Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions.
Getty
The Detroit Lions have announced some important news for the 2026-27 season, right as free agency kicks in.
The NFL is in the midst of free agency, and the excitement is already underway. But, amid all the developments, the Detroit Lions have announced a burst of news that impacts the 2026-27 season.
The Lions have a lot to come back from in the 2025-26 season. The team ended their regular season in last place in the NFC North, which was the opposite of where they were the year before. But, at least the Detroit Lions beat the Bears in the final game of the regular season.
“Proud of them. That’s the way to finish,” Campbell said after the win in January. “I really didn’t expect anything different out of them just knowing the guys that we had I tell you what. But nonetheless I’m still proud of them because it’s not always the easiest thing.”
He added, “You get eliminated (from the playoffs) and it’s hard for some guys. You’re back out in the elements and with a team that’s already clinched. But our guys fought, man, from the beginning even when they came back, we were up two scores, they came back, our guys didn’t bat an eye and we were able to finish it out.”
Detroit Lions Announce Full 2026 NFL Draft Details
On Tuesday, March 10, the Lions officially announced details for the 2026 NFL draft. They also shared the news that they picked up a fifth-round compensatory pick in this year’s draft, No. 181 overall.
“Compensatory picks are decided by a formula based on the previous year’s free agents,” Tim Twentyman of the Detroit Lions’ website states. “Under the system, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks, up to four maximum.” He adds that the amount of compensation is determined by salary, playing time and postseason honors.
So, with the added fifth-round compensatory pick, the Detroit Lions currently own eight picks in this year’s draft. Their first is in the first round at No. 17. We wish they had more, but this is it.
Here are the Detroit Lions’ picks in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Round 1, Pick 17
Round 2, Pick 18 (No. 50 overall)
Round 4, Pick 18 (118)
Round 5, Pick 17 (157)
Round 5, Pick 41 (181) – compensatory selection
Round 6, Pick 24 (205) – from Jaguars
Round 6, Pick 32 (213) – from Seahawks through Jaguars
Round 7, Pick 6 (222) – from Browns
The NFL Draft is set for April 23 through 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Dan Campbell Never Lost Faith in the Detroit Lions, He Said in His January 2026 Press Conference
In his post-Bears game press conference in January, Campbell said that the Lions’ win was reaffirming.
“we’ll know some things just watching the tape about how some of these guys, particularly some of the young guys,” he said. “But the guys that I knew we could count on showed up again, you know, one more time, which didn’t surprise me one bit. You know, I still believe the nucleus of this team is right. I really do.”
He added, “But we are going to need to make a few changes. Not just talking about that. It will be collectively. We’re going to have to work through some things to get the best version of ourselves.”
Those changes will take place between free agency, trades and the 2026 NFL draft. Let the fun begin, Detroit.