What’s the NFL Draft without a little trade chaos?<\/p>\n
While the Detroit Lions have been known to trade back in recent years, sometimes for questionable targets, there hasn’t been any noise surrounding the teams’ potential intent to do the same in 2026. Of course, we won’t even know what general manager Brad Holmes has up his sleeve<\/a> until draft weekend. <\/p>\n That seems to be what ESPN’s Bill Barnwell<\/a> is banking on in his latest, chaotic mock draft. In the piece, he facilitates an entire first round made up of trades between teams, swapping picks and players for all 32 selections in this year’s draft. For the Lions, as ridiculous as it might sound, Barnwell’s two suggestions don’t actually seem that bad. <\/p>\n Barnwell’s chaotic mock draft could actually entice Lions<\/p>\n To kick off the trading, Barnwell has the Lions swapping firsts with the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the AFC teams’ third rounder. However, Detroit gives up their 2nd round pick in this scenario. This is a trade-up that could hold some weight if the latest rumors<\/a> about their infatuation with Kadyn Proctor hold any weight. <\/p>\n Proctor is seen as one of the most intriguing linemen in this year’s draft, and Detroit is rumored to be open to making a draft day deal to ensure they land their guy. Barnwell thinks this is a move they’d make for an edge, not a tackle, but that doesn’t seem to align with everything they’ve signaled. <\/p>\n “The Lions might have somebody fall to them at No. 17, but if they’re thinking about adding an edge rusher across from Aidan Hutchinson, moving up might be necessary. The Cowboys, Ravens, Buccaneers and Jets all draft between Nos. 11 and 18 and would have their eyes on Akheem Mesidor (Miami) and T.J. Parker (Clemson), who both could land in this range.”<\/p>\n His other big-brain move? <\/p>\n Moving down in the draft, swapping first rounders with an NFC rival in order to get back a 3rd round pick this year. <\/p>\n