Lions 7 Round Mock Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft is a week away, player evaluations are complete and teams’ draft boards have been set. So, it’s time for a Detroit Lions 7-round mock, with trades. This will be a predictive mock based purely on gut feeling in what feels like the hardest year for predictions in a long time, outside of the first overall pick of course.

The Lions still have holes to fill on both sides of the ball, that’s what I’ve tried to do with this mock. So let’s get on with it.

17. Spencer Fano – OT – Utah

I considered trading up to secure Fano who, in my opinion, is the best offensive tackle in the draft, but on this occasion, he fell right into our laps at 17. This would be a home-run pick; he would start as a rookie at either right or left tackle, giving the coaching staff flexibility on what they do with Penei Sewell. Given his elite footwork and movement skills, I would prefer him protecting Jared Goff’s blindside at left tackle, but he would also be great on the right side.

46. Zion Young – Edge – Missouri

A small trade up here to secure a player I think they will love. The terms of the trade are; 50 and 205 for 46. Young is just their type of edge, he is great against the run and is a crush-the-can type of pass rusher, although he has added some more finesse to his repertoire. There are some off-field concerns here, but nothing that would prevent the Lions from drafting him in my opinion. If it were up to me, I would prefer Gabe Jacas from Illinois, but Young feels like the Lions’ pick if he’s within reach.

94. Darrel Jackson Jr – DT – Florida State

Another trade, 118, 157 and a 2027 5^th for 94. Given general manager, Brad Holmes’ tendency to trade into the 3^rd round, I can’t see him being able to refuse to do so this year. Jackson brings something that we don’t currently have in our defensive interior – length, at over 6’5”, 315 lbs with nearly 35” arms, Jackson is a freak of nature. He uses that length well to defeat blocks in the run game, and it gives him the flexibility to play numerous spots along the interior.

128. Charles Demmings – CB – Stephen F. Austin

Demmings is a cornerback who is a popular pick in mock drafts that I have seen. The Lions do have numbers in the room, but outside of Terrion Arnold, DJ Reed and the forever-injured Ennis Rakestraw, none are under contract after 2026, so it’s time to add some young depth to develop. Demmings brings size and speed at 6’1” with a 4.41s forty time, 42” vertical and 11’ broad jump, the athleticism is clearly not a problem here. With some fine-tuning from Lions Defensive Backs coach, Deshea Townsend, I think Demmings can grow into a very competent NFL starter a year or so down the line.

181. TRADE. I traded down here and received picks 187 and 223 in return.

187. Marlin Klein – TE – Michigan

It was reported recently that Klein was having a pre-draft visit with the Lions, and it’s easy to see why they’d like him. He’s big, 6’6”, he can block and he’s been clocked at 21.75mph on the GPS, he was no.35 on Bruce Feldman’s 2025 Freaks List. He shows a good anchor and strong hands when pass blocking, Michigan often left him on an island with a defensive end, in the run game he latches on well and drives his legs to create displacement. His route running needs a bit of work, his breaks are currently quite rounded and not very sudden. He would be perfect as a TE2/3 of the future. If you want to know more about Klein, I wrote about him in my Favourite Day-3 TE’s article linked below.

213. Jaden Dugger – LB – Louisiana

A favourite of mine, but also a player that I think the Lions will like too. He has the size they seem to covet at linebacker, 6’4” 240 lbs, and would fill a role recently vacated by Alex Anzalone at WILL. Being a former safety, he has the coverage ability that the current linebackers on the roster do not, he needs to improve his technique when taking on, and disengaging from blockers, he has the size and length to do so. I wrote more about Dugger in my Favourite Day-3 LB’s article linked below.

222. Mason Reiger – Edge – Wisconsin

I was stunned when I saw Reiger available at this pick, I think he will go in the 4^th or 5^th round, but in this scenario, he is available and an easy selection. Reiger is a player the Lions have been linked to in the pre-draft process. He does have some injury concerns, he had to have 5 or 6 surgeries on the same knee in 2024 after complications with the 1^st operation while at Louisville, he was told to medically retire but instead opted to transfer to Wisconsin where he played a full season before standing out at both the Shrine Bowl and NFL Combine. If the Lions are happy with the medical situation, I think he’d be a great rotational piece to add to the edge room. He is another one I wrote about during my favourite Day-3 Edges article linked below.

223. Roman Hemby – RB – Indiana

Our final pick of this 2026 NFL Mock Draft is a hard-running, Natty-winning running back. After the departure of David Montgomery, the Lions are lacking a tough-nosed, between-the-tackles type runner, and although Isiah Pacheco was signed to fill that void, he is coming off two injury-affected seasons and is only on a 1-year deal. Hemby would give us depth in 2026 with the view of becoming the long-term thunder to Jahmyr Gibbs’s lightning.  

I would love to hear your thoughts, what do you think Brad Holmes is going to do next week? Would you go in a different direction? Let me know in the comments below.