Lions Fans Think They Know Better Than the Experts (And They Might Be Right)
We’ve spent months tracking what the so-called experts think Detroit should do with the 17th overall pick. But let’s flip this whole thing around and see what the people actually think. ESPN’s mock draft simulator lets fans play general manager, and the data on how they’re building the Lions’ draft board is fascinating in all the ways you’d expect from a fanbase that has watched this organization for decades.
Here’s the thing about Lions fans: we know pain, but we also know football. And when nearly 30% of mock drafters are putting Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor in Honolulu Blue, that tells you something about both the need and the buzz.
The Offensive Line Obsession Is Real
Kadyn Proctor leads the fan voting at 29%, and honestly, that tracks. The 6-foot-7, 352-pound tackle has been the most polarizing name attached to Detroit all offseason. He’s raw, he’s massive, and he’d immediately help a run game that needs to keep churning out yards in January.
Georgia’s Monroe Freeling sits at 21%, which is interesting because the experts had him as the most popular choice in their final mock drafts. Freeling only started about 1.5 seasons for the Bulldogs, but his measurables and rapid improvement have him climbing boards faster than a rookie trying to impress Dan Campbell.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking: two tackles in the top two spots when we already have decent bookends? Welcome to Lions fandom, where we’ve learned the hard way that you can never have too much protection up front.
The Guard That Everyone Wants
Penn State’s Vega Ioane rounds out the top three at 14%. Some draft analysts think he’s the best offensive lineman in this entire class, period. He doesn’t play a premium position and guard isn’t exactly our biggest need, but he’d be an instant upgrade at left guard.
The catch? Baltimore is mocking him 36% of the time, so good luck with that pipe dream.
Edge Rush Reality Check
Miami’s Akheem Mesidor sits at fourth with 13% of selections, and this is where Lions fans show they understand the assignment. We need someone opposite Aidan Hutchinson who can actually get to the quarterback, and Mesidor has 35.5 career sacks to back up the hype.
Sure, he’s 25 years old and some question whether he benefited from playing alongside teammate Rueben Bain. But when you’ve watched this pass rush struggle for years, you take production over perfect circumstances every single time.
The Utah Connection
Here’s where it gets interesting. Utah tackles Spencer Fano (4.1%) and Caleb Lomu (4.0%) both crack the top ten, with Lomu available in 99% of simulations at pick 17. That’s the kind of value pick that makes sense when you’re building depth and competition along the line.
Fano is the bigger name but only available 10% of the time when Detroit picks. Lomu might not be the sexy choice, but he’s the realistic one.
The Rest of the List
Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker shows up at 3.5%, though our own Erik Schlitt managed to snag him in the second round of our community mock. Taking him at 17 might be a reach, but when you need pass rush help, you don’t always get to wait for perfect value.
Auburn’s Keldric Faulk sits surprisingly low at 2.7%, despite being an excellent scheme fit. Maybe ESPN users are smarter than we give them credit for, seeing him as a better fit in the 20s where other teams are grabbing him.
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq (2.2%) represents the wildcard pick. With no Lions tight ends signed beyond this season, it’s not crazy. And if Brad Holmes truly believes in best player available, Sadiq being there in only 59% of mocks makes him interesting.
Clemson corner Avieon Terrell rounds out the top ten at 1.4%. Probably early for a projected nickel corner, but his competitive spirit and run support would fit what this coaching staff values.
The Ones That Got Away
Two names that should probably be higher: Clemson tackle Blake Miller (1.0%) and Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor (0.3%). Both are excellent fits for what Detroit needs, but ESPN users have them going much later. Sometimes the crowd is wrong.
Iheanachor particularly stands out as the fourth-most common pairing with Detroit at pick 50, behind some names that make you wonder if fans are overthinking the second round too.
The fan voting reveals something we’ve suspected all along: Lions supporters understand this team’s needs better than most. The offensive line focus makes sense when you’ve watched this franchise struggle to protect quarterbacks for decades. The edge rush emphasis shows fans learned from watching teams pressure Jared Goff in the playoffs.
Are we projecting our trauma onto draft strategy? Maybe. But after watching Matt Millen draft wide receivers while the offensive line crumbled, maybe a little paranoia about protection isn’t the worst thing.
So are Lions fans smarter than the experts, or are we just better at recognizing our own team’s weaknesses after years of painful education? Sound off below and tell us which of these fan favorites you’d actually want wearing Honolulu Blue.
