2026 NFL Draft Thread

[1984Echoes]

5 hours ago, Nate7474 said:

Honestly linebacker isn’t a stretch to be the pick. Anzalone is probably not back and we could use a a replacement. Someone like Reese(doubtful) or Styles could easily be the selection. With that said I like OT there and look for a DE in the second. 

I'm the other way around.

[Nate7474]

34 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

I'm the other way around.

Either way is fine. I just think you’re more likely to find a good rotational DE in the 2nd then a day one starter at left tackle. 

[RatkoVarda]

one extreme is bring back Decker and Ragnow and keep it all the same for a year - Decker-Mahogany-Ragnow-Ratledge-Sewell

the other extreme is both go, Sewell slides to Goff's blind side, Ratledge moves to C, and Mahogany flips to RG, 100% turnover - Sewell-Frazier-Ratledge-Mahogany-Rookie

if Brad tells us he really likes Eguakun's and Manu's progress, I'm gonna lose it

[Shinzaki]

Need to draft a OT (on top of the vet we sign..Decker aint coming back) LB, S, DE and TE in whatever order makes sense.  Carter Smith from IU looks like a  good mid round OT/IOL prospect.   I like the safety from Toledo McNeil Warren in the 2nd rd or Genisis Smith in a later round

[lordstanley]

The Giants’ win over Dallas dropped them from #2 for the draft to #5. 

Edited January 5 by lordstanley

[Tenacious D]

Have to assume we won’t have Decker, Glasgow, Joseph. Branch, Anzalone and LaPorta next season. Need to identity their replacements.

[MichiganCardinal]

1 hour ago, Tenacious D said:

Have to assume we won’t have Decker, Glasgow, Joseph. Branch, Anzalone and LaPorta next season. Need to identity their replacements.

I expect Joseph will be back. Branch should be back by Thanksgiving. Though can’t foresee whether either be their former self.

LaPorta should be back. My understanding is that it’s just a tricky situation and a dangerous injury so they’re being careful.

I’m holding out hope there is a call between Decker and Ragnow where both agree to give it one more go. And then the call gets detailed in the documentary made about the 2026-2027 Detroit Lions.

[1984Echoes]

I'm stealing this from the other thread...:

23 hours ago, Stanley70 said:

... They do like the edge across from Hutch to be Davenport sized or bigger. That makes me think if Keldric Faulk is there they might take him. A jumbo edge that sets a nice edge but offers little in the pass rush. ... 

 

I believe Faulk actually has some pass-rush juice. Sort of a Davenport-Lite.

he would definitely set the edge in the run game... as well as in a pass rush (setting an outside edge) and may be able to get to the QB 8-ish or so a season.

In fact, I would go as far to say that he is the one perfect fit for the Lions (pending the character fit scouting which, to the Lions is as important as talent on the field).

But I would also say it looks like he is a top 10, or even 8 prospect this year. It would be very, very difficult for the Lions to trade up to get into the right draft spot for him. IMO.

Other DE's that are somewhat similar to look at: Reuben Bain, Jr. (another top-10-ish guy), T.J. Parker (could actually fall to our draft spot...)

But at that point (if we are shut out of Bain and Faulk...); I think Offensive Tackle needs jump up to a much higher need than Edge.

I'm certain Homes can find similar players to Parker in the 2nd round, in fact, here are a couple:

Dani Dennis-Sutton.

Zion Young.

I think either of these guys would also be the perfect "Lions" fit, or player... Dunno if Holmes will end up agreeing but just wanted to point out some options...

 

 

 

Edited 14 hours ago by 1984Echoes

[MichiganCardinal]

Faulk would be an excellent cultural and schematic fit. He's everything Josh Paschal was supposed to be and then some. Faulk is an absolute monster in stuffing the run and is one of the hardest workers you will find in the college game. On paper a starting defensive front of Hutch-McNeill-Williams-Faulk should realistically develop into the best run defense in the league.

I would venture to say that he has more pass rushing chops than his stats would suggest. Auburn lined him up as a 2-gap in a 3-4 base, between the guard and tackle, and allowed him to just feast on the run. Which is great, unless you're an edge rusher looking for millions of dollars in first round money and need sacks to do so. In an NFL nickel base defense, I wouldn't expect him to jump off the page in 2026 with sack numbers, but I think he could develop into a guy that by 2027 or 2028 can also line up on the edge on 3rd and long and win a one-on-one against a tackle, getting after the QB. As it is though, he's more of a IDLman that will collapse the pocket on the interior.

[1984Echoes]

And looking like a top-8 type player...

Which, since Holmes is a little low on draft picks this year...

Seems like he would be out of reach.

That's why I'm looking at other guys... and feeling more 2nd round Edge if we can't land Faulk...

So I'm going to WAG that we go O-Line in the 1st, pass-rusher in the 2nd.

Just a guess...

[MichiganCardinal]

17 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

And looking like a top-8 type player...

Which, since Holmes is a little low on draft picks this year...

Seems like he would be out of reach.

That's why I'm looking at other guys... and feeling more 2nd round Edge if we can't land Faulk...

So I'm going to WAG that we go O-Line in the 1st, pass-rusher in the 2nd.

Just a guess...

Too early to tell really. In 2024, the first defensive player off the board wasn't until 1.15. There are both high quality defensive and offensive linemen in the draft. I would expect one of them to be there at 1.17.