The Detroit Lions are in the final stages of putting together their draft board.
Lions president Rod Wood said the team brought in its medical staff this week to go over the injury history of prospects who could go high in the draft for what he jokingly referred to as “The Dream Killer Meeting, because you fall in love with players and then you find out all these issues that you have to be aware of.”
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On Friday, the Lions were set to go through mock draft scenarios as they try to map out not just the pool of players that will be available to them with the 17th pick of the first round but who might slip to them later in the draft as well.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes speaks during media availability at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes speaks during media availability at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes watches warmups between Michigan and Ohio State at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes watches warmups ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes takes a selfie with fans ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes arrives at Northwest Stadium before the win against the Washington Commanders in Landover, Md. on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes, left, and assistant general manager Ray Agnew walk off the field during warm up at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Martha Ford talks to general manager Brad Holmes during warm up at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes watches warmups in the season opener in Week 1 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes laughs with Miami Dolphins coaches during a joint practice at the Lions headquarters and training facility in Allen Park, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Former Lions player Robert Porcher shakes hands with general manager Brad Holmes after practice at training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, left, talks to team president and CEO Rod Wood and general manager Brad Holmes after practice during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes celebrates after his speech to graduates during North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s spring commencement at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes looks on before heading out for the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University spring commencement at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes hugs his son Bradley, 7, and daughter Lola, 4, after receiving the A & T Four statue to honor him as this year’s commencement speaker after speaking at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Spring 2025 commencement at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes hugs Tia Jenkins, whom he referred as “team mom” during his years as a football player on the N.C. A & T team, after speaking at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Spring 2025 commencement at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes, left, talks to coach Dan Campbell as they walk off the field after practice during rookie minicamp at the Lions’ Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Friday, May 9, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Lions general manager and executive vice president Brad Holmes, new first-round defensive lineman Tyleik Williams and coach Dan Campbell on Friday, April 25, 2025 at the Lions’ headquarters in Allen Park.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions Executive Vice President & General Manager Brad Holmes speaks to the press about their season, how it ended and what’s next at the Detroit Lions headquarters and training facility in Allen Park, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions Executive Vice President & General Manager Brad Holmes speaks to the press about their season, how it ended and what’s next at the Detroit Lions headquarters and training facility in Allen Park, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes is recognized during the first half of the game between Detroit Pistons and Golden State Warriors at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes, left, and Lions head coach Dan Campbell head off the practice field at the team’s training facility in Allen Park on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions president and CEO Rod Wood talks general manager Brad Holmes during rookie minicamp at Detroit Lions headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park on Friday, May 10, 2024.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes, left, talks with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the Lions game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field, Nov. 19, 2023.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes walks off the field after the 20-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes shows appreciation for fans as he walks onto the field ahead of the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Former Lions receiver Calvin Johnson and general manager Brad Holmes talk after minicamp on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Allen Park.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (0) fist bumps general manager Brad Holmes as head coach Dan Campbell (center) looks on and during mini camp at Detroit Lions Headquarters and Training Facility in Allen Park on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell, Jahmyr Gibbs from Alabama, Jack Campbell from Iowa, and general manager Brad Holmes pose during the players’ introductory news conference at team headquarters in Allen Park on Friday, April 28, 2023.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes during the NFL scouting combine at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, March 1, 2023.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
(From left) Lions coach Dan Campbell, first-round picks Jamison Williams and Aidan Hutchinson and GM Brad Holmes posed before the news conference on Friday, April 29, 2022, at the Allen Park practice facility.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Lions general manager Brad Holmes speaks to reporters during the NFL combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Indianapolis.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Lions GM Brad Holmes speaks to the media on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Allen Park.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Detroit Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp talks to general manager Brad Holmes during organized team activities at Lions headquarters in Allen Park, Thursday, May 27, 2021.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Lions general manager Brad Holmes speaks to the media on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Allen Park.
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Brad Holmes, general manager who rebuilt Detroit Lions into NFL contender
Lions general manager Brad Holmes speaks to the media on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Allen Park.
In similar fashion, this has become one of my favorite exercises of draft season, mocking out the Lions’ picks for the first two days and conjuring up different scenarios for how the Lions can best use their draft capital.
This year, the Lions have nine picks: No. 17 in Round 1, No. 50 in Round 2 and seven more picks on Day 3. I can’t see them making a big move up in the first round given the price, their lack of a third-round choice and the reluctance they and others are likely to have parting with premium picks in what looks like a strong 2027 draft.
I can see them landing a player they love at 17 – I did two beat writer mock drafts this week and was pleasantly surprised by the choices available in both – or moving down in Round 1, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Brad Holmes adds a third-round pick to his war chest to draft another rookie who could contribute this fall.
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Here are three scenarios I see playing out for how the first three rounds could unfold next week:
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Rock chalk
AUBURN, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 11: Monroe Freeling #57 of the Georgia Bulldogs blocks Chris Murray #3 of the Auburn Tigers during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
No. 17: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
No. 50: Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois
The Lions’ biggest needs are offensive tackle and defensive end and they address both in this scenario by staying put and letting the board come to them. Freeling is a bit raw as a prospect with just 17 college starts, but he’s a fluid athlete with tremendous upside and the length to stick at tackle in the NFL. I project Freeling to go in the top-15, but he was on the board in both of the beat writer mocks I did – Utah’s Spencer Fano, one of the draft’s top two tackles, also was on the board in one – and he’d be a fit for a Lions team that’s spent the entire offseason retooling its offensive front. If Freeling is gone, Clemson’s Blake Miller or Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor could be the offensive line pick at 17.
Nov 1, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) celebrates his sack on Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Jacas, meanwhile, led the Big Ten with 11 sacks last season and is a powerful run defender who served as a team captain at Illinois. He doesn’t project as a prolific NFL pass rusher, but he would give the Lions a competent edge to pair with Aidan Hutchinson for the next four years. The Lions still have two fourth-round picks to play with in this scenario, but those picks are deep enough they may not be able to package them and move back up into the third round.
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The trade down
No. 23: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
No. 50: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
No. 68: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
In this scenario, the Lions move down six spots in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, add an extra third-round pick at No. 68 overall and give up their first pick in the fourth round (No. 118). The move allows them to address their most pressing needs in the trenches and add some insurance in the secondary in Johnson, a tough-nosed corner who returned two of his four interceptions last season for touchdowns.
NFL DRAFT 2026: Why Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love should be top-10 pick
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Faulk has the type of big frame (6 feet 6, 276 pounds) the Lions like in their linemen. He’s a stout run defender who checks the character box and has plenty of upside at 21 years old. He only had two sacks last season, but he’d contribute immediately as a bookend to Hutchinson who could slide inside on passing downs.
If the Lions don’t address their offensive tackle need in Round 1, they might be out of luck landing a first-year starter. Tiernan played both tackle spots at Northwestern and could be a solid sixth lineman as a rookie, though long-term future might be inside at guard. A Detroit Country Day product, Tiernan has a load of experience and imposing size as 6 feet 8 and 323 pounds.
Best Player Available
No. 17: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
No. 56: Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan
No. 88: Bud Clark, S, TCU
If Holmes really is about taking the best player available, then McCoy or Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq could be the surprise pick if they make it to 17. McCoy missed all of last season with a torn ACL so it’s possible he got bumped from the Lions list in The Dream Killer Meeting. If his knee checks out, though, he’s a proven ballhawk who has a chance to be the best cornerback in the draft and he’d fill a sneaky need for a Lions team that has questions about Terrion Arnold’s future.
Dec 30, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Southern California Trojans running back Bryan Jackson (21) attempts to catch the ball against TCU Horned Frogs safety Bud Clark (21) in the first half during the Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
I don’t see a ton of trade-down options for the Lions at 50 based on the trade value chart, who picks behind them and the draft capital of those other teams, but the Jacksonville Jaguars could be one team looking to move up from their first pick of the draft at No. 56. The Jaguars give up their second of three third-rounders in this scenario and get the Lions’ first fourth-rounder in return.
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The Lions use 56 to form an all-Michigan edge tandem with Moore and Hutchinson. Moore is a power rusher and team captain who had 10 sacks last season and could split time as a rookie with free-agent addition D.J. Wonnum. At No. 88, the Lions can address a need at tight end, safety or linebacker. I gave them Clark, an instinctive safety who had 15 interceptions in his final four college seasons and would be insurance for Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. The Lions don’t add an offensive lineman in the first three rounds in this scenario, but have plenty of picks on Day 3 to add more competition to that room.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NFL draft: 3 ways Detroit Lions can attack needs in first 3 rounds