Watching NFL Draft projections in January can trigger your vertigo, as analysts scramble to adjust their projections from pre-season expectations to end-of-season results.<\/p>\n
In the first two installments<\/a> of this year\u2019s Mock Draft Roundup series<\/a>, we saw the majority of NFL Draft analysts projecting the Lions to land Miami right tackle Francis Mauigoa. However, with Mauigoa getting a lot more attention during the College Football Playoffs\u2014including playing in the National Championship last Monday\u2014and NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler of The Athletic suggesting Mauigoa could be drafted among the top six picks in this year\u2019s NFL Draft<\/a>, we\u2019ve seen a dramatic shift in how other analysts are adjusting their expectations.<\/p>\n As a result, Mauigoa was only connected to the Lions once this week\u2014as was Utah\u2019s Spencer Fano, who Brugler also noted as a potential top-six pick\u2014and instead, we\u2019ve seen a heavy shift in projections (nine of the 24 we examined this week) for the Lions to snag the player many consider the third-best offensive tackle in this class: Alabama\u2019s Kayden Proctor.<\/p>\n With that in mind, let\u2019s take a look at which NFL Draft prospects are being mocked to the Lions (who hold the No. 17 overall pick<\/a>) this week.<\/p>\n Francis Mauigoa, RT, Miami (6-foot-6, 325) Spencer Fano, RT, Utah (6-foot-5, 300) Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama (6-foot-7, 360) \u201cAlthough Penei Sewell is a proven star, Taylor Decker is in his 30s and coming off his lowest-graded season since 2017. It\u2019s time for the Lions to think about a long-term replacement at left tackle.<\/p>\n \u201cThe best options on the left side are Proctor and Utah\u2019s Caleb Lomu. While both are strong prospects, Detroit opts for the 20-year-old Proctor here. He earned 80.0-plus PFF grades as a run blocker and in pass protection in 2025.\u201c \u2014 McGuinness<\/p>\n Ioane Vega, LG, Penn State (6-foot-4, 335) \u201cThe Lions aren\u2019t far from getting back to being NFC contenders, but they\u2019ll need to get a bit more talented on their offensive line to have a more consistent offense to close out seasons and games. Ioane has the size and athleticism that head coach Dan Campbell has grown to covet in his offensive linemen and fits Detroit\u2019s bruising style of play.\u201d \u2014 McDonald<\/p>\n Caleb Lomu, LT, Utah (6-foot-6, 305) \u201dThe Detroit Lions could have a ton of shake-up on their offensive line this season. Taylor Decker and\/or Graham Glasgow could retire this offseason, opening a clear hole that needs an immediate fix. If Decker doesn\u2019t return in 2026, Caleb Lomu can immediately fill the void. He\u2019s a young, high-ceiling prospect who dramatically improved his game this season, both in protecting the passer and opening holes in the run game. He\u2019d be a great fit.\u201d \u2014 Eisner<\/p>\n It was always strange to me that Mauigoa and Fano were being projected to be selected in the teens because they\u2019re plug-and-play starters in my mind, but I think the blame for this could land in several of the 2026 Mock Draft Simulators ranking the tackles in this range. These simulators can be incredibly fun and certainly helpful for those creating mock drafts, but sometimes they can distort expectations.<\/p>\n As for this week\u2019s projections, Proctor, Vega, and Lomu all represent a different way of the Lions approaching the draft. If left tackle Taylor Decker returns to the Lions in 2026, Vega could be the smart answer, as he has minimal flaws and is an instant upgrade, while both tackles have areas to improve. Regardless of Decker\u2019s status, Proctor could be the best option, as he is a rare athlete with a tremendous ceiling\/positional range, but he\u2019s also the greenest of the three options here. If Decker retires, the Lions may prefer Lomu because he is a clean pass protector who mainly only needs to add some functional strength.<\/p>\n All three would be upgrades for the Lions\u2019 offensive line, but which one they prefer could hinge on other factors.<\/p>\n Peter Woods, DT, Clemson (6-foot-3, 315) Kayden McDonald, NT, Ohio State (6-foot-2, 326) \u201dThe Lions need more punch on their defensive line to support Aidan Hutchinson. McDonald can be a powerful asset vs. the run and also provide some extra inside pass-rush juice.\u201d \u2014 Iyer<\/p>\n While I don\u2019t believe drafting an interior defensive lineman is the best use of the Lions\u2019 current resources, I also believe Woods could end up being one of the best 10 players in this draft class, and in a \u201cwe draft the best player available\u201d scenario, he would represent great value at pick No. 17.<\/p>\n McDonald is a perfect fit for the Lions\u2019 scheme, but selecting him would suggest the Lions believe they either missed on last year\u2019s selection of Tyleik Williams or Alim McNeill\u2019s extension\u2014and I don\u2019t believe Detroit thinks either of those things to be true.<\/p>\n David Bailey, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-foot-3, 250) \u201cTo Detroit\u2019s credit, it has utilized essentially every means of talent acquisition to address the spot opposite Aidan Hutchinson. None of those solutions have panned out long term. The Lions take another swing by drafting one of college football\u2019s most productive pass rushers in 2025. David Bailey had 14.5 sacks and three forced fumbles last season for the Red Raiders.\u201d \u2014 Edwards<\/p>\n Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (6-foot-6, 275) \u201dThe Lions need a Robin to go with their Batman in Aidan Hutchinson. Keldrick Faulk can play in various spots along the defensive line. For a Lions team that needs more pass-rushing help, Faulk feels safe\u201d. \u2014 Janvrin<\/p>\n T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson (6-foot-3, 265) Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-foot-2, 249) I\u2019d be shocked if Bailey was available at No. 17, as I see him as a top-10 player, but I\u2019d welcome the selection. Faulk looks closer to being available in the Lions range, and stylistically would be a really good fit for what they do on the defensive line. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised to see him projected to the Lions more and more as the offseason progresses.<\/p>\n Parker is coming off a down season, so I need to see more of his tape before properly evaluating him. While Howell is certainly talented, I question the schematic fit, as he\u2019s mainly a burner off the edge with limited run-stuffing experience. That role is certainly something the Lions could use, but I\u2019m not sure the Lions would consider an EDGE at No. 17 who can\u2019t stop the run consistently.<\/p>\n Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (6-foot-0, 195)
Source: Curt Popejoy (Draft Wire<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Matthew Freedman (Fantasy Life<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Mark Schofield and James Dator (SB Nation<\/a>), Gordon McGuinness (PFF<\/a>), Reese Decker (Pro Football Network<\/a>), Cody Williams (FanSided<\/a>), Lou Scataliga (NFL Mocks<\/a>), Nicholas Rome (Saturday Blitz<\/a>), Tim Bielk (Cleveland.com<\/a>), Richie Bradshaw (Cardinals SI<\/a>), Tankathon (Staff<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Mel Kiper (ESPN<\/a>), Charles McDonald (Yahoo.com<\/a>), Jacob Infante (Pro Football Network<\/a>), Sayre Bedinger (NFL Spin Zone<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Jamie Eisner (Draft Network<\/a>), Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today<\/a>), C.J. Doon (Sun Sentinel<\/a>), Brian Bosarge (Draft Countdown<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Kristopher Knox (Bleacher Report<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Josh Edwards (CBS<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Richard Janvrin (Fantasy Pros<\/a>), Tim Crean (Clutch Points<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Steve Bradshaw (TWSN<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Tarringo Basile-Vaughn (NFL Mocks<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: John Blair (NFL Mocks<\/a>), Cayden Steele (NJ.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n