The 2026 NFL Draft will be here before you know it. We have less than a month to go before 257 young men achieve their dream of reaching the NFL. Rosters for the upcoming season are taking shape. All 32 teams have started switching their focus from free agency to the draft. That includes the Detroit Lions, who still have several holes scattered throughout the roster. If the Lions want to get back to the players, GM Brad Holmes must hit on this draft class. With the 17th overall pick, Holmes has an opportunity to select a day-one starter and immediate difference maker. Plenty of talented players will be available when Detroit is on the clock. Here are the top 5 first-round targets for the Detroit Lions.

1 Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

With Taylor Decker released, the Lions have no need that looms larger than left tackle. Only Larry Borom was signed by Detroit in free agency. Borom would be a fine swing tackle, but Holmes needs to add more at the position. Luckily for the Lions, this draft is loaded with tackles. At least two or three will be off the board before Detroit picks. Hopefully, Kadyn Proctor won’t be one of them.

Proctor, the 6’7, 352-pound monster from Alabama, was Detroit’s first pick in my latest Lions’ mock draft. The impressive tackle has loads of experience, with 40 career starts in college. Proctor also has elite athleticism, earning a 9.28 RAS score at the Combine. With as high a ceiling as any tackle in this draft, it would be a huge mistake for Holmes to pass on Proctor if he is still on the board at 17. Having Penei Sewell on one side and Proctor on the other would give the Lions’ offensive line one of the most talented tackle duos in the league.

The Lions’ recent string of success has been built on the strength of their offensive line. Adding an enormous talent like Proctor will help Detroit’s line get back to its dominant ways.

2. Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

If Proctor is already gone when the Lions are up, or if Holmes decides to go in a different direction, Akheem Mesidor should be the pick. The 6’3, 270-pound edge was my top choice in both my first and third mocks for the Lions. I assumed Holmes would be more aggressive and find a suitable LT in free agency. He did not.

Mesidor is the next best option for Detroit. Armed with a refined and deep pass-rush arsenal, the 25-year-old Mesidor would be a perfect running mate for Aidan Hutchinson. The former Miami Hurricane is exactly what Kelvin Sheppard’s defense has been missing. Mesidor is versatile, has violent hands, and an explosive first step.

Al-Quadin Muhammad left for Tampa Bay, and Holmes has only brought in D.J. Wonnum and Payton Turner in free agency. Though both new additions were smart, low-risk signings, neither can replace the pass-rushing juice that Muhammad had. That won’t be a problem with Mesidor, who finished his 2025 season with 12.5 sacks. Having to block both Hutchinson and Mesidor would give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares.

3. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Dillon Thieneman is a dynamic and very intriguing option for the Lions in the first round. The only other prospect I have mocked to Detroit with its first pick, Thieneman, had an absolutely electrifying performance at February’s Combine.

Measuring at 6-feet and 201 pounds, the Oregon star dazzled with a 4.35 forty-yard dash. Combine with an eye-popping showing in explosion drills (41-inch vertical and 10’ 5’ broad jump), Thieneman might have been the biggest winner of the week’s festivities.

The Lions’ superstar safety tandem of Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, unfortunately, can’t be counted on in 2026. Branch will miss most, if not all, of the upcoming year with a torn Achilles. Joseph’s chronic left knee injury has cast doubts over his availability as well. Thieneman would be a huge boon for Detroit’s secondary.

I do believe Detroit will prioritize tackle and edge before any other positions. Adding a playmaker like Thieneman, who can play all over the defense, is certainly an attractive proposition. Many mocks have the former Duck ending up with either the Minnesota Vikings or the Chicago Bears. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.

4. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

If the Lions don’t select Proctor as their LT of the future, Caleb Lomu should get plenty of consideration. The redshirt sophomore is only 21 years old and has tremendous upside. Lomu is already a gifted pass-protector, earning an 82.1 pass-blocking grade from PFF in 2025. Bringing him into the fold should make QB Jared Goff very happy.

Lomu has good size at 6’6 and 313 pounds. A plus athlete, Lomu has very fluid mobility and quickly processes whatever the defense throws at him. Lomu explodes out of his stance and is very sound technically with his hands. With the ability to play either tackle spot, Lomu is a very appealing prospect for the Lions.

Just like with Kadyn Proctor, Lomu would bring an infusion of youth and talent that the Lions’ offensive line desperately needs. Holmes has seemingly backed himself into a corner when it comes to drafting a tackle very early. Lomu’s polish as a pass-blocker and very high floor/ceiling make him an enticing option.

 

5. Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

Staying on the offensive line, Olaivavega Ioane would be another stellar pick for Detroit. Though not as large a need as tackle, the Lions could certainly look to improve their talent at guard. Ioane would be a significant upgrade over Christian Mahogany at left guard and would become an immediate starter for Detroit. Along with last year’s second-round pick, Tate Ratledge, the Lions would have two young studs as their guards.

Ioane is 6’4, 325 pounds, and boasts an immovable anchor. Another premier blocker in the passing game, Ioane gave up zero sacks or QB hits in 2025. Ioane is a “mauler” whose incredible grip strength can instantly neutralize a defender. The former Nittany Lion has the talent to be a perennial Pro-Bowler and would be a pillar of Detroit’s offensive line for the next decade.

If the Lions want to erase the sting of last season’s disappointment, they must replicate the draft success Brad Holmes enjoyed in 2021-2023. Selecting any of these five prospects in the first round would be a great start to an incredibly important draft.