The Michigan Wolverines on the field.
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As the 2026 NFL draft inches closer, the Detroit Lions are being predicted to land a Michigan star to help Aidan Hutchinson.
The 2026 NFL draft is slated for April 23 through 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and time is running out for the Detroit Lions to do their homework and get ready for the event. Now, the Lions are being predicted to bring on a Michigan standout in the draft, so he and fellow Wolverine defensive end Aidan Hutchinson will have something in common.
The Detroit Lions have a total of nine picks in the NFL draft, and their first comes at No. 17. Most mock drafts have the Lions snagging an offensive tackle at No. 17, and that’s the case with the ESPN mock that dropped on Tuesday, April 7, but then, the draft takes a turn.
For No. 17, NFL analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates select Monroe Freeling, an offensive tackle out of Georgia, for the Lions. “Regardless of which side Penei Sewell plays next season, the Lions need a long-term answer at the other offensive tackle spot,” they state in the feature. “Freeling started just 18 games in college, but he’s long and quick, and his ceiling is high.”
Detroit Lions Bring a Michigan Wolverine to the Team in ESPN Draft Projection
What’s cool about this projected draft is that they see the Detroit Lions picking another edge from Michigan to pair with Hutchinson. Sounds appropriate, right? For their No. 50 pick, Miller sees the Detroit Lions going with Jaishawn Barham, an edge, out of Michigan.
“Detroit goes down the road to get a sudden defender who is still ascending after moving from linebacker to a full-time edge rusher role,” Miller states. “Barham could help fill the void opposite Aidan Hutchinson.”
Barham’s official NFL draft profile sings his praises as a player who has logged most of his snaps at off-ball linebacker, “but his 2025 tape showed explosiveness that will attract teams seeking a developmental rush ‘backer in an odd front.”
“He’s raw as a rusher, relying heavily on athleticism, but the missing elements are teachable,” the profile adds. “Whether outside or inside, he’s a professional block-beater with the tools to stack or slip blocks, though his edge-setting needs work.”
According to his NFL profile, Barham’s “bend and reactive agility create unlikely tackle chances that few can find.” He also has an “intensity and motor” that are “top-tier,” but he “needs to play with better discipline to avoid negative snaps.”
“With explosive traits and inside-outside versatility, he projects as an impactful future starter once his technique catches up,” his profile adds.
Detroit Lions Haven’t Prioritized a Lineman Early in the Draft, But 2026 May Be Different
In a Tuesday, April 7 feature for Detroit Jock City, Max DeMara also digs the pick. “Adding Barham in the second-round could be about as good as the Lions could be expected to do for their defensive line, given he piled up 98 total tackles and five sacks the last two seasons for the Wolverines,” he states in the feature.
“Brad Holmes notably hasn’t prioritized a lineman early in the draft since selecting Hutchinson in 2022,” he adds, “and to land one with a high upside so early would be a fantastic coup for the front office.”