As the calendar flips from October to November, the path to the 2026 NFL Draft draws ever closer. That means the Detroit Lions are getting closer to figuring out who they might target in April’s draft, and it’s getting easier to sort through prospects who might intrigue the Lions. From positions of need to players who fit the Lions culture under head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes, finding fits is still a work in progress, but it gets clearer with each passing week of college football.

Here are some potential Lions draft prospects to watch over the Halloween weekend.

Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State

Igbinosun is almost straight out of the Detroit Lions wishbook for an outside cornerback. The 6-2 senior brings length, strength and physicality to both the run and pass game. There isn’t a better cornerback at controlling the receiver’s release off press-man coverage in this draft.

The issue for Igbinosun, at least a huge issue coming into 2025, was that he was more penalty-prone than current Lions CB Terrion Arnold as a rookie. He was guilty of 16 penalties in 2024, the most in college football. It hindered his draft potential enough that he returned to school. Igbinosun has clearly worked very hard on being excessively handsy in coverage. Through Ohio State’s first seven games, he has more PDs (4) than penalties (2) while continuing to be very effective in man coverage and attacking the run.

The Buckeyes play Penn State on Saturday in a matchup that has lost considerable luster after the Nittany Lions’ rough start. Igbinosun benefits from playing behind a tremendous pass rush and with outstanding safety play, and that’s necessary context to evaluate Igbinosun. It’s also a way to envision what he can do in Detroit’s defense as a potential top-60 pick.

Pat Coogan, C, Indiana

I saw Coogan play in person twice while he was the starting center at Notre Dame and his physical presence was very reminiscent of Frank Ragnow. They’re almost exactly the same size and get out of their initial stance in much the same way, taller centers who uncoil as they rise post-snap rather than robotically getting tall.

Now at Indiana, Coogan has proven he can handle the Hoosiers’ more gap-oriented run blocking scheme with aplomb. He’s not as initially quick or laterally as fast as Ragnow, but for a current third-day projection, Coogan offers considerable upside in an NFL-ready package. His leadership is already revered in Bloomington, and his relentless energy should hold real appeal for Detroit. Coogan and the Hoosiers are big favorites against Maryland, though the Terrapins have proven to be stout against the run this year–a nice challenge for the big center.

Jalen Huskey, S, Maryland

Sticking with the Indiana-Maryland matchup, the Terps have a safety who probably merits more draft buzz than he’s getting. A well-built 6-foot-2 and listed 201 pounds, Huskey can lower the boom over the middle as a high defender, but he’s also capable of crashing the run in the box. The coverage doesn’t always look super clean, but Huskey has allowed just 53 receiving yards on 13 targets this year, and his physical style is death to YAC. His QB Rating allowed in coverage is a very impressive 17.8.

I haven’t extensively evaluated Huskey yet, but his play in watching broadcast feeds of Maryland against Northern Illinois and Washington certainly merits a deeper look. Facing a likely top-10 overall pick, IU QB Fernando Mendoza, and a diverse Hoosiers passing attack will show how well Huskey has progressed in his second season at Maryland after two very good years at Bowling Green. I’m looking for ball skills and reactive quickness, traits the Lions covet in their safeties.

Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor

Trigg is in the short conversation for the No. 2 TE in the draft class after Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq, who should be off the board before the Lions pick in the first round. If Trigg and his outstanding hands, balance and dynamic receiving ability are still available when Detroit picks later on, he’s a strong option as a talented, receiving-oriented TE capable of playing as a big slot or a motion piece.

You may have noticed I didn’t mention his blocking. Trigg gives effort but needs a lot of technical refining, and he’s just not that physically strong at 240 pounds. He’s also got to appropriately answer questions about his shadowy departure from Ole Miss, which came after a prior transfer from USC. If Trigg’s character passes muster, he’s a player who could look very good playing with Sam LaPorta in 2-TE sets in Detroit.

Baylor plays at home against UCF on Saturday.

Rohan Jones, TE, Arkansas

Keeping with the receiving TE with multiple transfers theme, Jones has stood out for the Razorbacks despite limited opportunities. A native Canadian who played at Maine and then Montana State before transferring to Arkansas for his final year, Jones has proven to be a YAC monster with soft hands and decent route-running savvy.

In recent games against Texas A&M and Auburn, Jones definitely maximized his touches. His instant transition from receiver to runner and open-field speed are very impressive. Check out the speed on this highlight:

Interestingly, Jones appears to have taken over the basic role Lions rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa performed for the Razorbacks the last two seasons even though he’s a tight end. At a listed 6-3 and 240, Jones is not that much bigger than TeSlaa and also isn’t necessarily a better blocker in the run game. He’s a later-round big slot with dynamic speed for his position and strong special teams potential. Jones and the Razorbacks host Mississippi State this week.

Nadame Tucker, DE, Western Michigan

I’ll be in Kalamazoo for the battle between Central Michigan and Western Michigan, and one of my primary focuses will be on Tucker. A transfer from Houston, where he barely played, Tucker has exploded in 2025. The first WMU game I watched this year was against Ball State, a matchup in which Tucker bagged 3.5 sacks, 2 other tackles at the line of scrimmage and looked unblockable around the edge.

Tucker plays with impressive power for a 250-pounder, similar to recent Lions practice squadder Mitchell Agude. I’ve seen more quickness off the snap and diversity in pass-rush counters from Tucker, who can rip with either hand and has a strong speed-to-power bull attacking the inside shoulder of the tackle. I’m intrigued to see Tucker play in person to see if he does indeed fit the Grit. The Lions are slated to have a scout in attendance, too.