Detroit Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson
Getty
Detroit Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson
Armed with nine picks in the 2026 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions have the flexibility to make some trades and bounce around the draft board if they want.
The team doesn’t have any picks in the third round, but it does possess multiple picks in Rounds 4, 5 and 6.
Detroit doesn’t have many holes to fill, but offensive tackle, edge-rusher, linebacker, and safety are among the positions the team could address with its handful of picks.
ESPN Predicts Lions Trade Up for Pass-Rush Help
Miami Hurricanes DE Akheem Mesidor
GettyMiami Hurricanes DE Akheem Mesidor
Detroit’s pass-rush last season consisted of Aidan Hutchinson (14.5 sacks), Al-Quadin Muhammad (11 sacks) and a handful of sacks dispersed across several other players.
Muhammad is now in Tampa Bay, and the Lions need to find a complementary edge-rusher opposite Hutchinson to take the pressure off the former No. 2 overall pick.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believe that could come in Round 1 of the draft, as he proposed the Lions trade the No. 17 overall pick and No. 50 overall in Round 2 to the Miami Dolphins for the No. 11 overall pick and No. 94 overall pick in Round 3. That move would allow the Lions to land one of the draft’s premier edge-rushers.
“The Lions are sending two third-round picks to the Jaguars as a result of last year’s trade for Isaac TeSlaa, and that makes me wonder whether moving up is the right idea,” Barnwell wrote. “At the same time, Lions GM Brad Holmes has been aggressive in previous years, and the Lions have obvious needs in their starting lineup at offensive tackle and on the edge.
“The Lions might have somebody fall to them at No. 17, but if they’re thinking about adding an edge rusher across from Aidan Hutchinson, moving up might be necessary. The Cowboys, Ravens, Buccaneers and Jets all draft between Nos. 11 and 18 and would have their eyes on Akheem Mesidor (Miami) and T.J. Parker (Clemson), who both could land in this range.”
Lions Could Recoup Another Third-Round Pick
Detroit Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa
GettyDetroit Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa
As Barnwell pointed out, the Lions are short two third-round picks because of a draft trade last year that allowed them to move up for talented wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa, who caught 16 passes for 239 yards, and six touchdowns as a rookie.
But he also threw out a way for the team to get one of them back.
Barnwell proposed the Lions trade the No. 17 overall pick in the 2026 draft to the Philadelphia Eagles for the No. 23 overall pick and the No. 98 overall pick in the third round.
“Having traded a pair of third-round picks away in last year’s move for TeSlaa and facing a cap crunch given all of the young talent coming due for extensions, (GM) Brad Holmes should probably be looking at adding more draft capital,” Barnwell added.
“… Getting back a third-round pick, albeit in the compensatory section of the third round, would be helpful for Holmes as he reimagines his roster. If the Lions are thinking right tackle, they shouldn’t have too much trouble still landing their preferred option.”
Jumping up six spots would allow the Eagles to fill a hole in their secondary. Safety Reed Blankenship bolted to the Houston Texans in the offseason, and the Eagles could have their sights set on Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.