We\u2019re less than three weeks away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and the mock draft networks are churning out predictions at a fever pace. This week, we examined 45 mock drafts, and while they\u2019re still very heavily leaning toward the Detroit Lions selecting an offensive tackle in the first round\u201439 predictions compared to just six on the defensive side of the ball\u2014there is a new most predicted player.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a look at which NFL Draft prospects are being mocked to the Lions this week.<\/p>\n
Francis Mauigoa, RT, Miami (6-foot-5 1\/2, 329) \u201cDan Campbell said the Lions are contemplating moving Penei Sewell to left tackle in 2026. If they do, they will need to find a quality right tackle option. Mauigoa (6-5, 329 pounds) played the position at Miami, showing good anchor in pass protection while being a powerful mauler in the running game.\u201d \u2014 Camenker<\/p>\n Spencer Fano, RT, Utah (6-foot-5 1\/2, 311) \u201cSpencer Fano looked really smooth and athletic during on-field position drills at the NFL Combine. There have been pre-draft questions about his capability to play offensive tackle, but he\u2019s looked the part during the process. The Detroit Lions have a massive hole there after Taylor Decker asked for his release.\u201d \u2014 Melo<\/p>\n Blake Miller, RT, Clemson (6-foot-7, 317) \u201cThis past week, Dan Campbell publicly stated his desire to move Penei Sewell to the left side. This means one of their biggest remaining holes is now at RT, where Blake Miller is a natural fit. I personally would prefer Kadyn Proctor here and keeping Sewell at RT, but I can\u2019t deny that Miller has the requisite amount of nastiness to his game to be a Lion. EDGE is the other big need for the Lions, while corner is quickly becoming a future problem.\u201d \u2014 Whitefield<\/p>\n Monroe Freeling, LT, Georgia (6-foot-7 1\/2, 315) \u201cTaylor Decker\u2019s release leaves an opening at left tackle barring a move from Penei Sewell from the right side. Either way, the Lions need tackle help. Freeling was a one-year starter at Georgia but has elite traits in terms of movement, size (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) and 4.93 speed. Freeling is one of the few proven left tackles with a Round 1 grade and has the upside of a higher-end starter thanks to his upper-level athletic skills plus his development over the course of the 2025 season.\u201d \u2014 Miller<\/p>\n Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama (6-foot-7, 352) \u201cDetroit favors size, power and physicality in the trenches,\u201d Thorn said. \u201cAlabama\u2019s Kadyn Proctor<\/a> fits the mold of what a Hank Fraley-led room has looked like under head coach Dan Campbell, offering the class\u2019 best blend of size and raw power. He would also benefit from learning to better harness and refine his physical gifts while working alongside Sewell, as well as receiving extra help, slides and attention in pass protection.\u201d \u2014 Bleacher Report\u2019s Brandon Thorn<\/p>\n Caleb Lomu, LT, Utah (6-foot-6, 313) \u201cThe precocious 6-foot-6, 313-pound redshirt sophomore might one day prove the best tackle of this class.\u201d \u2014 Rang<\/p>\n Mauigoa is back in play for the Lions for two predictors, but he was off the board very early in the other 43. Fano continues to get mocked by Detroit a bunch, as does Protcor, while Miller and Lomu have seen a swelling of love on social media of late, despite lower pairings with the Lions this week.<\/p>\n Freeling has seen the largest growth in mock draft predictions to Detroit this week, a trend that has been building for some time. It\u2019s easy to fall in love with Freeling\u2019s potential, but we\u2019ve seen his big board rankings fluctuate a lot of late, with some analysts projecting him in the top 10, while others list him as OT7 on their boards. Freeling received a ton of attention following the NFL Combine, and, as often happens in the weeks that follow, analysts overcompensate to try to slow the hype, which often results in an undervaluation of a player. The reality is usually somewhere in the middle, and with the Lions picking in the middle of the first round, he is likely legitimately in play for Detroit.<\/p>\n Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (6-foot-6, 276) \u201cAfter selecting Aidan Hutchinson second overall in 2022, they have been searching for a player opposite of him to ease the pressure. Faulk fits the profile of a bigger edge rusher that they have targeted across the board, and his pass-rush profile has a lot of growth potential. Right away, they get a really good run defender with high upside potential.\u201d \u2014 Forness<\/p>\n Akheem Mesidor EDGE, Miami (6-foot-3, 259) \u201cThis pick doesn\u2019t need much more explanation other than the fact that the Lions don\u2019t have many pass rushers on their roster right now. They are razor thin at defensive end outside of Aidan Hutchinson, almost to the point where they have to take an edge rusher with this pick. Mesidor is a bit hit-or-miss on a down-to-down basis and turns 25 before the draft, but he has a chance to be a contributor in the NFL or even a legitimate, consistent threat off the edge if he hits the ground running. The Lions have to try something.\u201d \u2014 McDonald<\/p>\n Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri (6-foot-5, 262) \u201cThe Detroit Lions\u2019 sack production for the past few years has been Aidan Hutchinson or bust. And while Hutchinson has operated at a high level, it is clear that if the Lions want to reach the Super Bowl, they need a more well-rounded defense. In this spot, the Lions draft edge rusher Zion Young to be a great complementary piece to Hutchinson, as Young also has the ceiling to get double-digit sacks in a season.\u201d \u2014 Sanchez<\/p>\n Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-foot-2 1\/2, 253) \u201cIf there\u2019s any general manager in the NFL who has demonstrated a willingness to ignore pre-draft rankings and stick with his guys, it\u2019s the Lions\u2019 Brad Holmes. He flouts concerns regarding Howell\u2019s arm length (30 1\/4 inches) and chooses a dynamic rusher who is also highly capable of making a difference against the run, giving the Lions the running mate they\u2019ve needed for Aidan Hutchinson.\u201d \u2014 Shook<\/p>\n Faulk and Messidor have been regulars to the mock draft roundup all offseason, while Young and Howell have made brief appearances and exits. Young is a terrific stylistic fit for the Lions\u2019 scheme, but there are some off-the-field issues that need to be vetted to ensure he\u2019d be a good culture fit. He\u2019ll remind some Lions fans of a younger Za\u2019Darius Smith (during his time in Detroit), but pick No. 17 feels a bit rich for me. Howell is a dynamic pass rusher and is almost universally predicted to be selected in the first round. However, I have more questions about his run defense\u2014especially in the Lions\u2019 scheme\u2014which could be a deal-breaker in the first round for Detroit.<\/p>\n
Source: Jacob Camenker (USA Today<\/a>), Tom Fornelli (CBS Sports<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Justin Melo (SI NFL Draft<\/a>), Chad Reuter (NFL.com<\/a>), Patrick Flowers (Bleacher Nation<\/a>), Matt Maiocco (NBC Sports Bay Area<\/a>), Chris Kwiecinski (Fox Sports Chicago<\/a>), Charles Rant (Stadium Rant<\/a>), Cody Williams (Fansided<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Brett Whitefield (Fantasy Points<\/a>), Mike Band (Next GEN stats via NFL.com<\/a>), Sayre Bedinger (NFL Spin Zone<\/a>), Phil Perry (NBC Sports Boston<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Matt Miller (ESPN<\/a>), Mark Schofield (SB Nation<\/a>), Eric Edholm (NFL.com<\/a>), Josh Edwards (CBS Sports<\/a>), Ryan Moran (Pro Football Network<\/a>), Eddie Brown (San Diego Union Tribune<\/a>), Matthew Jones (Fantasy Pros<\/a>), Nate Bouda (NFL Trade Rumors<\/a>), Dylan Chappine (Wolf Sports<\/a>), Justin Bales (FF Today<\/a>), Jack Wargo (Sleeper CFB<\/a>), Richard Janvrin (Lineups<\/a>), Jason Abbey (DAZN<\/a>), Matt DeLima (The Big Lead<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Bleacher Report (Staff<\/a>), Lance Zierlein (NFL.com<\/a>), ESPN (Staff<\/a>), Luke Easterling (Athlon Sports<\/a>), Ryan Donahue (Sharp Football<\/a>), Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports<\/a>), Ryan Sanudo (The Sun<\/a>), Ian Harper (NFL Mocks<\/a>), Matt Rooney (Bleacher Nation<\/a>), Anthony Rizzuti (Panthers Wire<\/a>), Jordan Foote (Prize Picks<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Rob Rang (Fox Sports<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Tyler Forness (AtoZ Sports<\/a>), Lou Scataglia (NFL Spin Zone<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Nate Tice & Charles McDonald (Yahoo Sports<\/a>), Joseph Hoyt (Dallas Morning News<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Keith Sanchez (Draft Network<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Source: Nick Shook (NFL.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n