensive Line Leads the Way The national pulse is strong and aligned. Many prominent mocks land on Caden Proctor for Detroit. Peter Schrager has Proctor. Matt Miller does, too. Albert Brown also points the Lions to Proctor, and Joe Marino is on that track as well. Others ride with Blake Miller, reinforcing the same position focus. Monroe Freeling drew serious national support as well. Daniel Jeremiah is on Freeling. Mel Skipper is there, and Mike Renner and Jordan Reid show similar leanings. Only one national voice broke the pattern in structure rather than position: Ben Solak has Detroit trading back two spots and taking a player after the move. Among the names checked, Chad Reuter stands out as the lone national who delivered Spencer Fano to the Lions in round one. The signal from all of it is unmistakable. Offensive line at 17 remains the chalk. Local Pulse: Proctor, Miller, and a Fano Flier Locally, the room is split but still sits on the same side of the ball. Dave Burkett has Caden Proctor. Brett Whitefield is also on Proctor. Risdon himself is on Blake Miller in his final no-trade scenario, and Eric Schlitt has been a Miller fan. The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy landed Spencer Fano at 17 in a run where the board broke oddly, a reminder that draft night can tilt in unexpected ways. What It Means at 17 The Detroit Lions enter tonight with a tight, credible cluster at a premium spot. Monroe Freeling is the swing if he falls. Blake Miller is the steady answer if he does not. Caden Proctor and Spencer Fano remain live depending on how the first 16 picks unfold. One notable outlier includes a modest trade back, but the bulk of mocks keep Detroit planted at 17. It is a clean plan for a roster with standards. The NFL clock starts now. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #kadynproctor #spencerfano #monroefreeling #detroitlionsdraft #pick17 #bradholmes #nationalmockdrafts #localmockdrafts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft-Eve Plans and Live Coverage Draft eve in Detroit. The Detroit Lions Podcast went live with Russell Brown, Scott Bischoff, Chris, and Jeff Risdon. The crew laid out a busy week and took questions. Brown will be on WJR with Anthony Collins and Lomas Brown from 6 to 7 PM on Thursday. It could run longer. If timing allows, he may jump back with Chris, Jeff, and Dion to react in real time. Friday brings WJR again, then a reset of the board. After that, Brown will join Fantasy Pros from picks 35 to 48. He plans to step off to watch the Detroit Lions make their move, then return to the Detroit Lions Podcast to break it down. Day three is lighter. A 7 AM coaches meeting and a baseball game sit on the calendar. He usually misses one game a year. It is almost always day three of the NFL Draft. No. 2 Overall: David Bailey vs Arvel Reed The conversation centered on the Jets at pick two. Two names led the talk: David Bailey and Arvel Reed. The hosts are not enamored with Bailey’s full profile. They acknowledged his explosive, linear pass rush. That first step stresses college tackles. It can stress NFL tackles too. But they see a lacking run defender. That is a concern at the top of the board. Reed’s profile is different. He comes from Ohio State and is not a finished product. He tested like a premium athlete. Around 240 to 241 pounds. Speed in the mid 4.4s. He flashes when he rushes, but the room sees him starting as a stacked linebacker. The Micah Parsons talk does not land for them. If he must begin off the ball, they questioned if that is a player you take second overall. Smoke remains thick. Maybe it is Bailey. Maybe the Jets have played months of misdirection. Other names were mentioned as possible wild cards, from Mansoor Ford Delaney to downs. If the card read Caleb Brown, it would make sense to them. One more wrinkle: Bailey’s media hits, including SNY, did not sound like deep pre-draft engagement beyond a dinner. Even so, a final mock tonight would still slide Bailey to the Jets. What It Means for the Detroit Lions Detroit’s plan starts with what happens at two. If the Jets choose Bailey, the board tilts one way. If they choose Reed, it tilts another. A stacked linebacker at two reshapes the early run at edge rusher. A true linear edge at two affects the second wave of offensive and defensive options. The hosts plan to reset the board Friday and react fast. Coverage spans radio, national hits, and live podcast windows tied to picks 35 to 48. The aim is simple. Track the Jets’ decision, map the fallout, and target the best path for the Detroit Lions. The NFL turns quickly. The Detroit Lions Podcast will be there as the board breaks. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #davidbailey #arvelreed #jetspicktwo #stackedlinebacker #edgerusher #linearpassrush #rundefender #resettheboard #picks35to48 #fantasypros #wjr #sny Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft Eve Plan: Five Paths, No Trades The Detroit Lions Podcast hit draft eve with a focused exercise: five no-trade scenarios mapping picks 17, 50, 118 and 128. The NFL Draft is in Pittsburgh tomorrow. The show will live stream the draft with you and Chris. The purpose here is clarity. Keep Detroit at each slot. Explore real options. Invite mix and match from the board. Scenarios at 17 and 50 Scenario 1 opened with Blake Miller, offensive tackle from Clemson, at 17. Pick 50 followed with an edge option, and later a TCU linebacker, Caleb Elamzor, in the fourth. All matched the Lions’ size and style targets. Scenario 2 pivoted to Monroe Fraley, Georgia offensive tackle, at 17. Anthony Hill, Texas linebacker, fits the Alex Anzalone role if Detroit seeks a successor. The fourth round stacked traits with Kieran Crawford, Auburn edge, and Sam Rausch, Stanford tight end. Rausch brings some Ebron-like movement but can block. He must catch the ball better. Scenario 3 went defense first with Kendrick Falk, Auburn edge. Calling him only an edge undersells him. He can play inside in the roles held by John Kaminski, Josh Paschal, Clark Davenport and Onwuzurike. At 50, Reader on Stuard, a defensive back from Arizona, profiles as a safety slash corner in the Branch and Avonte Maddox mold. Offense returned at 118 with Demetrius Brown, Texas A&M offensive tackle, a project that would require Larry Horton to hold right tackle while Sewell moves to the left side, a switch Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have discussed. Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M defensive tackle, rounded it out. Trenches and Fourth-Round Value Scenario 4 pressed a tackle run with Colon Proctor at 17. Decker Hatten, Penn State edge, landed at 50. Packers beat writers love Danica Sutton at 52, so this track would get over on a rival slot. The fourth-round focus was run defense with Dante Corleone, Cincinnati’s Godfather, as a stout run stopper, plus BJ Payne at safety. A small trade-up into the 90s could be needed for Payne, though the exercise held Detroit in place. Scenario 5 circled back to tackle with an Arizona State option at 17. It assumed a rookie might be pressed into action early if a veteran is not ready. How to Use the Board The exercise locked picks 17, 50, 118 and 128. No trades. The point is to map Detroit Lions options and let fans assemble their own card. Audio listeners were urged to catch visuals on YouTube. The top of this NFL Draft remains murky at two, three and four. There will be moves before Detroit is on the clock. These scenarios keep the Lions steady and prepared. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #monroefraley #anthonyhill #kierancrawford #samrausch #kendrickfalk #deckerhatten #dantecorleone #danicasutton #bjpayne Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A No-Trade Board Starts With a Shock The Detroit Lions Podcast fired up a manual, no-trade mock draft and pointed the map toward pick 17. The board went sideways immediately. The Raiders claimed quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1. No trades. No hedging. Just a clean card and a surprise start that scrambled every plan behind it. Confusion defined the exercise. After the first selection, consensus vanished. Teams blurred. Needs collided with traits. The room acknowledged it had not seen an NFL draft this murky in years. That uncertainty matters to the Detroit Lions. Chaos at the top can send premium talent sliding toward 17. It can also yank scheme fits off the board before Detroit is ready to pick. Debating Pick No. 2: Traits vs. Production At No. 2, the debate locked onto edge defenders. David Bailey’s get-off, length, and pass-rush juice drew early support. The counterargument centered on setting the edge. Could Bailey anchor against the run and earn the right to rush in an NFL front that demands discipline on early downs? Arvel Reed brought a different profile. A true multi-tool defender, he blitzed more than he played traditional edge in college. The versatility intrigues, but there were questions about immediate production if he is not a full-time rusher. Sonny Styles surfaced as a data point. In limited rush chances, Styles stacked sacks at a higher rate, which sharpened the focus on how Reed actually wins. Scheme fit hung over the table. The conversation circled the priorities coaches place on run force, edge integrity, and pressure. The tie broke with the need for day-one impact. The card at No. 2 read David Bailey. Cardinals at No. 3 Hold the Top-10 Keys Arizona stepped into the on-deck circle with options everywhere. Reed made sense. So did a pure rusher like David Saylors. The Cardinals also had a clear offensive path. With Chris Johnson Jr. at left tackle, right tackle help fits cleanly. Maui Noah checked that box. So did names like Ruben Payne and Francis Allen for line help. The twist came from the owner rumor mill. A running back that early is risky, but the floor can be high. Recent hits at the position were cited. The room understood the appeal while disagreeing with the value. No matter the direction, the third pick felt like a fulcrum. Move it, and the entire top 10 tilts. Keep it, and the board settles for a beat before the next surprise. For the Detroit Lions, that turbulence is the story. A quarterback at one, Bailey at two, and a wide-open Arizona decision compress talent pockets and confuse runs at specific positions. The path to 17 will be carved by how teams prioritize edge force, right tackle certainty, and whether ownership leans into a splash at running back. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #mockdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Countdown to Pittsburgh and a live mock tonight Two days before the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on pick 17 and the moving board around it. The top of the draft is unsettled. Nobody can lock in picks two through five. That uncertainty bleeds straight into Detroit’s lane. The crew set a live mock draft for tonight at 8:00 with Jeff Risdon, Chris, and Scott Bischoff running the room. It is a final stress test for scenarios the Lions could face when the NFL clock hits 17. Two SEC tackles lead the Lions’ options Mock drafts clustering around Detroit point to two clear front-runners: Monroe Fraley and Colon Proctor. Both are SEC offensive tackles. Both bring first-round traits with very different profiles. The conversation centered on balancing their pluses and minuses against Detroit’s current line and future contracts. If either is there at 17, the pick feels clean. If both are gone, the board gets messy. Predicting availability is the trick. With the top 10 fluid and several tackle-needy teams ahead of Detroit, the range for Fraley and Proctor stretches. The Lions are preparing for one to go early, one to drift, or a late surprise that knocks a different premium player into range. Injury variables that could shake the board Health flags dominated the swing-player talk. Jermad McCoy’s knee has drawn “degenerative” chatter. Production included only one strong season at Tennessee. That mix could push him into the second round. If he slips to 50, the value becomes a debate, but chronic soft-tissue and long-term knee concerns temper enthusiasm. Francis Malinois surfaced as the other big wild card. He has a back issue described as similar to what Sam LaPorta is managing. Not a herniated disc. Potentially addressable with a minor procedure and roughly three months of rehab. Teams are weighing whether surgery is even required. That uncertainty could nudge him out of the top 10 to 12. Clubs like Arizona, Cleveland, and Kansas City were cited as spots where medical risk tolerance could change plans. Kansas City in particular may be hesitant after drafting an injured tackle last year. Reading the final mocks Final boards from major analysts are landing now and shaping consensus on Detroit. Proctor shows up as one of the most frequent Lions pairings at 17. The podcast plans to comb through recent years of last-minute mocks on Thursday morning to see who historically pegged Detroit’s moves and where groupthink missed. With volatility up high, the Lions’ best edge at 17 is preparedness for medical-driven slides and a clear stack between the two SEC tackles leading their lane. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #monroefreeling #mockdrafts #fanpicks #kadynproctor #blakemiller #jermodmccoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A draft that flips expectations Uncertainty rules the 2026 NFL draft. Only one quarterback looks like a first-round lock. The wide receivers, once viewed as light, surged into the star group. Running back thins after Jeremiah Love. The board pushes teams toward less celebrated positions. That creates value and hard choices. It also exposes which front offices are organized and which are guessing. Tight ends, safeties and OL carry the board This Detroit Lions Podcast episode zeroes in on where the talent sits. Tight end is a headline. Kenyan Sadiq grades as a top-tier prospect and projects to go very early. Safety is strong and deeper than usual. Interior offensive line offers starter traits into Day Two. Offensive tackle holds up well, too. The sweet spot stretches through Day Two and into Day Three for these groups. Teams willing to invest in non-premium positions can clean up. That mirrors how the Detroit Lions built recent drafts with results. The conversation tracked how recent cycles elevated quarterback, running back and wide receiver. This year tilts differently. Safeties and tight ends stand out. Interior linemen anchor the depth. It is not a bad class. It is a unique class that demands precision and a clear plan. Linebacker calculus and Detroit lessons Linebacker is still devalued on draft night, but the names have juice. Arvel Reed and Niese Styles headline. CJ Allen is climbing. Jacob Rodriguez could even sneak in, depending on need. Teams hesitate unless the traits scream All-Pro. The Lions have shown it can work. They invested in Jack Campbell. They added Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta. They hit on Jabir Gibbs. Non-premium positions produced premium impact. This class lines up with that approach, especially on Day Two and Day Three. Trade talk and board ripple The Dexter Lawrence trade drew measured praise. New York did well. Cincinnati’s angle also tracks. They never truly replaced DJ Reed and missed that presence. Moves like that shift boards. Safety runs can start earlier. Offensive line plans adjust. Big-name safeties can still slide outside the top 10 or even top 20, but the overall depth gives teams options. For Detroit, the value bands match where the roster-building model has thrived. Tight ends, safeties and offensive linemen anchor this draft. That is where the 2026 NFL board feels strongest and where smart clubs can separate. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #tampabaybuccaneers #kenyonsaddiq #drewallar #minnesotavikings #draftinpittsburgh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lions’ filters and a three-man target band at 17 One week from Day 3, the Detroit Lions board is narrowing to players who match clear standards. No recent DUIs. No violence. No academic ineligibility. They prefer team captains, academic achievers, and multi-sport backgrounds. Maturity and coachability matter. Under Brad Holmes, the Detroit Lions draft their guys and ignore consensus boards. Expect that again. That approach frames a three-man cluster for pick No. 17 in the NFL Draft: TJ Parker, Blake Miller, and Kendrick Ford. Others could surface, including Monroe Fraley, Max Heinecker, and even Jermaine McCoy, but those three sit in the thick of it. The Detroit Lions Podcast made the case for each as culture and scheme fits. Blake Miller checks every box at right tackle Miller looks built for Detroit. Durable. Noticeable senior-year growth. Team captain. Strong football character. He can step in at right tackle quickly, as game ready as a college lineman can be entering the NFL. He also tested as an elite athlete at the combine. That level of testing did not always appear on tape, but nothing about him reads unathletic. Any narrative to the contrary is off base. If the Lions want a plug-in, long-view answer opposite Taylor Decker and in front of Aidan Hutchinson’s edge, Miller is the easy fit. Why Faulk profiles as the Hutchinson complement Some fans will balk at taking Faulk at 17. The fit is plain. He is a physical clone of Marcus Davenport, only younger and healthy. He became a team captain at age 20 on a veteran Auburn team. High academic achiever. Impressive athletic profile and RAS. The critique is real: he is not super twitchy off the snap, and quicker pressure has been a fan priority. The Detroit Lions have not emphasized that timeline publicly. They value the totality of disruption and reliability opposite Hutchinson. Within that lens, Faulk makes sense at 17. Day-three watchlist: Kendrick Ford, Dante Corleone, and a sleeper at corner Ford’s story fits Detroit. A blood clot cost him a season. He stayed loyal, stayed engaged on the sideline, and never detached. Two-time captain. Stylistic fit as a replacement for DJ Reed on the roster. Fourth-round range feels right given the board construction and need stack. Dante Corleone also flashed a clear line to Allen Park. In an interview, he singled out the Detroit Lions as the only team that spent significant time with him after the combine visit. The club has done its homework. Everything about his profile suggests they will like what they see. Do not sleep on Latrell McCutcheon, cornerback from the Houston Cougars. He has not been discussed enough. Good player. If Detroit wants a competitive outside corner later in the NFL Draft, he belongs on the card. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #blakemiller #keldricfaulk #dontaycorleone #vjpayne #latrellmccutchin #lionsfits #gritfit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six Days Out, the Board Turns to Saturday The Detroit Lions are six days from the start of the NFL Draft, and the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Day 3. Saturday covers rounds four through seven. The focus was specific. Detroit has a lot of capital on Day 3 right now. That is likely to change. The expectation is a move up before Saturday to secure a target. The conversation centered on which players fit the roster and how many of those Day 3 picks can realistically make the team. Day 3 is about flavor and conviction. The early rounds deliver spotlight and starters. Saturday is for dart throws and stand-on-the-table guys. The Lions will filter that through a roster that is already tough to crack. Two Fourths and the 53-Man Reality Detroit currently holds two early fourth-round selections. If the Lions add a first-rounder, a second-rounder, and those two fourths, there may not be room for much else. That was the stark roster math. The 53-man roster is tight as it stands. Late picks can push competition and land on the practice squad, which still has value. But the Lions do not need a sixth-rounder to contribute right away in 2026. That calculus fuels the idea of consolidating capital. Package some of Saturday’s picks to move up earlier. Get a difference-maker that aligns with the board. Then let the two fourths address depth where it matters. A 6'8 Answer at Swing Tackle One Day 3 name stood out: Travis Bell, a right tackle from Memphis who previously played left tackle at Florida International, the Panthers. He is 6-foot-8 with long arms and rare grip strength for this tackle class. When he locks on, the rep is finished. He finishes through the whistle and plays with a bouncer’s edge. Off the field he comes off as composed. On it he flips the switch. That temperament drew parallels to the way Taylor Decker carries himself. Bell profiles as an immediate swing tackle. He can back up both spots while learning behind established starters. Even if Detroit selects a tackle at 17, Bell still fits. He would stabilize depth and hedge against injuries on an offensive line that drives the Lions’ identity. Pick 17 Shapes Saturday If tackle is the play at 17, names in the mix included Montgomery Freeling, Blake Miller, and Spencer Fano. That choice would ripple into Day 3. Land a starter early, then chase traits and role players later. If the board breaks differently, Bell becomes even more attractive as a developmental piece with starter tools. The mission is clear. Use the two fourths wisely. Let the 53 dictate which darts are worth throwing. And if the chance comes to go up and get the guy before Saturday, take it. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #daythreedartthrows #roundsfourthroughseven #twofourth-roundpicks #53-manroster #practicesquad #swingtackle #travisbell #memphisrighttackle #floridainternationalpanthers #gripstrength #taylordecker #blakemiller #spencerfano #montgomeryfreeling #pick17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trade smoke at picks 6 and 12 A week out from the NFL draft, the Detroit Lions Podcast locked in on the rumor with real bite. Dallas has eyes on jumping from 12 to 6 in a deal with Cleveland. That move would put the Cowboys in range for a defensive cornerstone. Names floated were concrete. Caleb Downs. Niese Styles. Rubin Bain. Jeremiah Love. Cardinal Bates. Cleveland, sliding to 12, would still sit in a clean pocket for an offensive tackle such as Caden Procter, Monroe Freeling, or Spencer Fano. The logic tracks. Dallas secures a high-end defender. Cleveland reloads up front. The Giants, Arizona, and the safe defender debate There is a catch. If Dallas covets the same player as New York, the Cowboys may need to leap the Giants. New York is not doing business with Dallas. That pushes the question higher on the board. Some believe five could be Downs’ range. Positional value chatter will hum, but this class may mute it. Just take really good players. Arizona complicates everything. If Niese Styles is seen as one of the safest prospects, what stops Arizona from taking him? That possibility shapes the entire top 10. If Styles or Downs goes early, Dallas must recalibrate. If either slides to six, the door swings open for that 12-to-6 jump. What it means for the Lions at 17 The Detroit Lions sit at 17 and can let the board work for them. If Dallas climbs for a defender and Cleveland targets a tackle later, the middle of the round shifts. A run on defensive backs and edge players could shove an offensive tackle down to 17. A tackle surge could push a defender into Detroit’s lap. Both outcomes help. The room weighed immediate impact versus projection. David Bailey’s pass rush pop could hit early. Arnold Reed might take a different path to the same outcome. The staff’s preferences matter. Aaron Glenn values defenders who attack the run and set edges with urgency. That lens will filter every option that hits 17. Detroit has done the homework on day two and day three paths. Now the choices at 17 crystallize. If the Cowboys-Browns swap happens, it clarifies priorities. If it fizzles, it still tilts the board through the threat of action. Either way, the Lions can stay patient, trust their stack, and pounce when the right player slides. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #seventeenthoverallpick #dallascowboys #clevelandbrowns #movefrom12to6 #offensivetackles #defensiveends #calebdowns #niesestyles #rubinbain #jeremiahlove #cardinalbates #cadenprocter #spencerfano Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One Week Out, the Mock Is On Seven days before the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions Podcast fired up a full seven-round mock. The simulator ran on the consensus board at normal speed. Every trade offer was rejected to keep the exercise clean, even though the host admitted he would take several of them in real life. Tennessee, Buffalo, and Philadelphia dangled packages with future second-round picks. Tempting, but declined. The board fell largely as expected into the teens. The goal was simple. Track how the Detroit Lions might act when real choices appear. Concrete roster needs. Scheme fits. Red flags. All in play. Round 1: OT Over CB Temptations The Lions sifted through a cluster that included Raymond McCoy, Dylan Spielman, Keldrick Falk, Caden Proctor, Akeem Mezzadore, and Caleb Lomu. McCoy brought one season of pristine outside-corner tape at Tennessee, but the knee history and whispers about a degenerative issue cooled enthusiasm. The Lions already live with that kind of concern at safety with Kirby Joseph. Pass. Edge was surveyed for a complement to Aidan Hutchinson. A prototype was on the board, but Mezzadore did not fit that vision. Avion Terrell offered coverage polish yet carried a lighter frame than ideal. Caleb Lomu drew praise for movement skills and zone-friendly run blocking, but the sense was Detroit would not value him as highly. Caden Proctor held appeal, just not as the apple of their eye. The pick landed where positional value and board scarcity intersected. Blake Miller, offensive tackle. Take the pillar now, develop the ceiling with Fraley, and avoid forcing an offensive need later when the board thins. After 17: Runs, Snipes, and Offers Once Miller was in, chips fell fast. McCoy came off the board. Proctor went to Houston. Gabe Vaki vanished. Then the sting. TJ Parker, a player with real Lions interest, disappeared just before 50. More trade calls arrived in the 50s with swaps that included moving down for extra Day 2 capital. Again, declined for the sake of the exercise. Round 2 Watch: Corner Takes the Lead The Lions scanned offense and saw little they liked. Eli Stowers at tight end did not move the needle, especially with contested-catch concerns. A running back like Jadarian Price was not in play. Defense answered. Chris Johnson, an outside corner, fit cleanly and immediately jumped to the top of the conversation. Malachi Lawrence offered intrigue. Kayla Banks carried a foot injury that complicated the calculus. The takeaway was clear. By grabbing an offensive tackle early, Detroit preserved flexibility while the second-round board tilted defense. Cornerback rose to the front, with outside traits that align with how the Lions want to play on the perimeter. Health flags matter. Scheme fit matters more. One week out, this mock framed both with clarity. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #blakemiller #chrisjohnson #mockdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Brad Holmes Actually Said Episode 608 lands as a 2026 Detroit Lions NFL Podcast primer, and the focus is Brad Holmes’ pre-draft press conference. The Detroit Lions Podcast treats this stretch as lying season. Everyone knows the game. The wrinkle is that Detroit has often told the truth, just not in ways people caught in the moment. That tension drove the discussion. The read on Holmes was direct. He did not appear deceptive. He also did not say much. He should not. The building keeps information close. The ship is locked tighter than it used to be, which makes outside reads tougher. The group framed Holmes’ approach as consistent, measured, and light on hints that can be mined by other clubs. A Tighter Ship, A Clearer Process Detroit’s process under Holmes tracks with a Rams-rooted philosophy. Care less about other teams. Care most about your own board. That mindset showed up in how the presser landed. No panic. No performative noise. Just enough clarity to signal confidence in the Lions’ path, without handing out details. Comparisons to other NFL front offices came up. Around the league, general managers hold similar lines in April. Some drop phrases that sound like clues. Most do not intend to tip their hand. Holmes fit that pattern, but with a notable edge: a self-focused process that shrugs at outside reaction. It narrows the signal. It cuts the static. Draft Smoke, Real Signals, and Mock Talk The conversation pushed back on fan assumptions about league-wide subterfuge. The NFL uses less smoke and mirrors than people think. Some teams do play games. Many do not. Detroit’s leadership falls on the straight-line side. Truth often sits in plain sight, wrapped in careful language. Unpredictability still rules draft weekend. The show cited a past draft where a team stacked multiple centers despite an established starter. It was a reminder. Anything can happen in the draft, regardless of what a depth chart looks like in April. That applies to the Lions as they weigh value against need, and as mocks try to catch up. From there, the table was set for current mock projections for the Detroit Lions. The presser context matters. If Holmes’ words are consistent with the past, Detroit will prioritize its own grades and timing. The result could challenge expectations on position and sequence. Episode 608 framed the exercise. Read the words. Respect the silence. Then test every mock against a front office that prizes process over theater. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #bradholmespresser #lyingseason #detroitlionsdraft #mockprojections #ramsline #snead #nickcaserio #buccaneersgm #lockedtighter #blowingsmoke #anythingcanhappeninthedraft #threecentersinonedraft #all-procenter #officialdetroitlionspodcastforreddit #episode608 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trade-Up Logic for a Tight Roster On April 14, Jeff Risdon opened the Detroit Lions Podcast by dropping his annual dream draft. The premise is simple. Targets he prefers at every pick, no trades in the mock, and a clear-eyed look at roster math. His NFL calculus points one way. Trade up over trading back. Risdon expects three or four selections this year might not crack the active 53-man roster. Not because they cannot play, but because the Detroit Lions have fewer open chairs. Late picks can sit on the practice squad. That shifts value toward higher picks instead of collecting more Day 3 swings. He contrasted it with earlier Lions eras that forced rookies into the lineup. Amari Spivey got thrown to the wolves. A late-round inside backer from Cal had to play right away. Today’s depth means patience. Recent examples back it up. Dominic Lovett, a seventh-rounder a year ago, barely saw the offense and made little impact on special teams. Dan Jackson, also a seventh-round pick, returns healthy but might not have played much as a rookie anyway. That is a different Lions reality. It makes trading up more attractive this spring. Caleb Lomu at 17 and Panay Stays Right Risdon’s first-round dream pick is Caleb Lomu, the Utah left tackle. The choice ties directly to keeping Panay Sewell at right tackle. Sewell is the best in the world there. Move him and he would still be great, but why disrupt excellence. With a true left tackle in Lomu, Detroit can preserve its right-side identity. Risdon praised Lomu’s athleticism, length, and smarts. Crafty feet. Room to grow. He admitted the run blocking is not elite yet. Others are better in that phase. Spencer Fano brings more in-line drive. Francis Malinois does too. But the upside with Lomu at left tackle fits the long view while maintaining continuity with Sewell. Building the Right-Side Run and Interior Fits The vision extends to the run game. Keep the Detroit Lions pounding right. Pair Sewell with Tate Ratledge and have Cade Mays available to reinforce that side. Lomu holds down the blind side while the right side remains the hammer. The balance lets the offense dictate with angles and tempo without retooling the front. That philosophy also informs the board. In a weaker draft, higher picks matter more than a pile of late fliers. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it cleanly. Aim your swings where roster spots actually exist. Trade-Up Wildcard and Year-Two Buzz If he did climb from 17, Risdon identified a prize. Niese Styles is his No. 2 overall player. A safety background shows up in space, yet he is bigger than Arvel Reed, who projects as an edge. Styles can play with Jack Campbell and unlock sub-package flexibility. There is carryover optimism too. Last year’s dream manifested early hits. The Lions landed Tylek Williams and Isaac TeSlaa sooner than expected. Risdon likes what comes next, especially for Williams in year two now that he knows NFL life. The dream stays ambitious. The logic stays grounded. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #dreamdraft #caleblomu #lefttackle #panaysewell #tradeup #tradeback #tylekwilliams #isaacteslaa #tateratledge #cademays #spencerfano #niesestyles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holmes skips owners meetings to lock in draft prep Ten days before the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Brad Holmes’ message and where Detroit stands at No. 17. Holmes held his annual pre-draft press conference. He explained he did not attend the NFL owners meetings this year. He stayed in Detroit to work with the scouting staff and focus on the draft. The Lions were still represented at the meetings, with Rod Wood and Dan Campbell available on site. The episode posted later than usual to follow that availability. Travel logistics factored into coverage decisions. A three-hour drive each way for a brief presser did not add value, especially without a plan to ask questions. The focus stayed on what Holmes revealed and what he did not. Reading the board at No. 17 Holmes was pressed on how many true first-round grades the Lions hold and what that means at 17. He did not bite. The general manager avoided specifics and declined to lock a number to the board. One fragment carried weight: "We feel pretty good about" what will be there at 17. That line framed Detroit’s outlook. The message matched league chatter. This is not billed as the greatest class, but teams expect to find players they like in their strike zones. Holmes has sharpened his poker face since his early sessions at the podium. He kept priorities concealed while signaling confidence in outcomes. The takeaway for the NFL and Detroit Lions watchers: the club trusts its board without tipping needs or targets. Trade calls timing and Detroit’s approach On movement around the pick, Holmes said this is the time when calls start to happen. To this point, they have not. That is not a denial of interest. It is a timestamp. Ten days out is when the market forms. The question is who dials first. Detroit’s tendency has been to let others ring them. That stands in contrast to the more aggressive, feeler-heavy style associated with John Dorsey during his Cleveland Browns tenure. The current Lions approach gathers information by fielding offers rather than fishing early. Up, back, or staying put all remain in play. The board and the phone will guide the path. The principle is clear. Detroit will not force action before the market sets. Pittsburgh trip notes coming later this week The show teased a travel-focused episode for fans headed to Pittsburgh. Recent time on the ground produced useful local notes that will drop later this week. The can cracked today was a Doctor Pepper. Sponsorship inquiries are open, with examples mentioned on air. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #bradholmes #pressconference #larryborom #d.j.wonnum #ruebenbain #nfldrafttrades Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Late-Round Targets With Real Detroit Fits The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on two late Day 3 options who match Detroit’s defensive profile. The focus stayed tight: an interior disruptor who penetrates and a defensive back with real slot juice and verified top-end speed. Both players project as developmental pieces who can fill defined roles in the NFL and compete for snaps in Detroit. Penetration From the Interior: Cameron Ball Cameron Ball, a defensive tackle from Arkansas, stands 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds and tested at the combine. His game is built on first-step quickness and backfield penetration. He wins by getting narrow through gaps and shooting into the backfield, not by anchoring and two-gapping. The production reflects a creator more than a finisher: three sacks and 13 tackles for loss across four seasons, with steady disruption and pursuit. The motor runs hot. He tackles well and moves unexpectedly well in space for his size, getting outside the box to finish plays. Block shedding is inconsistent, and he is not a classic run stuffer. He must win early with quickness. The athletic profile is decent, not elite, and the projection lands late on Day 3, potentially the sixth or seventh round. The fit in Detroit is clear. Ball profiles as a rotational rush tackle behind Alim McNeill, with insurance value when Levi Onwuzurike shifts. Detroit has dabbled with penetrators inside, including bigger bodies asked to knife and facilitate rather than rack up sacks. Ball can make quarterbacks hesitate on their step-up when edge pressure compresses the pocket. That kind of interior disturbance has value in this defense. Slot Speed and Versatility: C.A. Wright C.A. Wright, a Nebraska cornerback and former USC recruit, brings verified speed. GPS tracking has him over 22 miles per hour repeatedly. Nebraska kicked him inside to the slot, where his game took off, though he also saw time outside and some at safety. That inside-out experience matters for a secondary that values versatility and alignments that disguise intentions. Wright turned heads in all-star settings, including a strong week in the Dallas area. The attraction is straightforward: true slot range with recovery speed, plus the ability to handle varied coverage assignments. He projects in the late rounds, with the speed and role clarity to compete right away for nickel work while developing boundary technique over time. Why These Profiles Matter for Detroit Detroit needs rotational defenders who do specific jobs well. Ball offers gap shooting from the interior to complement edge pressure and lighten the load on early downs with change-of-pace penetration. Wright brings slot athleticism and flexibility across multiple spots in the secondary. Both are realistic Day 3 targets for the Detroit Lions, with traits that translate and roles that fit the plan. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraftday3 #cameronball #ceyairwright #camdorner #curtisallen #scoutingreports Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft Runway and Roster Posture The Detroit Lions Podcast turned spring break into roster talk as Jeff Risdon sat down with Nick Baumgartner two weeks before the NFL Draft. They opened with Michigan basketball’s national title and a nod to John Beilein getting his overdue moment. Then they pivoted hard to the Detroit Lions and the NFL calendar. The tone was steady. The message was clear. Detroit is in good shape. Baumgartner said the front office did what it needed to do. The approach was careful. The only gripe raised was not giving Frank Regnal bonus money. Everything else from Brad Holmes and Dan tracked with the plan. The roster now lets Detroit enter the first round with freedom. Best player available is back on the table. That likely points to the trenches. An offensive lineman sits high on the board. It does not have to be a pure tackle. Guard or tackle both fit the current path. Free Agency Adds Reshape the Board The Detroit Lions Podcast highlighted several additions that tighten depth and raise the floor. Cade Maze drew praise as a value signing. Pacheco did too. Corrao landed as a swing tackle who can cover short term needs. He can start in a pinch if a rookie needs time. Those moves matter when the NFL Draft starts to slide. They buy patience. They keep the board honest. Detroit can wait for its guy instead of forcing a reach. With those pieces in place, the Lions can let the draft come to them. If a tackle falls, they can pounce. If the board tilts to an interior mauler, they can plug that in and roll. Either way, the goal stays the same. Protect the quarterback. Keep the run game on schedule. Own the line of scrimmage. Secondary Competition Tightens Inside Risdon pushed a point he thinks the fan base has overlooked. Roger McCreary and Tyler Conklin were called out as signings who will play and help right away. They were framed as upgrades over the players they replace. The slot comparison was direct. McCreary was labeled a better cover guy than Amiek Robertson on the inside. The versatility note followed. McCreary can do more. That flexibility changes matchups and pressures route timing. Chris Isiom came up as another under-the-radar pickup. The theme continued. Holmes keeps finding defensive backs off the scrap Wheat and making them fit. More bodies. More traits. More competition. It all stacks to a cleaner picture on draft night. Detroit can target the best player instead of scrambling to fill a hole. That is the difference between chasing and controlling. The NFL rewards control. The Detroit Lions Podcast made that point plain. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jeffrisdon #nickbaumgartner #nfldraft #offensivelineman #swingtackle #guardortackle #bradholmes #frankregnal #cademaze #pacheco #corrao #rogermccreary #tylerconklin #amiekrobertson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 1,200-Player Lens on the NFL Draft Jeff Risdon welcomed Emery Hunt to the Detroit Lions Podcast for a focused draft conversation. Hunt outlined how his process starts in January after a season spent covering the NFL and college football. He hits nine to ten all star games, including the combine, to form first looks on prospects. Then he stacks twelve hour film days from February until the guide publishes. His draft guide includes over 1,200 individual scouting reports, one page per player he has actually watched. Buyers since 2020 would now hold more than 6,600 reports. It is built for draft weekend, camp cuts, and the regular season when rosters churn. The guide lists a clear grade for everyone he studied and costs $25. What Fits at Pick 17 for Detroit The discussion turned to the Detroit Lions at pick 17. Detroit added help on the edge in free agency. Inside, McNeil anchors a sturdy interior with capable help next to him. Hutchinson gives them a proven outside presence. That context points to two prime pathways. One is getting younger at edge if the board cooperates. Hunt said he would feel comfortable taking Reed Mesa in that range. He stressed a modern expectation for first rounders. Three productive years is success in a league where even top picks move quickly. The other path is the offensive line. If early action at the top reshapes the tackle market, Detroit could find a true left tackle on the board. The Browns’ choices at six and twenty four could influence that flow. In that scenario, Monroe Fraley fits as a clean left tackle projection. He offers the flexibility to keep him on the left side or cross train him on the right, depending on how Detroit wants to arrange the room. Interior offensive line was also mentioned as a viable consideration. Secondary Swing and a First-Round Wild Card Cornerback remains a live option if the medicals break right. If Manu McCoy checks out and slides, that would be a strong pickup at value. The show also floated a first round wild card. Anzalone Ponds of Indiana profiles as an outside corner who matches the physical, competitive edge the Lions prioritize. That type of player fits the team’s identity and adds matchup flexibility on the perimeter. However the board falls, Detroit has leverage. Free agency work on the defensive line gives room to target value. The roster’s core pieces create options rather than needs. At seventeen, the Lions can credibly choose edge, tackle, interior offensive line, or corner. With multiple workable lanes and a deep pool of scouted prospects, they can trust the grades and take the cleanest fit. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #jeffrisdon #emeryhunt #draftguide #pick17 #edgerusher #interiordefensiveline #mcneil #hutchinson #monroefraley #reedmesa #manumccoy #anzaloneponds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tackle Takes the Lead at 17 The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on the NFL Draft board. Episode 607 asked the question that matters: what should the Detroit Lions do at 17? The table leaned offensive tackle. A fresh sweep of recent mocks all pointed to a tackle at that spot. Names floated included Procter, Manu, Holmes, Fraley, and Venga. The reasoning was simple. At 17, need meets value. If the Lions stick at that pick, a tackle fits the board and the workload in front of them. The draft room math favors it. Edge Help and the 50 Pick Edge at 17 did not land the same conviction. The group questioned whether an edge would be worth that selection. The hope is that a pass rusher slides to 50. If not, trade flexibility stays on the table. Up for a target. Back for a pocket of value. The expectation laid out was clear: across picks 17 and 50, come away with an offensive tackle and a pass rusher. There was also talk that the front office is weighing defensive end as strongly as tackle. Either way, the path was set. Protect the quarterback. Hit the quarterback. Do both by the end of Day 2. Tight End Talk and a Big-Board Curveball First-round tight end? No. That was the blunt answer. The crew would be stunned if the Detroit Lions opened with a tight end. A twist came from the show’s consensus big board. The 17th-ranked player there is a tight end. But that is a ranking, not a Lions projection. The board explains talent tiers. It does not predict Detroit’s card. The Podcast kept circling back to need and value. In this NFL, tackle at 17 tracks with both. Roster Notes, Anzalone Chatter, and What’s Next There was a sidebar on Alex Anzalone’s recent comments. He discussed returning, with the head coach wanting that outcome, while ownership and the front office reportedly felt otherwise. Quarterback talk surfaced too. A first-round quarterback did not feel imminent. That room is heavy, and health for the young pieces matters before any verdicts. Late in the segment, a pair of names came up as unlikely options at 17, with the belief that one of them might be gone anyway. The show closed with a programming note. A bigger draft roundtable is planned for early next week, with a full mock on deck. The Detroit Lions Podcast will line up the scenarios and run them, pick by pick. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #offensivetackle #passrusher #pick17 #pick50 #tightendfirstround #alexanzalone #dancampbell #mockdraftroundtable #consensusbigboard #mattmiller #procter #manu #venga Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russell Brown and Scott Bischoff returned to the Detroit Lions Podcast after a week off and put the focus squarely on pick 17. Fifteen days out from the 2026 NFL Draft, the Lions’ board and one Alabama offensive tackle dominated the run-up: Proctor. National chatter says he will not get past Detroit at 17. That includes a high-profile voice saying, "there's no way Proctor gets past the Lions." The room wrestled with whether that is smoke or a signal. Proctor at 17: Plan or Smokescreen? The Lions need clarity on value at 17. Proctor brings size and traits. He played left tackle at Alabama and could be asked to move inside. Brown graded him as a late second-round player on film. He did not love three of four games studied, pointing to Wisconsin, Georgia, and Oklahoma as uneven outings. The size is undeniable at roughly 6-foot-7 and 352, with reports he played closer to 370 last season. He can reach. He can pull. He transfers weight from his post foot to his set foot with ease. The issues show up in balance. Oversets. The game speeds him up and knocks him off course. He needs to find a comfortable playing weight. Detroit’s decision at 17 might hinge on whether the front office sees a guard conversion, a future left tackle, or a developmental swing who buys time. There is also top-10 buzz for Proctor. Cleveland at six, Kansas City at nine, and Cincinnati at ten were floated as tackle-needy spots. If even one of them prefers him inside, his market shifts. If they see a long-term tackle, he may never reach 17. Arizona’s Leverage Over the First Round The conversation kept circling back to Arizona at three. The Cardinals, in their view, want out. If a team jumps Tennessee at four, the ripple could blow up every mock draft. A move down to the mid-first would let Arizona collect capital and still target another tackle later. That single trade could push a run at offensive line and change Detroit’s choices. If tackles come off early, the Lions may face a decision on a player they like less than the number on the board. If the run stalls, options expand. What It Means for Detroit If Proctor reaches 17, the Lions must weigh traits against tape. They can bet on a rare frame, movement skills, and coaching up balance. They can pass and pivot to another position. Or they can trade the pick. The NFL is about fit and timing. On this week’s Detroit Lions Podcast, the debate was simple and sharp: if Proctor is there, is he the right kind of bet for Detroit at 17? #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #pick17 #danieljeremiah #alabamaoffensivetackle #proctor #lefttackle #moveinsidetoguard #balanceissues #oversetting #reachandpull #arizonaatthree #clevelandatsix #kansascityatnine #cincinnatiatten Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One Year Ago, the Mocks Missed Two weeks from the 2026 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions Podcast rewinds to last spring. The mock draft pulse around Detroit told one story. The actual first round told another. The board buzzed with edge rushers and tackles. Derek Horton from Oregon surfaced. Kelvin Banks and Grey Campbell showed up. Donovan Esaraku led the projections to pick 28. Jihad Campbell appeared in multiple runs. Nick Skorton and Michael Williams stayed popular among the edge crowd. The problem was fit. Linebacker was not the urgent need some insisted it was. Jack Campbell was rising into an all‑pro level performer. Alex Anzalone held the room and covered space. Depth existed until Malcolm Rodriguez’s injury later in the year. The frenzy still pushed front‑seven names, mostly edges, into the Lions slot because it felt safe. The Pick Few Saw Coming The Detroit Lions took Tylek Williams, defensive tackle from Ohio State, in the first round. Almost no mock two weeks out had that connection. One social post on March 10, 2025, put Williams as a first‑round expectation after the combine. Then the projection shifted. Confidence wavered. Two days before the draft, a strong league voice said Williams would be the pick. That tip got ignored. The card in Detroit matched the early combine read, not the late‑cycle noise. The lesson is clear. Information gathered at the NFL combine tends to hold up. Pro days, public trackers, and the mock churn can blur the picture. The 2025 cycle did exactly that. It pushed a wave of edges and a linebacker into focus while the Detroit Lions quietly lined up a disruptive defensive tackle. The 2026 Takeaway As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, remember what actually aligned with the pick a year ago. Combine intel mattered. Need still mattered. The perception that Brad Holmes refuses to draft for need gets overstated. The stronger takeaway is more precise. He does not force edge early if the board and role do not match value. Expect heavy speculation again. You will see more edges mocked to Detroit. You will see another linebacker or two. That happened last year with Donovan Esaraku, Jihad Campbell, Nick Skorton, and Michael Williams cycling through the slot. The room, the roles, and the Lions priorities will decide, not the volume of projections. Last spring offered a blunt reminder. The earliest accurate breadcrumb came out of Indianapolis. It pointed to Tylek Williams and interior disruption. The late noise washed it out. Detroit still made the right call. Keep that framework close as the clock ticks toward the 2026 first round. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #tylekwilliams #nfldraft #mockdrafts #defensivetackle #combineintel #donovanesaraku #jihadcampbell #jackcampbell #alexanzalone #malcolmrodriguez #edgerusher #nickskorton #michaelwilliams #bradholmes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices