You’ve seen our mock drafts. Now it’s time to see yours. The Detroit Lions mock draft mailbag is back.
Thanks to everyone who submitted a mock draft, conducted by a call-out on X. Some were easier to follow than others. Some were more elaborate than others. But that’s the beauty of the draft — anyone can contribute to the conversation.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at some submissions and pick a favorite at the end.
Aaron Martin’s mock draft
• No. 17 Georgia OT Monroe Freeling
• No. 50 UCF Edge Malachi Lawrence
• No. 118 Stanford TE Sam Roushqaa
• No. 128 Stephen F. Austin CB Charles Demmings
• No. 157 Penn State QB Drew Allar
• No. 181 Kentucky WR Kendrick Law
• No. 205 Memphis OT Travis Burke
• No. 213 Clemson RB Adam Randall
• No. 222 Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder
Colton’s thoughts: Starting off strong here. My guy Aaron, like many of you, thinks the Lions will go offensive tackle. He has Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, who was available at No. 17. After Freeling blew up the combine, there was chatter that he might go top 10. It now feels like the 10-20 range could be the sweet spot for him.
Next up, Aaron adds one of my favorite edge rushers in the class in Malachi Lawrence at No. 50. Personally, I’m starting to wonder if Lawrence sneaks into the back of the first round. He’s too productive, athletic and polished to make it to No. 50, but you never know. With several Day 3 picks, TE, CB, QB (!!!), WR, OL, RB and LB were all addressed here. A solid draft to kick things off.
Pacemaker’s mock draft
• No. 25 Clemson OT Blake Miller (via the Chicago Bears; traded No. 17 for Nos. 25 and 57)
• No. 50 Arizona DB Treydan Stukes
• No. 57 Auburn Edge Keyron Crawford
• No. 66 Pitt LB Kyle Louis (via the Tennessee Titans; traded Nos. 118, 205 and a 2027 third for No. 66)
• No. 128 Georgia TE Oscar Delp
• No. 157 Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder
• No. 181 Kansas State S VJ Payne
• No. 213 Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton
• No. 222 Louisville DT Rene Konga
Colton’s thoughts: Blake Miller will be a popular pick, especially as a trade-down candidate. The Lions might have to throw in another pick to make that deal happen in real life, though, especially if it’s the Bears moving up. Treydan Stukes is a fantastic player. He’s got nickel/safety versatility. Keyron Crawford is a twitchy edge with a strong rush plan. I truly think Kelvin Sheppard could find a way to maximize his outstanding instincts and coverage skills as a weakside linebacker/big nickel. Then add in Oscar Delp and Jimmy Rolder? Excellent work.
Pierre Bargain’s mock draft
Round 1: No. 23 Auburn Edge Keldric Faulk (via the Philadelphia Eagles; traded Nos. 17 and 222 for 23 and 68)
Round 2: No. 50 Miami DB Keionte Scott
Round 3: No. 73 Pitt LB Kyle Louis (via the Miami Dolphins; traded Nos. 68 and 118 for 73 and 87)
Round 3: No. 87 Florida State DT Darrell Jackson Jr.
Round 5: No. 157 Kentucky C Jager Burton
Round 5: No. 181 Notre Dame G Billy Schrauth
Round 6: No. 205 Toledo CB Andre Fuller
Colton’s thoughts: A fun one from Pierre. I wonder if Keldric Faulk will make it to No. 23, but it’s not out of the question if teams would rather have more of a pure pass rusher. If the Lions can trade back and still land him, it’d be an excellent pickup. On Day 2, Pierre adds Keionte Scott and Kyle Louis, as well as Darrell Jackson Jr. I wonder if there’s some redundancy between Scott and Louis, since they both could be nickels in the NFL, but you could put Louis at linebacker (or safety) too. Personally, I like the idea of adding demons and figuring out where they belong later. Strong haul from Pierre.
Pumped Pistons’ mock draft
Round 1: No. 17 Auburn Edge Keldric Faulk
Round 2: No. 50 Michigan Edge Derrick Moore
Round 4: No. 118 Miami OT Markel Bell
Round 4: No. 128 LSU LB Harold Perkins
Round 5: No. 157 Washington CB Ephesians Prysock
Round 5: No. 181 Utah TE Darren Bentley
Round 6: No. 205 Texas Tech S Cole Wisniewski
Round 6: No. 213 Virginia RB J’Mari Taylor
Round 7: No. 222 Penn State OL Nolan Rucci
Colton’s thoughts: I wanted to include this one because of the discussion it warrants. First off, I’ve been wondering the same myself (re: a double-dip at edge rusher). I know it’s fun to cross off needs one by one, but how about turning a perceived weakness into a strength? That’s what this mock aims to do, with the selection of Faulk in the first and Michigan’s Derrick Moore in the second.
Granted, Faulk and Moore aren’t speed rushers, and both figure to win with power and effort at the next level. If you want a bit of a different look, you could pair Faulk with his Auburn teammate Crawford in the second. That said, Harold Perkins could fill the speed rusher role as a designated pass rusher/developmental Sam linebacker. The fourth might be high for him, but if a team has a vision, it could bet on him. Thanks for the submission!
Team Ref’s mock draft
Round 1: No. 17 Oregon S Dillon Thieneman
Round 2: No. 50 Illinois Edge Gabe Jacas
Round 4: No. 118 Pitt LB Kyle Louis
Round 4: No. 128 Florida C Jake Slaughter
Round 5: No. 157 Penn State DT Zane Durant
Round 5: No. 181 Texas A&M TE Nate Boerkircher
Round 6: No. 205 Florida Edge Tyreak Sapp
Round 6: No. 213 John Carroll WR Tyren Montgomery
Round 7: No. 222 Texas Tech CB Dontae Balfour
Colton’s thoughts: Wanted to include this one because it represents a true best player available scenario. Team Ref outlined a scenario in which the Lions aren’t sold on a tackle or edge at 17. It’s entirely plausible.
Dillon Thieneman, in particular, feels like a player who’d put the BPA mantra to the test at No. 17. He’s one of the best athletes at his position, he’s versatile, checks the character boxes and he’s a relatively clean evaluation. It could raise questions about the future of Kerby Joseph or Brian Branch, but there’s a way to make it work with all three.
Elsewhere, you’ll see the usuals like Gabe Jacas, Louis and Nate Boerkircher here. Jake Slaughter would be an interesting pick as a draft-and-stash center who could compete at guard in the meantime. Tyreak Sapp would be a high-motor competitor on Day 3. I like this haul, and it proves there are several ways to go about this draft.
Ash Soden’s mock draft
Round 1: No. 24 Clemson OT Blake Miller (via Browns; traded Nos. 17 and 118 for 24, 70 and 107)
Round 2: No. 38 Missouri Edge Zion Young (via Texans; traded Nos. 50, 128 and 213 for No. 38)
Round 3: No. 70 Pitt LB Kyle Louis
Round 4: No. 104 Southeastern Louisiana DT Kaleb Proctor
Round 5: No. 157 Texas A&M TE Nate Boerkircher
Round 5: No. 181 Kansas State S VJ Payne
Round 6: No. 205 Indiana RB Roman Hemby
Round 7: No. 222 Toledo CB Andre Fuller
Colton’s thoughts: By trading back, then trading up, the Lions come away with two first-round quality prospects in Miller and Zion Young. It’s a bit risky to trade down if you have your sights set on a player like Miller, but this feels like his range. Three potential starters here with the first three picks. I like Proctor as a DT with juice, and Ash added some other solid Day 3 players like Boerkircher and VJ Payne. Great work here.
Roasting Lab’s mock draft
Round 1: No. 17 Utah OT Spencer Fano
Round 2: No. 50 Illinois Edge Gabe Jacas
Round 4: No. 118 Pitt LB Kyle Louis
Round 4: No. 128 LSU LB Harold Perkins
Round 5: No. 157 Texas A&M TE Nate Boerkircher
Round 5: No. 181 Texas A&M DT Tyler Onyedim
Round 6: No. 205 Texas A&M OL Trey Zuhn III
Round 6: No. 213 Michigan DT Rayshaun Benny
Round 7: No. 222 Indiana S Devan Boykin
Colton’s thoughts: If the Lions come away with a haul like this, it would quiet a lotta folks.
Spencer Fano is arguably the best tackle in the class, and could realistically step in at right tackle immediately if the Lions think he’s better than Larry Borom out of the gate. If not, he could move inside to guard to allow the Lions to play their best five in 2026. I think he’s an easy choice if he’s available — even if you have to send a fourth to move up a few spots if he starts to slide.
In the second, the Lions add to the edge room with Jacas — one of my favorite fits for them. Louis slides to No. 118 here. He’s ranked No. 75 on “The Beast,” so that would be great value if it happens. Trey Zuhn III has a third-fourth-round grade and Rayshaun Benny has a fourth-fifth-round grade in “The Beast,” so getting them that late might be a bit of wishful thinking, but those are obviously no-brainer picks in a simulation.
Andrew Keck’s mock draft
Round 1: No. 23 Clemson OT Blake Miller (via Eagles; traded No. 17 for Nos. 23 and 54)
Round 2: No. 50 Illinois Edge Gabe Jacas
Round 2: No. 54 Iowa OT Gennings Dunker
Round 4: No. 125 Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher (via the New England Patriots; traded No. 118 for 125 and 191)
Round 4: No. 128 Michigan TE Marlin Klein
Round 5: No. 157 Penn State RB Kaytron Allen
Round 5: No. 181 Indiana C Pat Coogan
Round 6: No. 191 Oklahoma LB Owen Heinecke
Round 6: No. 205 Indiana RB Kaelon Black
Round 6: No. 213 Michigan State C Matt Gulbin
Round 7: No. 222 Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder
Colton’s thoughts: My man Andrew drafted the entire Big Ten. Impressive, honestly.
All jokes aside, this draft blends needs with character fits, while checking a ton of boxes. Miller, Jacas, Gennings Dunker and Bryce Boettcher feel like the sort of prospects the Lions will gravitate toward. Kaytron Allen would be a nice addition to the RB room, much like Marlin Klein to the TE room. Pat Coogan is a good reserve center option. Rolder could be a steal that late. I don’t see the Lions selecting 11 players — and would personally hate eight Day 3 picks as a beat writer covering the draft in Allen Park (I kid, I kid) — but it would address depth in a major way.
And the winner is …
After careful consideration, evaluating player rankings, draft range and realistic options, I’m giving the slight edge to Ash over Roasting Lab and Pacemaker. I think Roasting Lab’s would be the best top-to-bottom draft if the Lions could pull it off, but it almost feels too good to be true. Pacemaker’s haul is great, too, but I’m just not sure that first-round trade gets done without the Lions sending another pick back, and even the trade for Louis feels light when looking at what the Lions gave up for No. 70 last year.
Ash’s mock addresses needs without reaching for talent, the selections feel realistic and there’s good Day 3 depth. He gets my vote, but thanks again to everyone who submitted. We’re one week out from seeing how the Lions feel.