Detroit has been one of the best drafting teams in the NFL under general manager Brad Holmes, but our board would have landed on a different haul for their 2026 draft class.

 

Actual selections

1.17: OT Blake Miller

2.44: EDGE Derrick Moore

4.118: LB Jimmy Rolder

5.157: CB Keith Abney II

5.168: WR Kendrick Law

6.205: DL Skyler Gill-Howard

7.222: DL Tyre West

 

Wolf Sports selections

1.17: CB D’Angelo Ponds

2.44: WR Germie Bernard

4.118: G DJ Campbell

5.157: DL Zane Durant

5.168: TE John Michael Gyllenborg

6.205: WR Deion Burks

7.222: QB Jalon Daniels

 

Thoughts

The Lions went into the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear hole at right tackle (with Penei Sewell moving to the blindside) and across from Aidan Hutchinson on the edge, so that’s where they attacked with their two selections in the top 50—taking the hard-nosed Blake Miller and the speed-rushing Derrick Moore. It sounds like the goal for Detroit was getting back to their core identity as a knee-cap-biting squad under Dan Campbell, but we wonder if they left some value on the board. That said, Miller in particular was probably going to come off the board in a hurry with the tackles drying up, so it’ll be interesting to see how things play out with their premium selections.

 

Based on our board, D’Angelo Ponds would have been the choice in Round 1 as a sticky, playmaking cornerback that fits their recent “prototype” at the position; but in real life, we like that Roger McCeary should be in line for a starting role alongside D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold—and we can’t forget about Ennis Rakestraw Jr. if he can finally stay healthy.

 

In Round 2, the options were Germie Bernard or CJ Allen by going best player available, but it made more sense to load up the offense with Jack Campbell entrenched as the middle linebacker. Realistically, a trade might have made the most sense if we were able to control the board, though it’d have almost been a video-game supporting cast by adding Bernard alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams with Jahmyr Gibbs at running back and Sam LaPorta at tight end.

 

The concern would be offensive tackle not being addressed, but Larry Borom is serviceable, and the interior was the bigger issue for the Lions in 2025. With that in mind, DJ Campbell is a great insurance policy at guard, and on the defensive line, we believe Zane Durant has more of a chance to make an impact over the combination of Skyler Gill-Howard and Tyre West that Detroit drafted.

 

For the other real-life selections, the Lions sound like they are very high on Jimmy Rolder as another Michigan defender taken in Round 4, fifth-rounder Keith Abney II should provide some versatility as a backup in the secondary to begin his career, and Kendrick Law could compete with Greg Dortch for snaps in the role vacated by Kalif Raymond.