Way-Too-Early 2027 Mock Drafts Have Detroit Lions Taking… Everything
Here we go again. The annual tradition of immediately pretending we know what the Lions will do in next year’s draft while the ink is still drying on this year’s selections. And yes, I know what you’re thinking: these predictions are about as reliable as a Matt Millen first-round pick.
The track record speaks for itself. Way-too-early mock drafts have never gotten the Lions right. Not once. In 2020, analysts predicted wide receiver before the Lions took Penei Sewell in 2021. They called for a quarterback before Detroit grabbed Aidan Hutchinson and Jameson Williams in 2022. They stayed on the quarterback train before the Lions secured Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell in 2023. They pivoted to defensive trenches before Detroit drafted corner Terrion Arnold in 2024. They expected edge rusher before the Lions went with defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in 2025.
The most recent way-too-early predictions for the 2026 draft that just happened? They saw edge, guard, wide receiver, corner, and offensive tackle coming. While one mock got tackle right with Blake Miller, they projected it would be Oregon’s Isaiah World. He just went undrafted.
What the Crystal Ball Shows for Detroit
This year’s projections are sponsored by FanDuel Sportsbook, where the Lions sit at +1800 to win the Super Bowl, +850 for the NFC Championship, and +150 to win the NFC North as current favorites. Now for the predictions that will almost certainly be wrong.
Athlon Sports has the Lions taking Missouri offensive lineman Cayden Green at pick 24. The reasoning? Detroit needs to protect that explosive offense, and Green brings versatility to slide inside to guard where the Lions might have more immediate need.
USA Today projects Clemson edge rusher Will Heldt at pick 18. They note the Lions traded up for Derrick Moore to pair with Aidan Hutchinson, but first-round edge options might be too tempting. Heldt posted 7 1/2 sacks last season and has the size at 6-6, 260 pounds to develop into something special.
Draft Wire sees Indiana defensive tackle Mario Landino going to Detroit at pick 23. Draft Countdown has Oregon defensive tackle Bear Alexander at pick 25. Both targeting the interior defensive line that Brad Holmes has been steadily rebuilding.
Sporting News projects Notre Dame linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa at pick 19, noting that Detroit has some free agency issues coming at linebacker and could use his coverage and blitzing ability. SB Nation has Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton at pick 22.
Saturday Blitz and Bleacher Report both see Mississippi State cornerback Kelley Jones landing with the Lions at pick 24. The reasoning is sound: Detroit’s young corners will face a pivotal 2026 season, and Jones brings size and elite speed to the position.
CBS Sports rounds out the projections with Georgia safety KJ Bolden at pick 23, calling him a former five-star recruit with the versatility and football intelligence to play multiple spots in the secondary.
Same Song, Different Year
The predictions are scattered across the defensive side of the ball, which tells you everything about where this defense stands. Edge, linebacker, corner, safety, defensive tackle. Every major position is represented because Detroit’s defense remains unpredictable, both in scheme and personnel.
Only one mock had the Lions taking offense, projecting that guard spot. That makes sense considering it might be Detroit’s biggest question mark on that side of the ball right now. The Lions have done solid work building their offense, so the defensive focus tracks.
Here’s what we know for sure: Holmes used five of seven 2026 draft picks on defense. That suggests he’s still building that side of the ball, dealing with injury concerns and contracts that will expire or face termination.
Will any of these predictions hit? History says absolutely not. But hey, at least we’ll have fun watching these prospects develop over the next year before Holmes inevitably zigs when everyone expects him to zag.
Think Holmes actually takes any of these guys, or are we just setting ourselves up for another year of mock draft misery? Drop your prediction below and we’ll revisit this trainwreck next spring.
Honestly, who cares what these mock draft guys are saying anyway? Brad Holmes has shown he knows how to build this team the right way. Whether it’s edge, corner, or guard, I trust he’s gonna find the guys who fit what we’re doing. These predictions being wrong is honestly proof that Holmes is smarter than the rest of us.
I get the optimism here but let’s pump the brakes a little. Yeah Holmes has done good work and I’m not saying he’s bad at his job, but the fact that everyone’s all over the defensive side tells me something isn’t clicking yet. I hope he nails it, but I also remember getting excited about things that didn’t pan out before.
The beauty of what Holmes and Campbell have done is they’ve actually got us talking about next year’s draft like we have real hope. That’s different from what we used to deal with. These mocks being wrong doesn’t bother me one bit because at least now I feel like the guy making the picks knows what he’s doing.
The scattered predictions about defense actually make me feel better because it shows nobody really knows what the needs are gonna look like come draft time. Holmes will see how things shake out, deal with injuries and contracts, and then make the move that makes sense. That’s the whole point of having a real GM.