Lions NFL Draft big board: O-linemen, edge rushers top needs with DB, LB lurking

The 2026 NFL Draft is less than a month away. The dust is settling, and after weeks of testing and evaluation, players are beginning to separate themselves.

Time for a fresh Detroit Lions big board.

Here’s a look at some players who might intrigue the Lions on Day 1 (pick No. 17) and Day 2 (No. 50), and how they might fit.

S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

A clean prospect who’s going to make a team’s defense better immediately. It would be hard to envision a fall, but the idea of taking a safety in the top 10 won’t be appealing to some, and safeties do tend to fall. However, maybe don’t count on it.

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OT Spencer Fano, Utah

Could Fano fall a bit? He’s been considered a top-10 prospect for some time, but discussion about his arm length and ideal position in the NFL has opened the door to the possibility. Still, he feels like he’ll be gone before 17.

OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami

A safe bet for a top-15 pick and player who’s sure to have a solid pro career — whether it’s at tackle or guard.

LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

A built-in-a-lab linebacker prospect who likely won’t make it to 17. Considering the Lions could soon be looking to extend Jack Campbell, paying one linebacker $18 million-plus and drafting another one in the first round might not be the best use of limited resources. Feel free to dream, though.

OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

Few players have seen their stock rise as much as Freeling’s in the last six weeks. He went from a potential first-round pick to a real option for the Lions at No. 17 to a potential top-10 pick. We’ll have to see how much of his post-combine buzz is real, because he could still be in play. However, it’s a lot less certain than it once was.

G Vega Ioane, Penn State

One of my favorite prospects in the class and a safe bet as a plug-and-play guard with Pro Bowl potential. They’d be set at four of the five offensive line positions for years to come with this move. He’s mature, has a no-nonsense work ethic, takes his film preparation seriously and has few holes in his game. If the Lions veer off the tackle/edge path in the first round, this is the way.

Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn

If free agency has been any indication, the Lions still have a type at edge. They’ve tried to fill this role for years, handing out one-year deals to Marcus Davenport and, most recently, D.J. Wonnum. But Faulk could put an end to that revolving door and give them a young player with upside to build around. Could be a case where the need lines up with the board.

Dillon Thieneman totaled 96 tackles and intercepted two passes last season with Oregon.Troy Wayrynen / Imagn Images

S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

The Lions drafting a safety in the first round would reveal quite a bit about how they view Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch in the future. Thieneman is a first-round talent, especially after showing out at the combine.

Edge Zion Young, Missouri

Talking to folks around the league, I wouldn’t be surprised if Young is taken higher than most think. He’s got a motor that never dies, a strong frame, long arms and is the definition of an alpha on the field. He’s not as bendy as some other edge prospects but defends the run, can win a rush and set an edge. It’s what the Lions look for.

OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

Iheanachor has everything you want from a potential first-round tackle — except experience. He began playing football at the juco level, transferred to Arizona State and now feels like a Day 1 pick. Some time on task with Hank Fraley could unlock the best out of Iheanachor, but he’s more polished than you’d expect from someone in his position. His upside is immense.

OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

A tackle with solid footwork and above-average athleticism, Lomu is a viable option at No. 17. Unlike some of the other tackles, Lomu played left tackle in college and could hold up there in the NFL. He’ll need refinement but he’s not far off.

OT Blake Miller, Clemson

Miller is arguably one of the more NFL-ready tackles in the class, thanks to his 54 career starts at Clemson. His combination of character, experience and athleticism should warrant serious first-round consideration. He’d be an excellent fit.

S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

It’s hard to count on turnovers week in and week out, but not if you have players who were born to create them. Kerby Joseph is one of them. McNeil-Warren is another, having mastered the art of the Peanut Punch. Between that skill and his versatility as a safety/nickel, he’s a player worth watching.

Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami

An older prospect, but that might not be a deterrent to all teams. Mesidor, 24, is ready to generate pressure at the next level. Still, concerns about his age by the time he reaches his second contract are valid.

OL Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

I’m a bit lower on Proctor than the consensus, but the size/power combo is undeniable. He moves in ways that 370-pounders shouldn’t. His game needs to mature, and he might be limited to right tackle or even guard in the NFL. However, he’s a first-round talent.

Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson

Parker can be a bit stiff as a rusher and needs to refine his secondary rush package, but he can turn speed to power and defend the run.

G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon

Pregnon gets a little overshadowed by Ioane, but he’s the second-best pure guard in this class. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up going late first round or early second. Pregnon is a people-mover who climbs the second level well and displaces defenders in his path.

Edge Malachi Lawrence, UCF

If the Lions are looking to depart from their usual type at edge, Lawrence would be a good fit. He brings a unique size/speed combination, and his long arms give him a chance to learn how to set an edge in the NFL. He’d be a nice change-up from what the Lions have in Wonnum.

Edge Gabe Jacas, Illinois

I think the Lions will like Jacas. He’s a high-character prospect with a strong work ethic, plays with power and motor, shows effort versus the run and should be available in the second round.

CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina

An athletic outside cornerback who can run downfield with faster receivers and offers solid run support, though he sometimes overrelies on his athleticism, and can be a bit grabby. Cisse is an intriguing option if the Lions think they need more at CB. Terrion Arnold’s situation is worth monitoring.

LB Kyle Louis, Pitt

A hybrid linebacker/DB, the value Louis brings in coverage would help replace Alex Anzalone, and he’s versatile enough to play big nickel. One of my favorite prospects in the class, but he won’t be for everyone.

LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati

I think linebacker could be a sneaky need for the Lions, and a player who’s caught my attention recently is Golday. A former no-star recruit who made the switch from edge to linebacker, Golday blends real athleticism (a 9.84 RAS and a spot on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List) without sacrificing too much in the run game. He could be a starting weakside linebacker from Day 1.

Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State

An elite athlete who tested off the charts at the combine, and closed out his collegiate career with back-to-back 8.5-sack seasons. Good size at 6-foot-5, but could add weight to his frame. Will need continued development but the upside is there.

DB Treydan Stukes, Arizona

After speaking with Lions GM Brad Holmes on Tuesday, I’m not convinced the Lions are done at the DB position. I asked about the depth at safety between Christian Izien and Thomas Harper, and Holmes brought up special teams for them and said the Lions are always going to keep looking to add. Stukes is a gamer. He’s going to make a defense better, whether it’s at nickel or safety.

DB Keionte Scott, Miami

An older, nickel-only DB, Scott won’t be for everyone. But man, he’s got the goods. He’s violent in run support, an effective blitzer and he covers a ton of ground with his reported 4.33 speed. An instant-impact defender from the slot. One of my favorite players this cycle.

OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern

Tiernan is a good example of the potential drop-off at the tackle position. There might be as many as seven that go in the first round. Tiernan, considered the eighth-best tackle, is a late second-/early third-round talent. That doesn’t mean he can’t develop into a good player, but he’s a clear tier below the likes of Lomu, Iheanachor and Miller.

OT/G Gennings Dunker, Iowa

Another Day 2 tackle option is Dunker, who will almost certainly pass the vibe test. There are questions as to whether he’ll be best suited at guard or tackle in the NFL, but if the Lions pass on a tackle in the first or second round and want to add competition in the draft, Dunker is an option. Also, his versatility is a plus.

LB/edge Jaishawn Barham, Michigan

A linebacker/edge hybrid, Barham would fit the mold of a sam linebacker in Detroit’s system. He had a formal meeting with the team at the combine, and if the Lions draft him, they could slide Derrick Barnes to will. He can provide situational pass-rush juice to complement Wonnum’s early-down run defense.

DB Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina

A rocked-up safety/nickel hybrid with elite athleticism, Kilgore might not make it out of Day 2. Versatility will be his calling card, and with eight career interceptions and a physicality in run support, he should be on Detroit’s radar.

S Bud Clark, TCU

If the Lions are looking for a ball-hawking safety who could be available early on Day 3, Clark would be a good option. He could learn from Joseph or step in for him if the knee flares up. He’s got 15 career interceptions.