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Nobody gave Amon-Ra St. Brown a shot on draft day, but look at him now.
Why We’re Talking About It
April is creeping up, and that means every armchair GM across Michigan is sketching out their dream Lions draft board on the back of their Wolverine boots. We’ve been through draft letdowns before—cursed first-rounders, head-scratchers, three years spent hoping a tight end would fix it all. But this year, with the number 17 pick in 2026, hope is back in the air around Allen Park. The Honolulu Blue faithful can feel it in their bones.
The big draft names get all the press, but you know what? The franchise-changers are usually found when Brad Holmes goes looking off the beaten path. No shade to the “experts,” but I’m tired of seeing every Lions mock start and end with the same boring, obvious picks. C’mon. This is Detroit. We’re not interested in just going with the safe pick because “everyone else says so.” That’s never how legends are made.
Word on the street out of Ford Field is the front office has their eyes on three under-the-radar draft prospects: safety Dillon Thieneman, offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, and edge rusher Keldric Faulk. Odd choices? Maybe. But Holmes and Campbell never mind taking the road less traveled if it means getting a guy who actually fits this city’s style of play.
Lions fans don’t forget. We remember the wasted picks, the years of busts, and every draft moment that left us on the porch shaking our heads. This year, with expectations higher than Matthew Stafford’s comeback attempts, these barely-talked-about names could be the unlikely heroes we need.
Why It Matters
We’ve been burned by picking for flash instead of substance. Too many years, Detroit has chased big names while ignoring team needs or personality fits. Brad Holmes seems to get it. He knows the value of hungry, overlooked guys who chip away at doubters, the way Frank Ragnow did, the way Amon-Ra has, and how C.J. Gardner-Johnson played his tail off before his contract was even dry. Character matters here. All three prospects on Holmes’ radar bring toughness and a chip on their shoulders that feels right at home in Motown.
Dillon Thieneman has the instincts to actually make our secondary mean, not just average. Watching Lions safeties over the last decade has been like watching someone try to parallel park with their eyes closed—painful. If Campbell gets a safety who knows where the football is at all times, maybe Detroit finally becomes a defense you can win with, not just survive with.
Kadyn Proctor, meanwhile, is a mountain of a man. This team seems to always be about gritty O-line play. But with Decker not getting any younger and Sewell a building block but not the whole wall, a kid like Proctor plants a flag for the future. You remember the run game against the Eagles last year? Imagine it even nastier.
Then there’s Keldric Faulk. He’s the kind of edge rusher who could free up Aidan Hutchinson so he isn’t double-teamed to death every Sunday. The Lions’ pass rush, at times, has been about as intimidating as a feather duster. Plug in a guy with motor and upside like Faulk, and maybe opposing QBs don’t sleep so easily before a Detroit game. Exciting? You bet.
That Detroit Grit’s Take
Look, I’ve seen every “can’t-miss” prospect miss by a mile in my lifetime. Remember Mike Williams? Charles Rogers? I break out in cold sweats remembering the Joey Harrington years. It’s easy to get jaded with the draft, but this current staff deserves some trust. They showed us that they will pound the table for a guy like Amon-Ra even if he’s coming off the board at pick 112. They care about fit, about toughness, about something I’d call Detroit DNA. Each of these three prospects brings tools, but more than that, they bring attitude. Thieneman is a headhunter with a brain, Proctor just bullies people at the line, and Faulk never stops chasing the play.
I want stars, but I’d rather have five gritty warhorses than one flashy bust. Holmes has proven he’ll stick by his board. Campbell wants “pissed off for greatness.” So don’t be surprised if the Lions ignore the pundits again. Good. Here’s to hoping one of these overlooked kids comes in, puts their head down, and earns a helmet logo the blue-collar way. Only in Detroit does “underrated” mean “outworks everyone else.”
Our Final Thought
Grabbing a headline name sounds nice, but finding the right fit has kept this team trending up. With the right underdog, the Lions could build a team that grinds opponents down and turns Ford Field into the toughest place to play once and for all. Give me grit. Give me heart. Let’s get weird, Detroit.
Let’s Hear Your Take
Which sleeper should the Lions bite on at pick 17? Is Holmes cooking up another masterstroke or should he stick to the “experts”? Leave your best draft hot take in the comments below. Let’s argue about it like family.
