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As the 2026 NFL draft approaches, here are three players the Detroit Lions should jump on for their 17th overall pick.<\/p>\n
For those who miss football, it\u2019s going to be a long offseason, especially with the Michigan Panthers<\/a> not happening this year. But, the Detroit Lions<\/a> are gearing up for the 2026 NFL draft<\/a>, and that offers an oasis of football excitement amid the lengthy offseason.<\/p>\n The Detroit Lions\u2019 first pick this year is at No. 17, which is high enough that they could snag a real gem. So, who will the Lions bring to Detroit with that No. 17 overall pick? We got our crystal ball out and have pinpointed three standouts that the team could, and should, pick.<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth noting that this reporter\u2019s favorite Lions draft pick was edge Aidan Hutchinson<\/a>, which the team brought on as the second overall pick in the 2022 draft<\/a>. He\u2019s been consistent on the field and has blossomed into one of the best pass rushers in the league.<\/p>\n He recorded 21 sacks combined over his first two seasons, according to NFL research<\/a>, and would have been a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 if it hadn\u2019t been for getting injured that season. Hutchinson came back for the 2025-26 season and notched 14.5 sacks.<\/p>\n 3 Draft Picks the Detroit Lions Should Scoop Up at 17th Overall<\/p>\n Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn<\/p>\n Keldric Faulk<\/a> would be a fantastic player to pair with Aidan Hutchinson. He\u2019s massive at 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds and plays a physical style of football, which fits with the Detroit grit. During the 2025 season with Auburn, he only clocked 2 sacks, which is a bit troublesome, but he had 7 in 2024. He\u2019s young at 20 and has room to grow.<\/p>\n Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami<\/p>\n Sorry, Brad, I\u2019m going with another edge here. We know the Detroit Lions won\u2019t pay big bucks<\/a> for an edge doing a trade or getting a free agent, so they have to get the job done here. For the 2025 season with Miami, Akheem Mesidor<\/a> notched 12.5 sacks, so he\u2019s a sack king. He\u2019s smaller than Faulk but still plays a physical style of football. He\u2019s also older than Faulk at 25 years old.<\/p>\n Kadyn Proctor, Offensive Tackle, Alabama Proctor<\/p>\n If the Lions just refuse to get an edge early, they\u2019ll likely opt for an offensive tackle. Kadyn Proctor<\/a> will probably be the best one available by No. 17. He\u2019s huge at 6-foot-7 and 352 pounds and just pure force on the field. Of these three draft picks, my predictions is that the Lions go with Proctor, but I would really like to see them take care of the edge situation instead.<\/p>\n Detroit Lions Offseason Activities Start Soon<\/p>\n On Tuesday, April 7, the Detroit Lions took to social media<\/a> to officially share their offseason dates<\/a>. While the league announced the news on April 3, this marked the first time the Lions shared it with their fans.<\/p>\n The first day is April 20, and then, the OTA offseason workouts happen May 27 to 29, June 2 through 4 and June 9 to 11. Then, mandatory minicamp is June 16 to 17.<\/p>\n So, Detroit Lions football is starting already, at least in a small way. Get ready now, because fall will be here before you know it.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tAnne Erickson<\/a> is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Lions\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t