ALLEN PARK — It’s time to take a look at what draft analysts around the country are thinking for the Detroit Lions as the process heats up.
The Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game college football showcase events are taking place in the next week, so it’s time to dive in. We’ll track mock drafts from the last couple of weeks to get our roundups for the Lions started. These will eventually have more mocks, but we have enough to get started.
See below for who’s mocking whom in Detroit, with a quick breakdown to go along with each:
Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
Mocked by: ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Yahoo
Listen, it makes all the sense in the world for the Lions to take a guard if they feel he’s the best player on the board. They need more competition for interior depth, and this type of pick could signal they are actually willing to try Tate Ratledge at center. But that wouldn’t be written in stone, because one takeaway from last season is that Christian Mahogany could use some competition for a starting interior role.
Ratledge showed signs of growth as a rookie at right guard. He was a superb run blocker who continued to look more comfortable in pass protection along the way. Mahogany struggled in pass protection before and after his fibula injury and had a tough second season.
Olaivavega Ioane is a 6-foot-4, 328-pound powerhouse. Ioane spent most of his time at left guard during his three seasons at Penn State. But he also saw action at right guard, left tackle, right tackle and 17 snaps at center. He was an elite pass blocker and very strong on the ground. He allowed three sacks in 2023, then not another across his final two seasons for the Nittany Lions. Heck, he allowed only one quarterback hit across those two seasons, and only four hurries on 614 snaps this past season.
Get used to hearing his name, because at this point, it makes a ton of sense and looks like a fit. Most of these offensive linemen are going to make a ton of sense at this stage of the offseason. It will be interesting to watch the risers and fallers in the middle of the first round as draft season kicks in.
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Mocked by: Tankathon, Pro Football Network, SB Nation, Pro Football Focus
Speaking of names everyone around these parts should get used to, meet Kadyn Proctor. Taylor Decker is considering retirement. Dan Skipper just hung up his cleats to transition to coaching. And Giovanni Manu doesn’t sound ready to take over as a starting option.
With or without Decker in 2026, the Lions must plan like they won’t have the starting left tackle in the fold to avoid what happened last year with Frank Ragnow.
Proctor, 20, is a 6-foot-7, 366-pound offensive tackle who just went through the wringer inside the SEC for three seasons. He’s only played left tackle, with no snaps at any other position, and that’s OK. Proctor’s play hit new heights this year, with elite grades from Pro Football Focus on the ground and in pass protection. After PFF credited him with 12 sacks as a freshman in 2023, Prcotor has improved, allowing only two across nearly 1,000 snaps in 2025.
At his size, though, conditioning and gaining leverage in the ground game and hitting the next level are the main concerns at this point. But that size, youth and path of proven improvement are hard to ignore.
Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Mocked by: The Draft Network, USA Today
There are two offensive tackles from Utah getting some love to Detroit in the last week of mocks. Spencer Fano is an early personal favorite fit and prospect. But he’s not the only one from new Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham’s squad at Utah worth knowing.
Caleb Lomu has played most of his snaps at left tackle, with some brief work on the right side. He allowed only two sacks during his college career, with both of those coming in 2024. PFF had him with a ho-hum run-blocking grade to finish his college career. But his pass-blocking work from the left side is impressive.
Lomu’s draft profile shows a grinder who plashed some elite control and technique. The main concerns are about his athleticism and whether he can handle those electric pass rushers at the next level. If he’s the pick, discussing a move for Penei Sewell from the right to the left side would have to be considered. Sewell can do it all, and that wouldn’t be a problem. He’s an elite chess piece to have based on his versatility and ability to remain elite wherever he’s lined up at or who’s in front of him.
Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Mocked by: Fantasy Life
Fano, as noted, is a personal favorite option as we really get started on the draft process. PFF ranks him as the best offensive lineman in the draft pool. He finished last year graded as the 11th-best tackle in college football and earned the top marks the previous season for his work.
Fano didn’t allow a sack or quarterback hit last season, finishing with elite pass-blocking grades across the board. He’s a sturdy, impressive run blocker who started his career as a right tackle before playing left tackle in 2025. There feels like there is even more to what he could do on the ground, and that’s what draws me to his name. With Drew Petzing taking over as offensive coordinator, the Lions are likely to play more jumbo and heavy-set formations, and they need someone like Fano to bring it all together. And his experience at both tackle spots? That’s the good stuff, because the Lions love having options to move around their offensive line.
Fano’s physical measurements could be the factor to watch when considering his draft stock. Either way, he seems like a first-round lock and is a name that should be featured on every one of these roundups.
Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
Mocked by: Sporting News
We’ll cover the two non-offensive line prospects to make this list before finishing off with another tackle. The Lions took Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in the first round last year. Brad Holmes loves his big-school prospects and has a proven fondness for the Buckeyes in the draft.
Detroit’s edge depth is the concerning aspect of its defensive trenches. They have Alim McNeill and Williams looking like the interior starts, with DJ Reader, Roy Lopez and Levi Onwuzurike standing as pending free agents.
McDonald’s inclusion is interesting because he’s an interior prospect. When the football world was thinking edge rusher last year, Holmes targeted the interior defensive line. McDonald is the type of interior run eraser that the Lions love, no doubt. His run-stop rate of 13.8% is truly elite, and ranked as the nation’s third-best interior defender and tops against the rush, per PFF. If he’s there, it can’t be counted out, no matter how much that would frustrate some fans.
At 6-foot-3, 236 pounds, the junior would add another building block on the interior defensive line. Is it the team’s biggest need? Not at all. But we’ve all learned that doesn’t matter in Detroit.
Holmes has made it clear over and over (and over) again that he drafts the best player and best fit on the board, and isn’t a fan of forcing picks based on need.
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Mocked by: Fox Sports
The team’s pass defense was dreadful in 2025, especially down the stretch. But injuries to DJ Reed, Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr., along with safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph going down, limited them greatly.
Arnold and Reed are back, and Rakestraw will have a chance to work back from shoulder surgery and earn his spot. Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin are free agents after playing a ton of snaps last season. That said, it would be surprising to see Holmes and Co. go back to cornerback in the first round after using their first two picks on the position in 2024.
Arnold has had his struggles. But when he’s healthy and after getting his feet under him, he has been better than he gets credit for. Reed was great before his stint on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. However, he was never the same after returning. It’s fair to assume some healing time will do him well. Rakestraw is the unknown, as injuries have kept the second-rounder off the field to start his career.
Avieon Terrell fits the profile of what the Lions might need, at least. The Clemson standout has played outside, inside and all over the defense. Terrell is an outside cornerback by trade who played a career-high 110 snaps in the slot this past campaign. He allowed a completion percentage of 58.6% when targeted in coverage and was one of the top run-stopping cornerbacks in college football. Terrell allowed 30 catches on 53 targets in coverage for 344 yards and three touchdowns.
Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fl.)
Mocked by: Draftwire
Francis Mauigoa is one of those prospects who feels like he could and should start trending higher in mock drafts as the process continues. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound junior tackle is fresh off a run to the national championship game. He’s played nearly all of his career snaps at right tackle, with only 10 at right guard during his time at Miami. Like some others on this list, his presence would likely open the door for Sewell to flip sides if Decker indeed retires.
Mauigoa is one of those options who will have a potential move to guard talked about for a couple of months. He’s experienced, athletic and strong, with some concerns his build could be best suited inside. The junior could be an option to boost the interior depth, while keeping the door open for Ratledge to move to center. Ratledge has yet to take a snap at center in college or the NFL, but the Lions keep talking about it, so we have to consider the chances, no matter how much of a stretch it feels.