2026 Detroit Lions Mock Draft: 7-Round Projection
Draft Capital: 7 picks | Overall Grade: B Last Updated: October 26, 2026Overview
Detroit Lions enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 7 selections. Biggest needs: Cornerback, Linebacker, Tight End.
Complete Draft Class:- Round 1 (#16): Kelley Jones, Cornerback, Mississippi State — Grade A-
- Round 2 (#47): Jesse Perry, IOL, NA — Grade B
- Round 3 (#78): Suntarine Perkins, Outside Linebacker, Ole Miss — Grade C+
- Round 4 (#109): Adam Trick, Edge Rusher, Texas Tech — Grade C
- Round 4 (#140): Lawson Luckie, Tight End, Georgia — Grade C-
- Round 5 (#158): Andrew Sprague, Offensive Tackle, Michigan — Grade C
- Round 6 (#209): Tayon Holloway, Cornerback, Louisville — Grade C-
Complete Pick-by-Pick Analysis
Pick #16 - Detroit Lions: Kelley Jones, Cornerback, Mississippi State
Rank: #20 overall | Grade: A- Why This Pick:Cornerback is Detroit's clear top need, and with two corners already off the board in the teens, taking Jones four spots ahead of his consensus ranking is understandable urgency rather than a reckless reach. The Lions are betting on upside over polish, grabbing a player ESPN evaluators see as a potential top-tier corner while others see a thinner resume than the ranking suggests. It costs a little value, but addressing the roster's biggest hole with a ceiling play at 16 is defensible.
The Fit:At 6-4 with the length to crowd receivers and disrupt at the catch point, Jones gives Detroit's secondary a press-man outside corner they don't currently have, and his back-to-the-ball ball skills show up in the 11 pass breakups from 2025 and six through five games in 2026. The tradeoff is movement: scouts flag his quickness and ability to sink and transition, with the Alabama game showing recovery issues against sudden route breaks. He projects as a developmental outside starter who can erase one side of the field once he adds strength to his 195-pound frame.
- Strengths: Elite length for the position at 6-4 with the wingspan to contest throws at the catch point
- Weaknesses: Slight 195-pound build for a 6-4 corner may need added play strength
- NFL Comp: Riq Woolen length at the catch point without proven Woolen speed
Pick #47 - Detroit Lions: Jesse Perry, IOL, NA
Rank: #47 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:Detroit already used its first pick on a corner, so dipping into the interior line at 47 shows the Lions sticking to their board rather than chasing need-driven panic, since IOL only ranks fifth on their priority list. This is dead-on value, taken exactly at his rank of 47, which is defensible even with four needs still unaddressed ahead of it. Detroit's history of prioritizing physical, mauling offensive linemen makes Perry a logical fit for a roster that likes to build from the trenches out.
The Fit:At 6-6, 320 with a frame CBS called born to carry 300-plus pounds, Perry gives Detroit a massive, athletic body who already has starting snaps at guard and tackle, which adds valuable positional versatility to a line-building culture. His pass protection grades out well ahead of his run blocking, with a standout 73-snap outing against Florida without allowing a sack, hit or penalty, but his anchor and finishing in the run game need to catch up, which likely points him toward a developmental interior role early in his career rather than an immediate plug-and-play starter.
- Strengths: Outstanding frame for the position at 6-6, 320, described by CBS as born to carry 300-plus pounds
- Weaknesses: Run blocking is the clear soft spot and lags his pass protection by a wide margin in Scouting Grade's charted sample
- NFL Comp: Power-first interior anchor with the frame and finishing temperament of a Kevin Zeitler
Pick #78 - Detroit Lions: Suntarine Perkins, Outside Linebacker, Ole Miss
Rank: #83 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:Detroit already addressed cornerback and interior line with its first two picks, so grabbing Perkins at 78 is a mild reach of five spots but fits a best-player-available approach once immediate needs were covered. Linebacker sits second on their priority list, and Perkins offers a versatile, high-upside body even if his best-fit position is still unsettled. It's a swing for traits over certainty, which is defensible this deep in round three.
The Fit:Perkins brings burst, leverage, and a running back's instincts for finding ball carriers, racking up 32 tackles for loss and 21 sacks through his college career at Ole Miss. The问题 is his size, he's undersized against NFL tackles and has barely played off-ball linebacker, so Detroit's 4-3 scheme would likely use him as a situational rusher, coverage piece against tight ends, and special teams contributor while he adds weight and a defined role takes shape.
- Strengths: Quickness and burst off the line
- Weaknesses: Very undersized for an NFL edge defender
Pick #109: Adam Trick (Edge Rusher, Texas Tech) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #140: Lawson Luckie (Tight End, Georgia) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #158: Andrew Sprague (Offensive Tackle, Michigan) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #209: Tayon Holloway (Cornerback, Louisville) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.