2026 Detroit Lions Mock Draft: 7-Round Projection
Draft Capital: 8 picks | Overall Grade: B Last Updated: July 27, 2026Overview
Detroit Lions enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 8 selections. Biggest needs: NT, Defensive Line, Safety.
Complete Draft Class:Texas Tech
— Grade B+
Utah
— Grade B-
Georgia Tech
— Grade C+
Texas A&M
— Grade C
Penn State
— Grade C-
Iowa
— Grade C-
Notre Dame
— Grade C-
Ole Miss
— Grade C-
View Full 3-Round Mock Draft →---
Complete Pick-by-Pick Analysis
Pick #25 - Detroit Lions: AJ Holmes Jr, Defensive Line,
Texas Tech
Rank: #30 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:Best player available. Detroit Lions needed NT help, but AJ Holmes Jr (ranked #30) represents elite value here. You can't pass on top-tier talent when it falls to you.
The Fit:AJ Holmes Jr brings immediate impact to Detroit Lions. Holmes is the kind of interior anchor a defense builds its run front around, and 2025 gave that base a pass-rush dimension that lifts the whole profile. He wins early with leverage, gets his hands inside quickly, and resets the line of scrimmage agai... His best trait—elite run defender graded near the top of the position over heavy snaps—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Poona Ford (stout, leverage-and-hands interior anchor who wins the run rep despite unremarkable timed speed)-type player at the NFL level.
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Pick #57 - Detroit Lions: Jackson Bennee, Safety,
Utah
Rank: #60 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:Critical need filled. Detroit Lions desperately needed Safety help (need #3), and Jackson Bennee was the best available at this spot. This pick addresses an immediate roster weakness.
The Fit:Jackson Bennee brings immediate impact to Detroit Lions. Jackson Bennee is a coverage-first safety who turned a redshirt-sophomore breakout at Utah into one of the most intriguing early names in the 2027 class. After logging just six tackles as a backup in 2024, he stepped into a full-time role in 2025 and... His best trait—elite coverage production, allowing just one deep completion across all of 2025—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Jalen Pitre (reasoning: versatile slot/box safety with loud ball production but real missed-tackle volatility to clean up)-type player at the NFL level.
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Pick #89 - Detroit Lions: Justice Haynes, Running Back,
Georgia Tech
Rank: #87 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:Addresses key depth concern. While Running Back wasn't the top priority, Justice Haynes's talent at #87 overall was too good to pass up. Sometimes value trumps need.
The Fit:Justice Haynes brings immediate impact to Detroit Lions. Justice Haynes is a compact, explosive downhill runner and one of the most intriguing transfer journeys in recent college football history. The son of former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Verron Haynes, he arrived in college football as a 5-star r... His best trait—top-end breakaway speed that is rarely caught from behind in open space—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Chase Brown - similar compact frame, home-run speed, early-down profile that must develop in the passing game to earn a full-time role-type player at the NFL level.
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Pick #125: Anto Saka (Edge Rusher,Texas A&M
) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #165: Anthony Donkoh (Offensive Guard,Penn State
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #206: Deshaun Lee (Nickel Cornerback,Iowa
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #217: Charles Jagusah (Offensive Guard,Notre Dame
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #245: Luke Hasz (Tight End,Ole Miss
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
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Draft Class Summary
Overall Grade: B | 7 positions addressed across 8 picks.---