His Top 50 list is split evenly with 25 players on both sides of the ball, but the top 10 leans slightly toward defense with six players.
Jeremiah’s top-ranked player is Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, with the rest of his Top 5 consisting of Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State linebacker/edge rusher Arvell Reese, Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey and Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.
The Lions currently have seven picks in this year’s draft, starting with No. 17 in the first round.
Where does Jeremiah view this draft being particularly strong?
He’s got 11 wide receivers ranked in his Top 50, led by USC’s Makai Lemon at No. 7.
Next is edge rusher with eight. Jeremiah has five edge rushers ranked in his Top 20, led by Ohio State’s versatile defender Reese at No. 3.
A good chunk of Detroit’s depth at edge rusher is scheduled for free agency in March, a list that includes second-leading sacker Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had 11.0 sacks this season, along with Marcus Davenport and Tyrus Wheat. Detroit could certainly be in the market for an edge rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson in this draft depending on what happens in free agency ahead of the draft.
Tackle is another position the Lions could look to add, whether veteran Taylor Decker, 32, decides to retire or not. Utah’s Spencer Fano (No. 12) and Miami’s Francis Mauigoa (No. 13) are Jeremiah’s top two tackles in the class.
Only two interior offensive linemen made the list — Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane (No. 11) and Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis (No. 49).
There are also five cornerbacks and three safeties on the list if the Lions are looking to add depth and talent to their secondary in the first couple rounds of the draft.
Jeremiah also released his first 2026 NFL mock draft, where he has the Lions adding Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor to pair with Hutchinson at No. 17.
“Mesidor would thrive opposite Aidan Hutchinson,” Jeremiah wrote of Mesidor to Detroit. “Going from one dynamic pass-rush duo (with Rueben Bain Jr. at Miami) to another.”