{"id":625259,"date":"2026-05-05T17:51:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/625259\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T17:51:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:51:08","slug":"2026-detroit-lions-draft-examining-the-grit-character-of-all-7-picks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/625259\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Detroit Lions draft: Examining the grit, character of all 7 picks"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Lions acquired seven new players in the 2026 NFL Draft<\/a>, adding a new influx of young, gritty players to the roster. Some players will immediately challenge for starting roles, while others will compete for situational\/reserve roles or roster spots in general, but each of them fits the Lions organization in their own way.<\/p>\n

This offseason, we implemented the fourth iteration of the Grit Index<\/a>, with the hope of contextualizing what they are looking for when they say they want players with \u201cGrit.\u201d To do this, we aggregate data from respected NFL Draft analysts, looking for key terms and context, while also acknowledging that the system is based on imperfect and incomplete information, and overall, just a piece of the draft evaluation process.<\/p>\n

Grit index\u2019s \u201celite\u201d players<\/p>\n

This year, we made some modifications to the Grit Index<\/a>, aiming to further hone our system to meet the expectations of Lions general manager Brad Holmes. In this year\u2019s update, we ended up with 30 players who finished with an \u201celite\u201d score (9.0+), roughly 7% of this year\u2019s top 400+ players, and six \u201cupper elite\u201d (9.5+) players, roughly 1% of this year\u2019s class.<\/p>\n

Of those in the elite tier, 28 were drafted, including six in the first round, 10 on Day 2 of the draft, 12 on Day 3, and two went undrafted. Of the \u201cupper elite,\u201d four of the six were drafted in the first round, with the remaining two off the board by pick No. 43 overall, at the top of the second round.<\/p>\n

While there are nearly enough elite Grit players for every NFL team to secure one, only 17 teams seized the opportunity, with the Lions and Bears (Hey, Ben Johnson!) securing 25% of the elite Grit players who were drafted.<\/p>\n

4 elite Grit players: Bears3 elite Grit players: Lions2 elite Grit players: Colts, Dolphins (2+UDFA), Raiders, Ravens, Steelers, and Texans1 elite Grit player: Broncos (UDFA), Chargers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Eagles, Jaguars, Jets, Panthers, and PatriotsNone: 15 did not draft an elite Grit player (including Vikings and Packers)<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at how the Lions\u2019 seven draft picks scored in the 2026 Grit Index, discuss their ranking, and explore if there was anything the current system missed.<\/p>\n

The Lions\u2019 Grit Index scores for their 2026 draft class<\/p>\n

Round 1, pick 17: Blake Miller, RT, Clemson<\/a>: 9.67 (6th overall – \u201cupper elite\u201d tier)Round 2, pick 44: Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan<\/a>: 6.68Round 4, pick 118: Jimmy Rolder, LB, Michigan<\/a>: 6.97Round 5, pick 157: Keith Abney, CB, Arizona State<\/a>: 9.07 (26th overall)Round 5, pick 168: Kendrick Law, Slot WR, Kentucky<\/a>: 4.84Round 6, pick 205: Skyler Gill-Howard, DL, Texas A&M<\/a>: 9.42 (8th overall)Round 7, pick 222: Tyre West, DL, Tennessee<\/a>: 2.57<\/p>\n

Blake Miller, RT, Clemson: 9.67 (6th overall)<\/p>\n

With Miller one of the six players landing in the \u201cupper elite,\u201d plus the Lions\u2019 need at right tackle, the dots connected in a way that made him the logical choice at pick No. 17 in the first round. In fact, he was such a good fit that he was the primary focus of our first article, which delved deeper into certain positions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In that piece, we discussed the traits that secured Miller the top Grit Index score amongst offensive tackles:<\/p>\n

Leadership: He was a team captain at Clemson.Intelligence: Film junkie translates to on-field production.Perseverance: Despite growing up in Ohio, his dad being an Ohio State graduate, and receiving an offer from the Buckeyes (who were just in the College Football National Championship), he opted to forge his own path at Clemson.Dependability\/Work Ethic: Doesn\u2019t cheat his teammates or himself with his commitment to the team.Durability: 54 straight starts over four seasons (Clemson record).Toughness: Broke wrist in spring workouts, missed just one practice (for the surgery), and was back on the field the next day.Preparation: That practice was the only one he missed during his career at Clemson.Intangibles: Began weight lifting at age eight, then wrestling in high school (State Champion).Awards: Freshman All-American, Three-time All-ACC.Football character: Quote from NFL Scout (via Dane Brugler\u2019s The Beast<\/a>), \u201cI think he missed one practice in four years. The thought of letting down his coaches and teammates kills him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Honestly, not much. There was a ton of focus on this year\u2019s offensive tackle class, and we did our best to explore them in detail over several months of research.<\/p>\n

Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan: 6.68<\/p>\n

Moore is a great example of how the Grit Index is only part of a player\u2019s overall profile, and exposes some of the limitations of our current design. From a schematic standpoint, Moore is a terrific fit for the Lions, but from a Grit standpoint, and with a need to upgrade the edge rusher position, the pick makes a ton of sense.<\/p>\n

However, Moore\u2019s score was only average, even though he showed well in diversifying where he earned positive marks on the index:<\/p>\n

Leadership: Captain at Michigan, was called a \u201cquiet\u201d leaderSelflessness: Called an \u201cunselfish player,\u201d willing to do dirty work and let others find successToughness: Physical edge setterCompetitiveness: Relentless motorInstincts: Great feel for the game, both vs. pass and runIntelligence: Above-average IQ and awareness of play-designSelf-efficacy: \u201cI like that he knows what he does well as a rusher and capitalizes on it.\u201d \u2013 AFC national scout via NFL.com profile<\/a><\/p>\n

There were a few things working against us in properly projecting Moore\u2019s grit.<\/p>\n

First, a couple of profiles on Moore were published after we finalized our index. For example, Todd McShay published his profile on Moore<\/a> in the final week before the draft and included notes on his versatility, instincts, and awareness. While NFL.com\u2019s Daniel Jeremiah did not have a profile on Moore, this also limited our data. We also reexamined our sources to see whether we were overly critical in some areas, which we may have been. Those corrections alone would likely have elevated his score to close to 8.0 (putting him in the top 100 in the class), but we didn\u2019t want to compromise the process.<\/p>\n

Additionally, it\u2019s important to note that our system depends on information being passed along from schools to scouts to media, etc. And with the chaotic circumstances the Michigan coaches and program were sorting through this past offseason, it\u2019s likely there was a disconnect in the information chain about prospects. For example, of the eight Michigan prospects to earn a Grit score in this class, only one (Fullback Max Bredeson) finished in the top 130, with the rest of the Wolverines finishing lower than expected\u2014for reference, in 2025, Michigan had four players in that range.<\/p>\n

While there\u2019s not much we can do about the lack of information or the timing of its release, this situation has given us something to contemplate for future evolutions of our index.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Rolder, LB, Michigan: 6.97<\/p>\n

Entering Day 3 of the draft, the Lions tend to prioritize players with upside and\/or those with unique or specialized traits. Rolder is an example of the former, as he appears to be an ascending prospect who was limited by his experience during the evaluation process.<\/p>\n

Rolder, like Moore, was likely limited by the information coming out of Ann Arbor, but still scored well in several areas, with high marks surrounding his instincts:<\/p>\n

Versatility: contributes at multiple off-ball linebacker spots and is very experienced on special teamsInstincts: Ascending instincts beyond those of a first-year starter, \u201cGPS\u201d to the football, a natural feel for the timing of the game, sifts through the wash with efficiencyIntelligence: 3-time All-Academic Big-Ten honoreeLeadership: \u201cGlowing character feedback from Michigan staff (NFL scout: \u2018No \u2018selfish\u2019 to him. .. (He\u2019s a) coach-pleaser and does what is asked.\u2019).\u201d \u2014 via Dane Brugler\u2019s The Beast<\/a><\/p>\n

The two main areas where Rolder\u2019s grit profile was hindered were the situation at Michigan (discussed above) and his limited experience, leading to less data. In all likelihood, with his level of experience, this final score is probably accurate based on the information available.<\/p>\n

Keith Abney, CB, Arizona State: 9.07 (26th overall)<\/p>\n

From a talent perspective, Abney was considered a steal for the Lions. Not only does his college game film point to a top-100 player, but his Grit Index score puts him in the \u201celite\u201d category. Abney has a quality array of grit attributes, scoring multiple times in multiple areas, most notably competitiveness and instincts:<\/p>\n

\u201cDo-everything\u201d athlete: National Champion\/record holder as an inline speed skaterCompetitive: Plays bigger than size, initiates contact, \u201ccompetitive temperament,\u201d \u201ccompetitive fire,\u201d and takes pride as an elite run defender, feisty, fights through the catch pointPhysical: \u201cNo free rides.\u201dInstincts: Great feel for play design, route anticipation, elite read-and-react twitch, impressive \u201cinstincts and anticipation.\u201dIntelligence: Above-average IQVersatility: Ability to stay on the outside or kick in to the slotLeadership: Culture setter, especially for new coaching staff: \u201cHe\u2019s trusted and well-respected in (Arizona State\u2019s) building. Very competitive and very smart.\u201d – AFC regional scout, via NFL.com profile<\/a><\/p>\n

Not much. Abney has a unique story, and his on-field mentality perfectly matches what the Lions seek.<\/p>\n

Kendrick Law, Slot WR, Kentucky: 4.84<\/p>\n

Law is a dynamic offensive weapon who is also expected to continue to contribute on special teams in a variety of ways. As a Day 3 offensive skill player, information is limited and mainly focused on his on-field skills, but he did earn grit points in the following areas:<\/p>\n

Physical: Big-time blockerToughness: Possesses an edge in blocking situations, not scared to go over the middle, YACVersatility: Extensive special teams background<\/p>\n

Upon reexamining our sources, we didn\u2019t have much to correct, but upon further research, Law should have received more acknowledgment for his leadership. What we didn\u2019t know at the time was that Kentucky doesn\u2019t have permanent captains; instead, it rotates them each game. As a result, we missed the multiple times that Law was named a captain for specific games. That wouldn\u2019t have had a large impact on his overall score, but it would have elevated it.<\/p>\n

Skyler Gill-Howard, DL, Texas Tech: 9.42 (8th overall)<\/p>\n

Gill-Howard is a great example of the Lions betting on a player\u2019s character on Day 3. Not only does he bring an interior pass-rushing element to the roster\u2014something the Lions need\u2014but he also is an impressive person both on and off the field:<\/p>\n

Football and Personal Adversity: Path from Div II to the NFL story is so good, we\u2019ve written about it<\/a>\u2026 twice<\/a>Work Ethic: Held down a job at FedEx for three years while attending school and playing footballPerseverance: Bet on himself twice via the transfer portal, lacked scholarship for 3 seasonsPassion: \u201cEffort isn\u2019t a concern.\u201dCompetitiveness: Non-stop motor, sense of urgencyIntelligence: Wealth of pass rush moves, understands how to string them togetherLeadership: Team and Game Captain, his leadership capabilities will stand out for NFL coaches, \u201cAccountable and carries himself like a captain (NFL scout: \u2018They\u2019re gonna miss his \u2018big brother\u2019 energy in that building.\u2018).\u201d \u2014 via Dane Brugler\u2019s The Beast<\/a><\/p>\n

Feel good about this score.<\/p>\n

Tyre West, DL, Tennessee: 2.57<\/p>\n

West is a unique prospect in that he wasn\u2019t a starter on Tennessee\u2019s defense and wasn\u2019t invited to the Combine, making information from trusted sources scarce:<\/p>\n

Versatility: A bit of a tweener who plays on the edge and can kick insideCompetitiveness: Non-stop motor<\/p>\n

As we dive deeper into our research, we have uncovered more data on West\u2019s versatility, competitiveness, energy, emotion, and passion. The issue here was that this information was not coming from our primary sources, making the data points a bit less reliable. Unfortunately, this is a dilemma that impacts most prospects that land further down the rankings, and there is no clean solution. We don\u2019t want to compromise the integrity of our standards, but with limited information, it\u2019s also a hurdle most late-round prospects will struggle to overcome.<\/p>\n

In 2025, the Lions drafted four players in the top 41 of our Grit index<\/a>, and this year, they landed three players in the top 26. While the system is still being tweaked, modified, and upgraded, the core principles are solid. Half of the 14 players drafted in the last two draft classes were considered at or near \u201celite,\u201d and the Lions landed an \u201cupper elite\u201d top-6 Grit Index player in both classes: Miller (6th) in 2026, and Tate Ratledge (3rd) in 2025.<\/p>\n

Overall, most of the methods will remain intact, as we believe the Grit Index accurately reflects what the Lions value.<\/p>\n

That being said, we do plan to make some minor tweaks in the future to help offset some of the things we missed this year. First, we are adding a few new concepts to track, such as the word \u201cfinisher,\u201d which was a popular phrase amongst this Lions group. Next, we will begin our research earlier in the year to gather more data on some of the deeper prospects. Lastly, we are planning to add some \u201cposition-specific\u201d traits to properly boost the scores of players with limited profiles; i.e., wide receivers who excel at blocking (like Law) will get recognition.<\/p>\n

One final note. I am often asked about \u201cnegative scoring\u201d on players who have had on-field suspensions or off-the-field arrests. At this time, we do not apply any penalties to a player\u2019s score, as we often don\u2019t see the full picture surrounding the events. This is something we are contemplating adding, but have not rendered a final decision on.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Detroit Lions acquired seven new players in the 2026 NFL Draft, adding a new influx of young,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":625260,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[2131,16911,349,99],"class_list":["post-625259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-detroit-lions-analysis","tag-detroit-lions-draft","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/625259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=625259"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/625259\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/625260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=625259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=625259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=625259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}