The 2026 NFL Draft is now just 10 days away, and the Detroit Lions, as of now, will select with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the event which will be held in Pittsburgh.
Two of the biggest needs for the Lions on most draft boards include an edge rusher to pair with defensive anchor Aidan Hutchinson and an offensive tackle to aid quarterback Jared Goff, offering him more protection.
However, for Lions fans who believe that these are the areas that general manager Brad Holmes should focus on, he has a message for them that may not resonate well.
Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes Gives Major Clue To 2026 NFL Draft Plans
The Lions made a handful of additions on the open market so far during the offseason, including the signings of offensive tackle Larry Borom and defensive end DJ Wonnum.
For Holmes, he said he doesn’t feel the franchise needs to “supplement” those additions.
“I’ve said in the past, I thought Borom put out good tape this year. I don’t foresee that—I don’t have a crystal ball—but from what (the) last thing I saw on tape (was) I do think that he’s got starter-level ability and same as Wonnum,” Holmes said. “You’re talking about guys that have been starters in the NFL, but you just kinda look at where the trend is going, where the arrow is going. The last time, they’re still young, but we feel good about both of them. So we don’t feel like we have to supplement them.”
“If you look at it like an offensive tackle or you call that ‘premium position’ category,’ I don’t think you can ever really have enough of them,” he continued. “Those guys are hard to find, but you’ve got to make sure that you get the right one. I think there are some good ones (in this draft). We’ll just kinda see how it falls.”
“You never want to feel that way when you select a player. You pass up a really good player that you liked even more but there is a question mark on your roster so you just go ahead and you get that player that you weren’t as excited about. I know for me, it’s hard to sleep at night when you do that,” Holmes said.
The Detroit Lions Will Select No. 17 Overall In The 2026 NFL Draft
The Lions enter the 2026 NFL Draft with the following selections:
- Round 1: No. 17 overall
- Round 2: No. 50
- Round 4: No. 118
- Round 4: No. 128
- Round 5: No. 157
- Round 5: No. 181
- Round 6: No. 205
- Round 6: No. 213
- Round 7: No. 222
According to analysis from Lions Insider Eric Woodyard of ESPN, the three biggest needs for the club are on the offensive line, edge rushing, and cornerback positions.
“After struggling to adapt to new faces on the line last season and the release of veteran left tackle Taylor Decker, Detroit can benefit from drafting an O-lineman early,” he wrote. “Adding an edge rusher to pair with Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson would also be smart, as Al-Quadin Muhammad signed with Tampa Bay in free agency. Plus, the Lions’ cornerback room was plagued by injuries the past couple of seasons.”
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