Lions draft picks 2026: Full list of team's round-by-round selections
· Yahoo Sports
A year after going 15-2 and earning the NFC's No. 1 seed, the Detroit Lions failed to make the NFL playoffs.
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Dan Campbell's squad posted just a 9-8 campaign in its first season after losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets. Detroit still sported a top-five offense but posted just a 3-5 record in one-score games while boasting a middle-of-the-pack defense.
The Lions are attempting to change their fortune after their last-place finish in the NFC North. The team made Johnson's replacement, John Morton, a one-and-done hire and brought in Drew Petzing to replace him. They also attempted to revamp their offensive line in free agency, added a few key veterans to their secondary and traded veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans.
Will the new-look Lions be improved enough to make it back to the playoffs? It's too early to tell, but Campbell and Brad Holmes will have a chance to continue bolstering their roster during the 2026 NFL Draft.
Here's everything to know about Detroit's picks, needs and outlook for the 2026 NFL Draft:
Lions 2026 NFL Draft picks
The Lions have nine picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's the complete list:
- Round 1, Pick 17
- Round 2, Pick 50
- Round 4, Pick 118
- Round 4, Pick 128 (from Texans)
- Round 5, Pick 157
- Round 5, Pick 181
- Round 6, Pick 205 (from Jaguars)
- Round 6, Pick 213 (from Seahawks via Jaguars)
- Round 7, Pick 222 (from Browns)
Lions NFL draft grades
This section will be updated after the Lions make their first selection.
Lions 2026 NFL Draft needs
Offensive tackle
The Lions released Taylor Decker after 10 seasons and saw their top swing tackle, Dan Skipper, retire during the offseason. Detroit will need to find a long-term bookend for Penei Sewell at some point and could consider adding a tackle like Kadyn Proctor or Monroe Freeling with their first-round pick.
Edge rusher
Aidan Hutchinson generated a league-high 89 pressures for the Lions last season, per NFL Next Gen Stats, but no other returning member of the defense had more than 24 pressures. The Lions need to add a quality, No. 2 option across from Hutchinson and could look to do so early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Linebacker
The Lions lost Alex Anzalone in free agency and may soon have the same happen to Jack Campbell, who will be a free agent in 2027 if Detroit doesn't exercise his fifth-year option. That could lead the Lions to target potential depth and insurance at the position with one of their nine draft picks.
Lions 2026 NFL mock draft
Here's what the Lions could do come draft night, per Ayrton Ostly's seven-round mock draft:
- Round 1, Pick 17: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
- This worked out pretty perfectly for the Lions. They get one of the top left tackle prospects in this class and didn’t have to sacrifice any draft capital to do it. Freeling is an athletic outlier with a powerful frame who anchors well in pass protection. He needs some refinement to his game, specifically with his hand usage, but he could grow into a solid heir at left tackle for the Lions.
- Round 2, Pick 56*: Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
- Aidan Hutchinson is an ace off the edge for the Lions but he needs help around him. Dennis-Sutton is a long, powerful edge at 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds. He can set the edge in run defense and his hand usage bodes well for development as a pass rusher. He will need to improve his consistency but the tools are there for the Lions to get the most out of him.
- Round 4, Pick 118: S Jakobe Thomas, Miami (FL)
- Round 4, Pick 128: TE Sam Roush, Stanford
- Round 5, Pick 147**: OT J.C. Davis, Illinois
- Round 5, Pick 181: QB Cole Payton, North Dakota State
- Round 6, Pick 198^: IOL Anez Cooper, Miami (FL)
- Round 6, Pick 213: DT David Gusta, Kentucky
* Projected trade with Jacksonville Jaguars.
** Projected trade with Washington Commanders.
^ Projected trade with New England Patriots.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Detroit Lions NFL draft picks 2026: Round-by-round selections