it\u2019s also being reported that some teams like him inside at guard as well<\/a>. The Lions should very much have Mauigoa on their radar in the first round, regardless of how their offensive line shakes out this offseason.<\/p>\nAustin Siereveld, LT, Ohio State (6-foot-5, 325) is a redshirt sophomore who is expected to return to school, but could surprise. With experience at LT, LG, and RG, he\u2019s a talent on the rise.Anez Cooper, RG, Miami (6-foot-6, 347) is a three-year starter at right guard with the size and power to fit the Lions\u2019 scheme. Likely a Day 3 prospect who could rise with a good offseason.<\/p>\n
While the best edge player in this game most certainly is Arvell Reese (LB\/ED, Ohio State, 6-foot-4, 240), it would be surprising if the Lions were within striking distance to get this hybrid demon. A Micah Parsons\/Frankie Luvu\/Kyle Van Noy-type of player, Reese would completely change the Lions\u2019 defense if they traded up to acquire him.<\/p>\n
More than likely, the Lions will stick with a more traditional edge player, which leads up to\u2026<\/p>\n
Top prospect: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (6-foot-2, 277)<\/p>\n
Bain has first-round talent, but his body type doesn\u2019t match what NFL teams typically look for on the edge. He is shorter than most and lacks the desired length. However, for the Lions, his body type isn\u2019t too far away from Josh Paschal\u2019s (6-foot-2 1\/2, 270) \u2014 though Bain\u2019s arms are quite a bit shorter. In addition to his pass rush promise, Bain also has the positional range to move up and down the defensive line.<\/p>\n
Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (6-foot-2 1\/2, 273) starts on the opposite edge from Bain but offers a similar skill set and maybe even more positional range. Mesidor is even closer to a Paschal-like clone and could end up making his living in the NFL as a 3-technique.Kenyatta Jackson, Jr., EDGE, Ohio State (6-foot-6, 260) plays a lot of 4i in the Buckeyes\u2019 scheme, which is easily translatable to the current Lions scheme, and why the Lions drafted Tyleik Williams out of Ohio State in the first round last year. Jackson could be an option for the Lions on Day 2.<\/p>\n
With Alex Anzalone on an expiring contract\u2014and coming off a recent contract dispute with the Lions\u2014Detroit may be in the market to find a starting WILL linebacker.<\/p>\n
Top prospect: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (6-foot-4, 238)<\/p>\n
A freaky athlete that would be a plug-and-play WILL linebacker, but would likely cost the Lions a first-round pick to acquire, but his upside is Jack Campbell-esque.<\/p>\n
Wesley Bissainthe, LB, Miami (6-foot-2, 226) is a four-year contributor for the Hurricanes with appealing coverage traits. He\u2019s not a complete package for most NFL teams, but there\u2019s enough to get him drafted, and he has the skills to carve out a specialty role at the next level.<\/p>\n
The Lions will enter the offseason with a potential starting slot\/nickel role to fill (Amik Robertson is a pending free agent), as well as needing a starting-level safety (or two) to carry the load while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph recover from injuries.<\/p>\n
The out-of-the-box prospect: Caleb Downs (SAF, Ohio State, 6-foot-0, 205).<\/p>\n
One of the most complete and reliable football players in this draft class, Downs can play two-deep, drop into the box as a rover, play over the slot, rarely misses tackles, and is a dynamic playmaker. There is an argument to be made that Downs is the most talented player in this draft class, but with the NFL not valuing the safety position, he could slide into the Lions\u2019 range. For as much responsibility as the Lions put on their safeties, there\u2019s an argument to be made that they can\u2019t pass up a player with his talents, and when Branch and Joseph return, you live in three-safety sets.<\/p>\n
Starting NB: Keionte Scott, DB\/NB, Miami (5-foot-11, 195)<\/p>\n
Every year, I tend to fall in love with a defensive back (Devon Witherspoon in 2023, Mike Sainristil in 2024, and Malaki Starks in 2025). This year, Scott is closing in on that title. While he\u2019ll be listed as a corner in most draft guides, I see him as a starting nickel, who is more likely to be cross-trained at safety rather than at outside corner. Aggressive, hits like a linebacker, closes with conviction, and is a more than capable blitzer, Scott is an exciting prospect to watch.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be surprised if\u2026<\/p>\n
While adding to the running back room would be a luxury, I also believe you can\u2019t have enough talented running backs, especially with the way the new special teams rules are designed in the NFL.<\/p>\n
Sleeper prospect: Mark Fletcher Jr., RB, Miami (6-foot-2, 225)<\/p>\n
A bruising downhill runner with experience in multiple blocking schemes, he\u2019s productive both on the ground and in the passing game. If available on Day 3, he\u2019d be a solid complement piece in the Lions running back room, would challenge Jacob Saylors for a reserve power role with the potential to be a David Montgomery replacement a few years down the road.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With the Detroit Lions eliminated from the 2025-26 playoffs, many fans have turned their attention to the offseason\u2014and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":101517,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[6508,53127,123,125,124,53128],"class_list":["post-101516","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-miami","tag-detroit-lions-analysis","tag-detroit-lions-draft","tag-miami","tag-miami-headlines","tag-miami-news","tag-nfl-draft-profiles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101516","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101516"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101516\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}