2026 NFL Draft Thread

[1984Echoes]

6 hours ago, Jason_R said:

But he is a Brad pick in the sense that he is a physical freak and played at Alabama. Brad ...

Those two are plusses...

But I think his "football personality" is a MAJOR turnoff for both DC and Holmes...

We'll see...

Maybe they got to know him better and are convinced he is dedicated to the game in a way that they believe in him, as CC is saying...

They have passed on physical freaks before that didn't love the game enough though... specifically Jalen Carter with the Eagles (or was it because he went to Georgia instead of Alabama...? HAH!!!)

[Jason_R]

The Alabama connection is probably just coincidental. Big-time programs get big-time athletes. But I suspect they also liked prospects coached by Nick Saban.

Per https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Kadyn-Proctor-OL-Alabama: “He was a consensus All-American and finished second on Bruce Feldman's Freaks List: 815-pound squat, 535-pound bench, 405-pound power clean. Alabama handed him the ball five times during the year as a nod to his athleticism.“ 

The only “character” concern I’ve seen is weight. Apparently he got up to 370 pounds and suffered in pass protection. But at the combine he weighed in at 352.

[1984Echoes]

11 hours ago, Jason_R said:

... Per https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Kadyn-Proctor-OL-Alabama: “He was a consensus All-American and ...

Right from the profile you've quoted:

"He gets beaten inside more than you want to see from a three-year SEC starter, and the arm length from the combine helps explain why. For his size, the arms are shorter than expected, which shrinks his margin for error on hand placement and makes his technique inconsistencies more costly. Footwork and pad level flash at times but rarely come together for a full game outside of that Georgia performance. The weight questions are fair, too. His pass protection tracked directly with when he got below 360, and teams will want to know the 352-pound version reports to camp."

Also (same profile): "Lateral redirect is his most exploitable issue; once committed to a direction, his mass works against him on counters." ...  "Zone blocking looks shaky on tape; takes poor angles to second-level targets and loses track of linebackers."

I thought I saw an "Effort" mention somewhere but haven't yet located it. But there are specific problems technique-wise that are huge no-no's for the Lions... I'm just going to guess here... That any connection of Proctor to the Lions is a pre-draft smokescreen if the original source is someone in the Lions camp... I don't believe he's a schematic or football personality fit with the Lions. Maybe the "effort-level" was tied to him having too much weight and pad level too often being high (from getting tired of keeping the pad level low...?)

Here's Lance Zierlein: "slants and quick first steps beat him to the spot in the run game. ... He struggles to mirror athletes in space and lacks the range to protect deeper pocket drops against speed. Inconsistency in pass protection hasn’t helped his draft standing."

More Zierlein: 

• Indecisive and inefficient when defender isn’t in front of him.
• Cross-faced by slants and short-area movement.
• Does too much catching and not enough punching.
• Early gate opener with weight drifting too far outside.
• Struggled staying mirrored to inside moves and counters.
• Limited pass-set range will limit quarterback’s drop depth.
• Needs to stabilize playing weight to dial in balance/quickness.

I'm reading "Draft Bust" on Proctor. I want NO part of him.

Just my 2 cents.

[1984Echoes]

PS: I'm just going to WAG:

That the Lions top-rated prospects at:

LT: are Mauigoa, Freeling, and Lomu. Proctor is NOT on their draftable prospects board (just a WAG...).

DE: Are Faulk and Zion Young.

If Freeling goes too high, do they go for Lomu? Or Faulk? If it were between Lomu and Faulk I'm just guessing that they choose Faulk... I think Mauigoa goes top 7 and is out of their reach. I think Freeling is the MOST LIKELY tackle they draft if they pick one in the 1st, he might even fall into their lap at 17... although I believe he'll go higher than that... Do they trade up for Freeling?

Just a few thoughts I have...

[Mr.TaterSalad]

I would think Faulk is their top DE prospect for sure. An athletic monster who sets the edge, is stout against the run, and doesn't really focus on getting at the QB as much as he does stopping the run. That seems like a tailormade Lions DE. If they draft a DE, as disappointed as I may personally be, I think Faulk will be their guy if he's there.

[1984Echoes]

24 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

... and doesn't really focus on getting at the QB ...

This is not accurate.

[Stanley70]

I hope Anthony Hill drops to 50. Would be a prefect compliment to Jack Campbell and fill the hole Anzelone left. Can cover and tackle in the box.

[Motown Bombers]

Putting this here too. Lions don’t need a LT. They can draft someone who projects to be a RT and I think they should move Sewell to the left side. 

 

[gehringer_2]

3 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

Putting this here too. Lions don’t need a LT. They can draft someone who projects to be a RT and I think they should move Sewell to the left side. 

 

Holmes had talked about that being an obvious option in the interview. 

[1984Echoes]

55 minutes ago, Stanley70 said:

I hope Anthony Hill drops to 50. Would be a prefect compliment to Jack Campbell and fill the hole Anzelone left. Can cover and tackle in the box.

I think coverage ability will be the top priority in getting another LB'er...

They're ending up in nickel a whole lot more than in years past with these offenses...

So any LB'er will be a "must" on covering TE's and RB's out of the backfield, etc...

IMO.

Is that one of Hill's "fortes"? (I don't know anything about him...)

[1984Echoes]

PS: I've seen Malachi Lawrence "projected" to the Lions in the 2nd round...

If they want a speed-rusher DE... This guy is it.

255 #'s and a 4.52 40...

And he has pass-rushing skills... not just the speed...

[Jason_R]

The Lions were a bit unusual in their use of base 4-3. Teams today are generally playing more base nickel or have a hybrid safety/LB.

Now that they let Anzalone walk, it will be interesting to see if they are dogmatic about fielding three LBs. 

[MichiganCardinal]

If Mauigoa is there, you turn in the card before they're back from commercial and piss off Goodell again. It's looking like he'll be the first or second tackle off the board though. But you never know, it just takes two or three teams to project him as a guard and he slips a little bit.

That said, I'm starting to think the Lions won't leave without drafting one of Monroe Freeling or Max Iheanachor. Both of them are very strong candidates to be solid future OTs. Freeling has played more LT and Iheanachor has played more RT. Both are athletic freaks, with the two highest RAS scores for offensive linemen this cycle. Freeling was 2nd all time at the position and Iheanachor was 23rd.

Both are also a little flawed and need coaching (obviously, or they'd be sure-fire top ten picks). Freeling is a bit better in space, on runs to the outside and screen passes, which makes sense given his athletic profile. He's also a little better handling speed rushers on the outside (e.g., Micah Parsons?). But he lacks power at the point of attack (i.e., goal line situations). Iheanachor OTOH is a nasty run blocker, but still very raw in pass protection. He started in JUCO and has only played football for five years, and has struggled against elite speed rushers on the outside. But his rapid improvement at ASU has caught the eye of scouts and it's not crazy to think that with his trajectory his ceiling is the highest of any OT prospect in this draft.

The tea leaves have them both there at #17, but neither there at #50. Ideally you could trade with a team like the Texans, drop from #17 to #28, pick up #69, and take one of them. It takes two to tango though and Holmes has shown a willingness to take his guy, even if it's a little early.

Alternatively you take Faulk at #17, wait until one of them goes (probably Freeling), then try to move up in the 2nd round by dangling next year's 3rd. Faulk & Iheanachor would be a really good two-day haul and probably worth sacrificing a pick in 2027 for.

[Stanley70]

What worries me is that they may think Barnes can move to WLB if they go with a 4-2. I don't think he can cover speedy backs in space, he had trouble covering Jameis Winston LOL.

Hill runs a 4.5 and gets plus reviews for coverage ability depending on whose report you are reading. 

[lordstanley]

Wrong thread. 

Edited 20 hours ago by lordstanley

[Mr.TaterSalad]

1 hour ago, Stanley70 said:

What worries me is that they may think Barnes can move to WLB if they go with a 4-2. I don't think he can cover speedy backs in space, he had trouble covering Jameis Winston LOL.

Hill runs a 4.5 and gets plus reviews for coverage ability depending on whose report you are reading. 

Until we get some answers either post draft or post June 1st cuts, there are a few things that worry me. This being one of them. The Derrick Barnes is probably the worst one Brad has given out. I too worry about his abilities to be a coverage-style LB and keeping up with guys in space who are faster than him. I also worry that they look at Larry Borom as their starting RT and will pass on drafting one in the first round in favor of another position.

[1984Echoes]

4 hours ago, Jason_R said:

The Lions were a bit unusual in their use of base 4-3. Teams today are generally playing more base nickel or have a hybrid safety/LB.

Now that they let Anzalone walk, it will be interesting to see if they are dogmatic about fielding three LBs. 

And on this basis, I would want a later-round LB'er if he's not going to see a whole lot of snaps... just for depth.

Now I'm looking at one of the TCU LB'ers in Kaleb Elarms-Orr or Namdi Obiador (same size and speed as Hill but can be gotten in the mid-to-later rounds...).

[Longgone]

2 hours ago, Stanley70 said:

What worries me is that they may think Barnes can move to WLB if they go with a 4-2. I don't think he can cover speedy backs in space, he had trouble covering Jameis Winston LOL.

Hill runs a 4.5 and gets plus reviews for coverage ability depending on whose report you are reading. 

I think they see Barnes as a Sam and will probably run a lot of 5-2 this year. I think they'll look for a hybrid safety\linebacker later in the draft for use in the nickel.

[Jason_R]

6 hours ago, Jason_R said:

The Lions were a bit unusual in their use of base 4-3. Teams today are generally playing more base nickel or have a hybrid safety/LB.

Now that they let Anzalone walk, it will be interesting to see if they are dogmatic about fielding three LBs. 

“We love to play base because we can dictate. But we have options.” He talks about nickel, end, big end and LB. We could go 4-3, we would go 5-2, we could go nickel. Depends on the draft. 

[1984Echoes]

2 hours ago, Longgone said:

I think they see Barnes as a Sam and will probably run a lot of 5-2 this year. I think they'll look for a hybrid safety\linebacker later in the draft for use in the nickel.

I agree with this.

Also, if they are running some 5-2... they could get a speed-rusher specialist to stick out at the wide-end spot... I'm assuming that the 5-2 is 2 DT's and 3 DE's...?

[Longgone]

9 hours ago, 1984Echoes said:

I agree with this.

Also, if they are running some 5-2... they could get a speed-rusher specialist to stick out at the wide-end spot... 

That would be Barnes

[1984Echoes]

2 hours ago, Longgone said:

That would be Barnes

Then who is the 2nd LB'er?

The hybrid safety-LB'er you mentioned earlier?

[Motown Bombers]

Melifonwu is still out there who could play safety/linebacker hybrid. 

[1984Echoes]

PS: I think I would want both:

Malachi Lawrence (pick him 2nd round at #50 or wherever Holmes needs to get to... to grab him) to play the wide-9 in a 5-man front on passing downs... Malachi sucks as a run-defender but as a wide-9, I think he would be OK there... But where he REALLY excels is at rushing the passer. Big, fast, and an array of pass-rush moves/ techniques/ etc. For all the envy Tater and others have in a pass-rushing specialist... this guy would be IT.

Barnes can do that too I guess... but I like having both options...

And as for getting a Safety/ LB'er hybrid, I am ALL for that. Good in coverage, can take on TE's and RB's and short area coverage... as well as be fast and physical if it turns out to be a run instead of pass.

Who fits this description? As a draft prospect I mean? I haven't looked for this type of player...

[1984Echoes]

2 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

Melifonwu is still out there who could play safety/linebacker hybrid. 

That would do it.

Mel... please come back to the Detroit Lions!!!