With the loss of Alex Anzalone in free agency, the Detroit Lions are in search of a new linebacker to add to their locker room. They re-signed Malcolm Rodriguez to a one-year deal, which is great news for the young defender, but it's obvious that the Lions have to add to their defense and, especially, to their linebacker room.
The 2026 NFL Draft offers interesting options for Detroit to add depth there, and cheaply. That's the name of the game for Brad Holmes this offseason, especially with their lack of cap space leftover to dedicate to any larger signings. And yes, that's even after Jared Goff had his contract restructured to open up $35 million in space.
Let's run a post-Anzalone mock draft for the Lions, where they're able to snag a linebacker within four rounds.
Latest mock draft has Lions landing an Anzalone replacement
Round 1, Pick 17: OT Monroe Freeling
Freeling is an athletic lineman who can immediately add some youth to the Lions' tackle room. With their recent signing of Larry Borom, it's clear that Detroit is looking to take a tackle pretty early in the draft - either in the first or second round. Assuming they go for a more starter-ready one by taking one at 17 overall, Freeling is an excellent get.
He finished up his collegiate career with the Georgia Bulldogs with just five pressures allowed and one sack allowed through 739 snaps at left tackle. Talk about a high-upside, cheap solution to Taylor Decker's release.
Round 2, Pick 50: LB Jacob Rodriguez
Rodriguez put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine, impressing scouts along with other Texas A&M defensive standouts. Rodriguez is a flexible linebacker who can play anywhere on the field - it'd just depend on how Kelvin Sheppard would want to utilize him. Rodriguez finished up his last year with the Aggies with four interceptions, seven forced fumbles, one sack, and 63 solo tackles.
He'd be an excellent replacement for Anzalone in the Lions' defense, rated as an "eventual plus starter" by NFL.com's draft expert Lance Zierlein.
READ MORE: Lions Free-Agency Tracker 2026: Signings, departures, cap space analysis, and more
Round 4, Pick 118: S Jalon Kilgore
As the Lions continue to see answers to their defensive depth as cheaply as possible and through this mock draft, they take Kilgore at 118th overall. The South Carolina Gamecock finished up his last year with 44 solo tackles, 13 stops, nine pass breakups, and three pressures.
He's projected as another "eventual plus starter" by Zierlein, with the analyst sharing that Kilgore would be at his best in a system that exploits his ability to contain the run game. That was a huge issue for the Lions' defense in the second half of the season.
Round 4, Pick 128 (via HOU): RB Nick Singleton
Ironically, the Lions take a running back with the pick they received for shipping out David Montgomery in this mock draft. Here, they snag Penn State back Nick Singleton. Singleton is a decent rusher, with traits similar to that of recently signed Isiah Pacheco. He is speedy and often relies on that to try and get yardage, as opposed to playing within the scheme.
Detroit simply needs reliable depth here, and Singleton is just that. They could probably go cornerback, center, or guard here, as well, and it wouldn't make too much of a difference.