The Detroit Lions Podcast

Dan Campbell flips the switch at OTAs Dan Campbell sounded different on Friday. The Detroit Lions head coach came across caffeinated, focused, and all business. He pushed a reset. He stressed football first, everything else second. "It takes everybody to win, and it takes everybody to probably lose," he said, framing the summer with clarity. Campbell acknowledged the noise that follows success. "It's a lot easier when nobody knows who you are," he noted, pointing to hype, players getting paid, and coaches moving on as distractions from the core. His directive was simple. Get back to work. Make it about football. Make it about the guy next to you. That message read like a mission statement for 2026. It fit the Detroit Lions trajectory and the standards he set in previous climbs. Back to basics after a noisy offseason The discussion touched on process tweaks. Questions about a rookie camp and fewer pre draft visits came up around his offseason deep dive. Campbell would not pin last year's disappointments on any one thing. He leaned into no nonsense. The NFL rewards teams that handle details and ignore the echo. Jeff Risdon framed the moment against a shifting landscape. He pointed to staff movement, citing the Ben Johnson departure and a Martin Glenn departure. He also noted how a roster with paid stars changes daily life. Internal hype can creep in. Campbell's message cuts through that. The Detroit Lions Podcast circled it as the right antidote. Football first. Teammate first. Everything aligned with the head coach's voice. OTAs snapshot and what comes next Friday's open OTA session gave a look, but not a full reveal. Jeff was not in attendance and did not feel he missed much. Interviews from the field with Scott Bischoff and Scott DiBenedetto helped fill in context. It is June. Installation, tone setting, and baseline habits matter more than headlines. The show also teased summer content. Emery Hunt is slated to join to talk UFL prospects. Louisville has UFL buzz, with the Louisville Kings drawing interest even after the Michigan Panthers' exit from the market. The viability of a second league will be a topic on a future live stream. The NFL calendar slows now, but the evaluation drum keeps beating. Campbell's words are the thread through it all. Peel away the hype. Ignore the side shows. The Detroit Lions can fly under the radar again only by choice. They can choose the hard, boring work that wins. Friday sounded like that choice. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #dancampbell #otas #lionsoffseason #pressconference #bradholmes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Blake Miller Fits the Job The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on the offensive line build after the draft. The focus was Blake Miller stepping into the right tackle spot while Sewell moves to the left side. Miller was described as one of the most experienced linemen in this class, with four years of work and a heavy snap load at Clemson. The book on him is clear: reliable, steady, and ready to play early. There are limits. He plays upright at times, and his athletic profile may cap the ceiling. He is not expected to be flashy or perfect. He is expected to be consistent. Strong enough. Athletic enough. A steady performer on the right side once he settles into the NFL. That level of baseline competence on a rookie deal is valuable. The expectation is capable starter play after some early leeway. Sewell's Switch and the Young Right Side The conversation backed the move of Sewell to the left without much trepidation. Confidence ran high that the transition will hold. A point of debate centered on the right side growing together, with Tate Ratlidge on that side and Miller as a rookie. The group acknowledged bumps are likely early in the year when a second-year player and a rookie share that edge. Coaching and structure are the counter. The Lions can help with tight end alignment to Miller's side and avoid leaving both young players on an island. Continuity across the rest of the line and a smart play caller can shield them as they settle in. Expect some turbulence, then progress. The description of Miller's game even echoed the reliable profile long tied to Taylor Decker at left tackle, a comparison that drew a nod that it worked out well. Petzing's Offense, From a Voice Who Worked With Him The show also touched on new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. One guest worked in Cleveland when Petzing was there as the tight ends coach and offered a positive read. The takeaway was practical: he helped with understanding the offense and details from the ground up. That perspective matters as the Lions tailor protections and calls to bring the young right side along. Put it together and the roadmap is straightforward. Miller brings dependable snaps. Sewell handles the left. The staff leans on continuity and targeted help to guide the right side. It is a plan built for the NFL grind, and the Detroit Lions Podcast laid out how it can work. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #drewpetzing #jackcampbell #keithabney #blakemiller #jimmyrolder #derrickmoore #tyrewest #lionsdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OTAs hit Allen Park and the Detroit Lions face a real offensive question. What will new OC Drew Petzing actually build in Detroit? Many expect heavy 12 and 13 personnel. The roster suggests something different. What Petzing Might Really Want The tight end room did not get the draft attention many anticipated. Targets like a combo tight end were on the radar. Names such as Nate Boerkircher, Oscar Delp, and Sam Rausch came up as the type. Riley Nowakowski, a tight end fullback from Indiana, fit that mold too. The Lions passed. That matters. Skipping those additions hints at a base that leans into receivers. Picture Isaac Tesla with Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown on the field, with Sam LaPorta as the primary tight end. That package spreads space without surrendering toughness. It also fits a room built to win with speed and timing. If Petzing favors matchups and spacing, this roster can live in 11 while still bullying light boxes. Why Arizona Is a Bad Template Projecting Detroit from Arizona tape misses context. In Arizona, the wide receiver group was thin or hurt. The passing game sputtered outside of McBride. There were quarterback issues. Those factors pushed 12 and 13 personnel to stabilize the run and protection. Detroit is not built the same way. The Lions offensive tackles run block at a high level. They can create movement without extra big bodies. Duo and other downhill concepts do not need a constant tight end convoy here. Against nickel defenses and two-high safeties, the Lions can force lighter fits with speed on the field and still run with force. That opens play action, quick game, and shots for Williams while St. Brown and LaPorta churn first downs. Petzing inherits flexibility, not a mandate to go heavy. OTA Reality Check in Allen Park It is shorts and shells. No contact. Helmets are allowed. Practice jerseys, no shoulder pads. Much of it is seven on seven. OTA standouts can vanish when pads arrive. Chase Lucas once looked like an instant slot option as a seventh round pick. When the contact started, the depth chart told a different story. So, take early reports with caution. Roles and usage are the real tells. Watch which group shows up most: three wideouts with LaPorta, or frequent two tight end sets. Track where Williams aligns and how often Tesla works with starters. Note how often the Lions stress light boxes rather than stack big bodies. Those clues will say more about Petzing's NFL plan than any highlight from a non-contact Friday. This is the Detroit Lions Podcast lens on OTAs, focused on structure over sizzle. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #drewpetzing #lionsotas #kalifraymond #isaacteslaa #alimmcneill #keithabney #kendricklaw #lionsdefensivescheme #tyleikwilliams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A leader paid like a cornerstone Jack Campbell's new deal landed, and the Detroit Lions linebacker matched the moment. In his press conference, he opened with thanks. Family. His wife and her family. Coaches. Jared Goff. It fit the player Detroit sees every Sunday. Grounded. Direct. Team first. He also remembered draft night noise. Campbell said someone sent him a clipping that called him the worst draft pick ever. His response set his tone. It was not about proving doubters wrong. It was about proving the believers right. That is the voice of a middle-of-the-defense anchor. The Lions treated him like one with this extension, and he earned it. Production that forces respect Campbell stacked an elite 2025. He recorded 176 tackles. That ranked fourth in the NFL and marked the 21st most in a season since 1983. He added five sacks, four pass breakups, and three forced fumbles. He was the only linebacker in football to top three in all those categories. That is volume and impact. Availability matched the output. He played all but four defensive snaps for Detroit last year. When injuries hit around him as a rookie, staying on the field taught him to lead. The growth carried into an All-Pro season. Coverage was once the knock. It is better now. The four pass breakups underscore that he is no longer flat-footed at the catch point like he was early. Campbell credited linebackers coaches Kelvin Sheppard and Shaun Dion Hamilton for sharpening his game. What's next in the middle There is still ceiling. Campbell can keep tightening his coverage. He can time blitzes a little better. He can be cleaner strafing laterally when blockers climb. The context will test him. Without DJ Reader and Roy Lopez as true nose tackles, second-level linemen might get cleaner paths to him. He will have to beat those angles. The expectation is he will. First-team All-Pro status says plenty, but the standard rises again. Contract structure at a glance The extension runs four years for $81,000,000. Total guarantees are $51.15 million. Of that, $22.9 million is fully guaranteed at signing. New money guaranteed is $48.4 million. Campbell received an $8.6 million signing bonus. His 2026 and 2027 salaries are fully guaranteed. That is how a franchise invests in its defensive core. This Detroit Lions Podcast episode centered on a simple truth. Campbell's game, voice, and durability align with what the Lions want in the middle. The numbers back it up. The contract does, too. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jackcampbell #nfl #contractextension #lionsdefense #contractdetails #samlaporta Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday, May 27, the Detroit Lions Podcast Daily opened with a quick curveball. Michael Grey recalled being at Cleveland Stadium the night Jose Canseco took a home run off his head. Then it was straight to the Detroit Lions and the NFL's running back puzzles at OTAs. Gibbs locked in as RB1 Jameer Gibbs is RB1. No debate. Expect more work than he saw down the stretch last season. The staff cut the RB2 load late in the year to about 10 to 12 touches. That let Gibbs tilt the field. It could be even more pronounced now. If you care about fantasy, Gibbs belongs at the top tier. The conversation is Gibbs or Bijan for the first running back off the board. That is where this usage is pointing. RB2 picture: Pacheco's role and a Vaki push The Lions signed Isaiah Pacheco to take the late-season David Montgomery assignment. Between the tackles. Third and three. Move the chains. It is not 15 to 20 touches. It is 10 to 12 and hard yards. That is the brief. Will someone push him? Keep an eye on Vaki. He has been the fourth back because he is invaluable on special teams. This is his third season playing running back exclusively. At Utah he was a safety who ran well when handed the ball. Now the question is simple. Can he take on more on offense and still deliver on teams? Depth, roster math, and OTAs notes Craig Reynolds, the best RB3 in football by last season's standard, is no longer in Detroit. That opens real snaps for hungry backs. Jacob Sailors is in the mix. So are holdovers Kai Robicheaux and Jabari Small. Both flashed last summer. Robicheaux did before he got hurt. Small had moments in camp. How many backs make it? Three or four. Recent history says four, with Vaki as the fourth because of special teams. But the staff could keep three on the 53 and flex a practice squad back on game weeks. OTAs will start to sort it out. Media availability does not open until Friday. Grey will not be on site this week due to the commute. The depth chart jockeying will still matter. Short yardage. Pass protection. Special teams. Those jobs decide RB3 and RB4 in June, not just big runs in August. One final note on a familiar face. David Montgomery looks good in Houston. The first thing mentioned down there is his feet. Quick and clean. That matches what Detroit saw when he carried the late-season load. Now the Lions move forward with Gibbs atop the room and Pacheco slotted for the bruising work. The rest will be won on the margins. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jahmyrgibbs #davidmontgomery #isiahpacheco #jabarismall #kyerobichaux #craigreynolds #lionsotas #runningbacks #joshjacobs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A draft class searching for traction The Detroit Lions Podcast put the 2024 draft class under a harsh light. Two years in, the group has flashed but not finished. The Detroit Lions need more in the NFL's tight margins. This feels like a prove-it season for the entire class, headlined by first-round pick Terryon Arnold at No. 24 overall after a trade up with Dallas from 28. Terryon Arnold needs consistent CB1 tape Arnold has shown it in stretches. Early last year he looked the part outside. Midseason he matured. He played less handsy. He read the receiver better. Then came the injury. Then penalties. Then a general lack of effectiveness. He has not played like a first-rounder yet. The expectation remains that he opens 2026 as a starting outside cornerback. The benefit of the doubt is fading. He has one more season before the fifth-year option decision becomes straightforward or complicated. The Dallas trade context matters Detroit paid a first and a third to move up for Arnold. Those Dallas picks turned into Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe. Guyton has started at tackle and shown an inconsistent but impressive profile. Beebe has started at center and been decent, short of high expectations. No one knows if the Lions would have made the same choices. They did spend time with Beebe at the Senior Bowl. Viewed through that prism, the move has not produced the intended return yet in Detroit. Ennis Rakestraw's availability and a crowded slot Rakestraw has played eight games in two years. Multiple injuries hit both seasons, echoing a college pattern where timing hurt his offseasons more than his Saturdays. This is a big year for him. The room around him has tightened. Detroit drafted Keith Abney in that spot and signed Roger McCreery there. Christian Risdon and Avante Maddox can play slot nickel. Outside, they brought Brockus back. Nick Whiteside is back, and to this point he has shown more in coverage than Rakestraw. The challenge is clear. Day 3 pieces still seeking a spark Giovanni Manu arrived as an offensive lineman from British Columbia in the fourth. Also in the fourth, Vaki was listed as a safety at Utah but Detroit drafted him to play running back, a role he handled at Utah and at the Senior Bowl. In the sixth, Mangin Wingo came in at defensive tackle from LSU. The Lions also added guard Chris Mahogany from Boston College. Collectively, the group has been underwhelming and frustrating. There is time, but not much, for this class to match the standard set elsewhere on the roster. The 2026 tape has to change the story. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #terrionarnold #ennisrakestraw #giovannimanu #2024nfldraft #mekhiwingo #christianmahogany #sionevaki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why the Fifth-Year Option Never Made Sense The Detroit Lions made Jack Campbell the NFL's second highest paid linebacker. The number is big, and the reasoning is clear. Off-ball linebackers are grouped with pass-rush linebackers for option calculations. That bucket includes names like Micah Parsons. Even Miles Garrett falls into that label in the accounting. Aidan Hutchinson could be listed there, too. Because Campbell earned first team All-Pro, the fifth-year option would have escalated beyond his annual number. The option math was upside down. So the Lions acted early and got cost certainty. The same structure exists for other young Lions. Jahmir Gibbs had a smaller escalator tied to Pro Bowls. This is how the NFL and NFLPA built the system. It rewards production, but it can spike costs at certain positions. Inside the Deal and the Market Campbell's contract lands at $81,000,000 total value and $20,250,000 per year. Only Roquan Smith tops him in total dollars. Only Fred Warner makes more per year at $21,000,000. Average per year is the clean measuring stick. Total value often carries fluff. Teams use mechanisms like void years, and the back end can be soft. The Detroit Lions Podcast spelled out why this price point isn't out of bounds. It is pushing the market, not breaking it. He is young, coming off his first contract, and already an All-Pro. Someone else will leapfrog him soon. That is how the market works. What Campbell Puts on Tape Campbell's tape backs the investment. He forces fumbles by punching the ball out. Officials explained why some of those attempts will now be penalties, and he had a couple misses. The core skill still matters. He arrives on balance. He squares up. He finishes. You rarely see a bad snap. The only consistent nit is occasional coverage wins by the offense. His instincts show up. So does his reactive quickness and eye discipline. He does not overrun the point of attack. That matters for this defense. The pet peeve with linebackers who fly past tackles or get stiff-armed because they are out of control does not apply here. The comparisons offered were about style and reliability. Think Lance Briggs. Think Chris Spielman. Right place. Right angles. Right result. What's Next in the Hierarchy Campbell is now slotted as the No. 2 off-ball linebacker by pay. The plan was to stack up other Detroit Lions stars and where they rank next. That conversation is coming. For now, the headline stands: the Detroit Lions paid for steady, high-end play. The NFL market context and option math justify it. The Detroit Lions Podcast laid out the numbers and the tape, and both point to value. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jackcampbell #nflcontractrankings #peneisewell #jaredgoff #kerbyjoseph #alimmcneill #voidyears Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Campbell Locked In, Option Math Explained Jeff Risdon went live on the Detroit Lions Podcast for a bonus hit. Chris was slated to join, but he's on short-term injured reserve. The headline was simple. Jack Campbell announced his contract extension. It runs through the 2030 season. The why behind Detroit declining Campbell's fifth year option mattered. His All-Pro nod pushed that option cost to the franchise tag level for linebackers. The NFL does not separate off ball linebackers from pass rushing linebackers in that calculation. That puts Campbell in the bucket with players like Micah Parsons. That price is prohibitive for any off ball linebacker. An extension always made more sense. Final numbers were not available. The expectation was in the $16–18 million per year range, but the structure will tell the real story. The key pieces to watch: what is guaranteed at signing and how many void years get attached. Fan Reveal, Super Bowl Goal, and Campbell's Leap The news broke in a fan-forward way. Sweta Patel, a loyal Detroit Lions fan, shared the extension first with the team's blessing. Peter Schrager amplified that she indeed had it. Detroit followed with a video featuring Campbell. He smiled and set his goal out loud: the Super Bowl. The growth that led here was steady. Early on, Campbell could get flat-footed in coverage. He guessed on reads at times. Shedding blocks was inconsistent. The tape evolved. Last season he earned first team All-Pro. His missed tackle rate stood out. He was reliable. He was where he needed to be. Always around the ball. The extension validates the development. The Money Mechanics and What's Next Detroit's approach to contracts remains a strategic subplot for the NFL audience. The Lions prefer void years over traditional restructures. That creates cap flexibility today but limits the ability to restructure deals later. You cannot easily add more years if dead years already stack at the back end. The number of void years on Campbell will signal how aggressively Detroit wants to push money forward. If the deal carries only one void year, it suggests confidence. Confidence in Campbell signing another extension down the road. Confidence in handling the rest of the core without robbing future space. The draft class of 2023 sits next in line. Branch and Laporta are in contract years as second-rounders and are coming off injuries, which complicates projections. Gibbs can wait a bit longer if necessary. And Penay's next extension is not far out. It could come as early as next offseason. For the Detroit Lions, this bonus Detroit Lions Podcast episode framed the moment. Campbell is locked up. The cap chessboard is in motion. Eyes now shift to guarantees, void years, and the next signatures. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jackcampbellextension #fifthyearoption #franchisetaglevel #jahmyrgibbs #lionscontracts #brianbranch #samlaporta #detroitdefense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tackle priority and Blake Miller's floor The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on why offensive tackle felt likely going into the NFL draft. The class at tackle was top heavy. Options like Morgan Freeling and Proctor were in the mix. Detroit landed Blake Miller. Miller brings more than 50 plus starts. He shows lateral quickness for a big frame. The question is ceiling. Can he become a dominant force or is he a steady pro? The discussion leaned toward a very respectable starter. Solid baseline. Reasonable risk. Clear need met. Derek Moore's motor and rush upside Derek Moore drew differing opinions after Senior Bowl looks. The tape shows a high motor. Power at contact. Strong, active hands. He finishes when he wins early. The rush potential pops more than the all around game right now. That profile still checks Lions boxes. Effort. Physicality. Inside hands. Moore fits the rotation and can scale up if the pass rush package tightens. The bet is on juice and refinement. The value aligns with where Detroit picked. Nickel value, late finds, and roles Keith Abney was the surprise slider, landing at 157. Short, not small. Instinctive. Natural mover in coverage. Some label him a nickel only. That role matters. In today's NFL, the nickel is a twelfth starter. Detroit's corner group has battled injuries. There are questions about Branch health. The pick matches need and value. Jimmy Rolder brings Michigan production despite a short starting run. Efficient and smart. A clean GPS to the football. That helps special teams and depth right away, with room to grow on defense. Kendrick Law offers a defined path. Many of his catches came behind the line. He is a YAC threat. He did not always maximize his gifts, but the special teams prowess can track a roster spot while the route tree expands. Inside, Tyree West arrives from Tennessee at defensive tackle. The room adds a penetrator type in Skylar Gil Howard out of Texas Tech. That pairing gives the front more get off and disruption angles in sub packages. This Detroit Lions draft matched the board to the blueprint. Tackle security with Miller. Rush traits with Moore. Nickel utility with Abney. Role clarity for Law, West, and Skylar Gil Howard. A respectable class that fits how the Lions want to play. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #blakemiller #ericedholm #lionsdefense #ennisrakestraw #benjohnson #nfcnorth #nflpowerrankings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Worries Jeff If the Stars Stay Healthy The Detroit Lions enter 2026 with expectations and scars. Injuries haunted the last two seasons. That remains the existential dread. But on the Detroit Lions Podcast, Jeff set that aside for a day and asked a tougher NFL question. If the core plays most of the year, what could still go wrong? He laid out the premise. The starting secondary gets at least 12 games together. Aidan Hutchinson plays a full season. Jared Goff plays a full season. Amanra maybe misses one game. Penay maybe one. Gibbs is available most weeks. With that health, the worry shifts from luck to execution. Downfield Coverage Can Still Break Cornerback play tops the list. DJ Reed after the hamstring wasn't the same. Terrion Arnold improved, but there is room to climb. Roger McCreery arrives as a new piece. Keith Abney is a favorite pick, yet the NFL put him in the fifth round. Consensus boards loved the value. He still has to cover. Safety helps, if healthy. Kirby has a chip and something to prove. Branch comes back after Germany around Week 11 or Week 12. Chuck Clark brings veteran snaps, though there's concern he's past his prime. Thomas Harper played well last year. Monte Maddox is back. There are enough bodies to function. The issue is downfield coverage. That remains a real concern, even if the pass rush can hide some of it. Pass Rush and Front Must Gel Jeff likes the edge additions for Kelvin Shepherd's defense. DJ one of them was a smart, shrewd move. Derrick Moore should contribute. Hutch is Hutch. All-Pro. Depth and cohesion inside are the bigger questions. Aleem is a good player. Levi, if healthy, is a solid rotational piece. What does the rotation look like? Do they play without a nose tackle? The Romeo Cornell riff on the Bo Parcells front uses two three techniques and no nose. That can work with elite interior disruptors. The Lions still need to show they have that pairing. The front and linebackers must mesh as one six- or seven-man unit. There are many moving parts. Personnel and scheme both in flux. Some concern lingers that it won't click fast enough. The Interior Offensive Line Is in Flux The other major worry lives up front on offense. Cade Mays might not work. Tate Ratledge might not be that guy. Left guard is unsettled. Christian Mahogany was good early last year, then got hurt, and wasn't the same on return, similar to DJ Reed. Penay is moving to the left side. Depending on left guard, there could be four new starters across the line. Call it three and a half at minimum. Jeff is a big Blake Miller fan and doesn't worry about left tackle. But offensive lines win as a five-man unit. The Lions will face diverse fronts. Cohesion must arrive early for this Detroit Lions offense to meet the moment. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #peneisewell #cademays #kelvinsheppard #djwonnum #biggestfears #2026nflseason #jaredgoff #djreed #terrionarnold #injuries #detroitinjurystatus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ravens video reveals a Lions trade that vanished Ravens Wired captured a draft-night framework between Baltimore and the Detroit Lions. The Ravens held pick 14. Detroit explored jumping from 17 to grab their guy. In the room were Eric DeCosta and Ozzie Newsome. As the board shifted, you can hear DeCosta say, “the deal's off.” The Detroit Lions Podcast breaks down how it unraveled and why Detroit stayed put. Picks 12 and 13 scrambled the board Action accelerated at 12. Miami and Dallas swapped. Dallas took Caleb Downs. Miami slid back and selected Caden Proctor. The Rams at 13 then grabbed Ty Simpson, a move that stunned more than Baltimore. That flurry reset expectations at 14. Detroit, according to Brad Holmes' explanation, believed no one ahead would take Blake Miller. That confidence held. The Lions did not move. What Detroit kept by not moving The reported framework from Ravens Wired: the Lions would have sent 17, a fourth-rounder at 118, and a 2027 third. Earlier in the process, Detroit also discussed offering two fourths plus 17 to the Rams at 13. None of it proved necessary. Pick 17 became Blake Miller. Pick 118 became Jimmy Rolder. Baltimore, once the talks died, drafted Venga Venga Iwanee, the guard from Penn State. Would he have been there at 17? Maybe. Unclear. Rolder projects into the linebacker rotation battle. He will compete with Malcolm Rodriguez for the third or fourth linebacker snaps. Others will factor in as well. The 2027 third remains in Detroit's pocket. Next year's value in that range looks stronger, and the Lions tend to move third-rounders when the board dictates. Standing pat preserved options. Smoke, targets and positional fit There was league chatter about Detroit and Caden Proctor. The Dolphins are playing him at guard. The sense here: the Lions were not targeting a guard at 17 and certainly not trading up for one. That tracks with how Detroit operated when the board broke. One trusted voice had also relayed pre-draft that Detroit looked at moving way up for Reuben Bain. Whether that ever truly materialized is unknown. What is clear from the NFL tape on Ravens Wired and the cadence of picks at 12 and 13 is simple. Detroit held its water, landed Blake Miller at 17, kept Jimmy Rolder at 118, and retained a future third. Efficient. Calculated. Very Lions. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #lionsdraft #baltimoreravens #ericdecosta #bradholmes #blakemiller #drafttrades #benitojones #shanezylstra #brodricmartin #timpatrick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rodgers in Pittsburgh, by the numbers The Detroit Lions Podcast opened with a sharp look at Aaron Rodgers rejoining Pittsburgh. The frame was simple. What does he have left and what can an NFL offense reasonably be with him now? Last season at age 41, Rodgers posted his lowest depth of target. He threw behind the line of scrimmage more than any quarterback. A massive 64% of his yards came after the catch. He relocated less than ever and attempted fewer throws on the move than in any year over the last decade. The picture is clear. He cannot run from pressure and the ball must get out fast. There is a path to competence. More under center snaps. More pre snap motion. Quick-breaking windows, Jimmy Garoppolo style, where timing and space manufacture efficiency. But that requires full buy-in. The episode noted Rodgers' resistance to under center concepts and motion, which limits how an offensive coordinator can help. Pittsburgh also passed on the quarterback free agent market, from names like Kyler Murray to developmental swings. The ceiling described for this approach landed around the middle of the league, at best the thirteenth-best passing game. Why Goff's structure lifts Detroit The contrast with Jared Goff defined the heart of the conversation. Detroit Lions fans know the deal. The offense leverages motion and under center looks to unleash a layered passing game. Goff cannot run either, but he embraces the structure. He turns his back to the defense. He lets motion and formation do the heavy lifting. That creates clean throws and sustainable answers. On downfield throws last year, Rodgers got the ball out faster than any quarterback. Goff ranked second. Under pressure metrics told a similar story, with Rodgers leading in inaccurate throws and Goff near the top as well. The difference is philosophical. Detroit blends quick-game, yards-after-catch opportunities, and timely shots. The result is an NFL passing attack that protects its quarterback while still threatening every level. That buy-in separates the Lions' plan from the version Pittsburgh must chase with Rodgers. Jamir Gibbs contract talk heats up The episode closed on the Detroit Lions future at running back. Jamir Gibbs has been a core weapon, and talk of an extension has lingered. This week, a Miami running back deal — referenced as Devon Etienne — pushed the market upward. That development matters for timing and structure. It frames where Gibbs' next number might settle and how Detroit prioritizes its offensive pillars. For the Lions, the calculus is straightforward. Keep the passing game efficient with motion and under center. Keep Goff on schedule. Retain explosive skill talent that turns short throws into chunk gains. Gibbs fits that mission. The market just made the conversation louder. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jaredgoff #jahmyrgibbs #contractextensions #brianbranch #jackcampbell #aaronrodgers #superbowlwindow #detroitlionsdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Blake Miller fits Detroit now The Detroit Lions drafted Clemson right tackle Blake Miller in the first round. Sunday's Detroit Lions Podcast with Jeff Riston and guest Justin Mello zeroed in on why. Miller logged 57 career starts at Clemson, all at right tackle. That volume shows reliability and routine. Around the NFL, evaluators praised his football character. Mello called him a coach's dream. He is quiet until football talk flips the switch. Miller's demeanor matters. He is monotone in small talk. He comes alive in scheme. That focus aligns with the Detroit Lions and what Dan Campbell values. It is not about flash. It is about assignments, strain and finish. The culture fit looks natural. What his own words reveal Mello described a favorite moment from his pre-draft interview. He asked Miller to break down his favorite play from Clemson's playbook. The answer poured out. Miller cited the play by name, detailed his assignment, and recalled two specific reps from one game. He said the first rep featured a better block from him. He preferred the second because it resulted in a touchdown, even though he whiffed a bit on his job. That story lands with weight. It shows recall. It shows honesty. It shows a player who puts team outcome over personal grade and still knows exactly how he must improve. That is the kind of detail that translates in the NFL. It also explains why Mello thinks Miller will be a steady, above-average starter with a real shot at elite play. Right tackle today, options tomorrow Riston said Miller will play right tackle in Detroit. Management has also talked about a move to the left side. Mello believes left or right will not matter in time because Miller is so steady. Starting him where he has 57 starts lets him hit the ground running. The Lions needed a long-term answer at tackle after the Taylor Decker situation, and Miller checks that box. Mello even projected a major second contract in four or five years, the kind teams reserve for cornerstone linemen. That confidence flows from wiring, not hype. Fans are coming around for the same reason. Miller was not viewed as a first-rounder last August. His growth since then changed the calculus. This episode distilled it cleanly. The Detroit Lions get a day-one right tackle who loves the work. They keep the door open for a left tackle move if needed. They add a player whose football character matches the locker room. That is how you build an NFL line that lasts. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #tennesseetitans #blakemiller #keldricfaulk #jimmyrolder #camward #titansoffseason Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Opening slate: Saints lift-off, Bills hurdle, early split The day after the NFL schedule release, the Detroit Lions Podcast dove into the schedule game. The call is clear through Thanksgiving. Detroit projects an 8-3 mark built on home control, measured road aggression, and smart handling of travel. Week 1 brings the Saints to Ford Field. That's a win. Tough opponent, but the Detroit Lions are set to treat home fans right out of the gate. Week 2 at Buffalo is tagged as the least winnable date on the entire slate. The Bills are set to open a new stadium on a Thursday night, and that setting tilts against Detroit. Week 3 vs the New York Jets swings back to a win. Week 4 at Carolina is labeled a coin flip that falls the wrong way. Through four, it's a 2-2 split. Week 5 at Arizona flips the script again. Detroit takes care of the Cardinals on the road. Week 6 is the bye, arriving with the Lions at 3-2. Reset after the bye: division tone-setters Back from the break, the NFC North run sets the tone. Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field is a win and a division opener that matters. One week later, the Minnesota Vikings visit. If the Detroit Lions are reasonably healthy, that's another win. The record climbs to 5-2 with momentum building inside the division. Travel tests: Miami swing, Germany trip, sandwich trap The road trip to Miami follows, slotted between two divisional matchups and a flight abroad. The focus holds. Detroit gets a road win in Miami. The next stop is Germany against New England. Detroit hasn't played overseas in a long time, but the matchup favors the Lions offense. Chalk up another win. Returning from Europe sets a classic trap. Tampa Bay arrives at Ford Field off a bye while the Lions are just back from the international trip. That spot leans against Detroit. The Buccaneers are picked to edge it, a narrow loss in a tricky schedule pocket. Thanksgiving target and running tally Thanksgiving brings the Bears to Detroit. The Lions lock in and handle business, a home win fueled by the Ford Field crowd and the urgency of a division race. That puts the Detroit Lions at 8-3 heading into the final six games. The schedule tightens from here, but the path to that mark is set: protect home turf, win the right road fights, and survive the travel swings. The Detroit Lions Podcast made the calls. Now the NFL season will test them. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #lionsschedule #lionswintotal #game-by-gamepredictions #nfcnorth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Detroit Lions 2026 NFL road map is set after schedule release night. Detroit opens at home against the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. Week 2 sends the Lions to christen the Buffalo Bills' new stadium on the first Thursday night of the season. A Munich date with New England headlines midyear. Thanksgiving brings Chicago. The stretch run leans on NFC North road games. Fast start, steep Week 2 test Week 1 is friendly. Home. Dome. Saints. The Lions know the drill and can set the tone. Then comes Buffalo on Thursday night to open the new stadium. That trip looks like the toughest win on the slate. A new coach and a defense with moving parts make the Bills volatile. They added CJ Carter Johnson in the secondary. That could hit big or explode. Either way, the timing is tricky on a short week in a charged building. Early bye, home-heavy runway After the Jets at home, Detroit heads out for a two-game road swing at the Panthers and Cardinals. The Carolina game lands in prime time on Sunday night. A Week 6 bye arrives early. Some will bristle at that. The schedule then flips in the Lions' favor. From Week 7 through Thanksgiving, Detroit gets five home games in six weeks if you count Munich as a home date. The only road game in that stretch is at Miami. That matchup does not intimidate. The Dolphins might be the weakest opponent on the schedule. Stack wins there, and the table is set for December. Munich stage without a post-trip bye Week 10 brings New England in Munich on a Sunday morning. The NFL designates it a Lions home game. There is no bye afterward. Detroit returns to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11. Expect a surge of Amon-Ra St. Brown jerseys in Germany. He has deep ties there and real popularity. The Patriots still draw strongly overseas, so the atmosphere should be split and loud. The turn-and-burn back to Detroit adds a wrinkle to recovery and prep. Thanksgiving spotlight and a road-heavy close Thanksgiving features the Bears at Ford Field. The mini-bye that follows points to Atlanta, then the Titans visit Detroit. The final four turn up the heat: at Minnesota, home for the Giants, then at Chicago and at Green Bay in Weeks 17 and 18. That's a rugged close inside the division and on the road. The Lions' best path is clear. Survive Buffalo, build momentum in the home-heavy middle, handle Munich without a stumble, and carry cushion into December. Detroit Lions Podcast faithful will have those checkpoints circled. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026detroitlionsschedule #nflschedulerelease #reaction #lionsreaction #dancampbell #detroitlionsseason Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday, May 13, Jeff Risdon sharpened three headlines. Jared Goff's window. A Munich matchup vs the Patriots on Nov. 15. Every Detroit Lions rookie signed. Goff's Window, Built by the Line Jared Goff will be the Detroit Lions quarterback for at least the next two seasons. That was clear and direct. The question is not if the Lions can win with Goff. The question is what kind of cast he gets. With this roster, the arrow points up. The offensive line drives that optimism. A new center who can actually run block changes the interior. Tate Ratledge is growing into his second season at guard. Christian Mahogany being healthy matters if he grabs the left guard job, and that competition is real. A better line makes Goff better, and he was already good enough last year despite an OC who worked against the flow. Goff's mobility will never be a feature, and his big-game record has mixed chapters. He also played very well in a Super Bowl loss. In the current NFL, the Detroit Lions can win with him when the front five sets the tone. He is low on the list of things keeping this team from a Lombardi. Schedule Drop and a Munich Showdown The NFL schedule release lands tonight. Travel planners care. So do fans circling one date in bold. On November 15 in Munich, the Lions will host the New England Patriots, the reigning AFC champs, per the league's decree. That is a marquee lift for an international stage where the Patriots brand still looms from the Brady and Belichick era. There is noise around New England. Mike Vrabel and Diana Russini headlines. Wide receiver questions. AJ Brown trade talk. An offensive line that looked bad and did not get the help some expected. The Patriots move from a last play schedule to a first play schedule. The Lions draw a fourth play schedule. Advantage Detroit. Matchup-wise, Detroit must run the ball. That fits the Lions' identity and their improved front. Pencil it in as a likely win when we play the schedule game. And ignore the leak season chatter. Even a Thanksgiving rumor linking the Patriots to Detroit fizzled by nightfall. Contracts: Entire Rookie Class Locked In Right after yesterday's show, the Lions made it official. Every rookie is signed. Blake Miller, Derek Moore, Keith Abney, Jimmy Rolder, the whole draft class. The undrafted free agents are now official as well. The paperwork is done. Camp battles can start where they matter most, in the trenches and on special teams. This Detroit Lions Podcast kept it simple. Goff has a runway. The line is stronger. Munich awaits. The roster is signed and ready. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #udfaclass #jerryjacobs #lukealtmyer #newenglandpatriots #lionsschedule #mileskitsleman #jaredgoff #lionswindow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rookie Deals Reset: Derek Moore at 44 The Detroit Lions are back on the field in Detroit. Rookies checked in yesterday without a rookie minicamp. Most draft picks put pen to paper. One exception stands out. Blake Miller remains unsigned, though there is little to negotiate. Derek Moore is the headline. The Lions locked the No. 44 pick into a four-year, $11,426,000 contract. Fully guaranteed at signing. That mirrors a growing NFL shift. Last year, top second-rounders pushed for guarantees like first-rounders. Teams such as the Texans and Browns agreed. The trend extended down to the 40th pick in 2025, Saints quarterback Tyler Shuck. Third-rounders still tend to get only their signing bonuses guaranteed. The financial landscape is changing fast, and the Lions moved with it. Inside Pick 37: The Call and the Restraint The New York Giants released their draft room video. In it, GM Joe Shane takes a call while on the clock at No. 37. You can hear him say 118, 128, and 157. Those are Detroit's picks. The Lions were trying to climb for Moore. Detroit did not go that high. They moved from 50 to 44 instead and still landed Moore. The price to jump to 37 would have cost assets that became Jimmy Rolder and Keith Abney. The Giants did not trade the pick. They kept it and made their selection. Detroit read the board and got their guy without spending the extra capital. Holmes' Aggression, This Time in Check There is a pattern with Brad Holmes. He targets his players and goes hard. In 2021, he said he would have traded into the first round for Levi Anzuriki. The cost to acquire Isaac Tussle was steep too. Two third-round picks this year and one last year. Value can blur when conviction takes over. This time, restraint showed. The Lions avoided an unnecessary jump to 37 and kept useful pieces. Rolder now heads into OTAs set to battle Malcolm Rodriguez for the third or fourth linebacker role. Abney draws praise and could push to start sooner than later. Those opportunities exist because Detroit held firm. The Derek Moore deal fits a new NFL reality. Second-round guarantees are rising, and the Lions did not hesitate. The attempted trade to 37 shows the front office's urgency for Moore. The decision not to force it shows growth. On the Detroit Lions Podcast, this is the balance that matters. Get the player. Keep the board. Build the roster. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflscheduleleaks #lionsdraft #derrickmoore #newyorkgiants #nfldrafttrades #rookiecontracts #lionsjerseynumbers #jerseychanges Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Officiating Deal, Real Stakes for Detroit A bright yellow flag hung behind the mic. The NFL just locked in its officials through 2032. The Detroit Lions Podcast dug into what that means and why it matters. No replacement refs are coming. That alone eases memories of the Fail Mary and Golden Tate's contested catch from the last time stand-ins worked games. The agreement adds access and structure. Officials will work more in the offseason at mini camps, training camp, and joint practices. The league plans to build a deeper bench of officials. It will also lean more on performance metrics for postseason assignments instead of seniority. For the Detroit Lions, that points to consistency and accountability in the biggest moments. Postseason Assignments, Grading, and Crew Continuity January football exposes crew chemistry. The league often selects individual officials for playoff crews rather than moving whole units together. That can create communication gaps. New voices. New tendencies. Timing and mechanics change. The show underscored how much smoother it gets when the same group works together repeatedly. Grading is the crux. The metrics that decide who advances remain largely opaque. Jeff and Chris stressed that accountability must be more than a memo. Better evaluations should translate to better assignments. Postseason games also pay more, so strong grades must matter. The deal includes an average 6.4% annual raise for officials. That is a meaningful incentive to refine standards and reward excellence without pretending perfection exists. Why Full-Time Refs Still Are Not the Answer The common call is to make officials full time. The reality is many do not want that. Officiating is not every official's primary income. Examples prove it. Referee Clete Blakeman is an attorney. Umpire Scott Campbell is a professional firefighter. Demanding full-time status would push out skilled people who prefer to keep their careers and still work NFL games. The new framework tries a different route. More reps with teams in the offseason. Clearer paths to the playoffs for those who grade well. More development on a deeper bench. Quick Lions Notes: Schedule Week and Mother's Day Monday's daily DLP arrived with schedule week on deck. The hosts recorded Sunday night after a family-first Mother's Day, a thoughtful moment that framed the show. Now it is back to business. The Detroit Lions will soon see the path to fall. The officiating changes will travel with them. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflofficiating #replacementrefs #postseasonassignments #performancemetrics #trainingcamp #minicamps #jointpractices #deanblandino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Green Bay's Draft Without Pick No. 1 The Detroit Lions Podcast put the NFC North under the microscope. Green Bay navigated the 2026 NFL Draft without a first-round pick. Inside the room, they essentially treated Micah Parsons as that missing top selection. It framed every other choice and every roster bet. That context matters for Detroit Lions fans sizing up the division. Scouting and process took center stage. The conversation cut through recycled big boards and highlighted year-round work. Senior Bowl trips. Shrine practices back when they were in St. Petersburg. Long lists stacked against real tape. Original evaluations, not echoes. That lens set up a blunt look at how Green Bay built its board and why. Micah Parsons and the Ten-Month ACL Clock The timetable was clear. The modern ACL return is a ten-month arc from injury to full snap load. Map that to the NFL calendar and the target becomes around Week Five. Expect a roster stash to start. The assumption is the PUP list to open the season, then a ramp-up to real usage. Expectations were once sky-high. A defensive coach even floated league-leading sack potential before leaving for the Miami job. Reality now lives in checkpoints, not headlines. That timeline shapes how Detroit prepares to block, chip, and slide protections when the calendar turns. It also mirrors a familiar Detroit thread. Brian Branch's earlier injury surfaced as a reference point for working backward from health, not hype. The New PUP Rule and Week Five Targets The NFL tweaked the PUP rules, and it changes the math. Previously, players on PUP could not practice with the team for four weeks. Now the no-practice window is two weeks. After that, teams can designate to return and build a two-week ramp while the player remains on PUP. For a contender, that is roster flexibility. For the Detroit Lions, it is a calendar to monitor across the division. Layer in Green Bay's broader injury picture. Devonte Wyatt is on track. Tucker Craft's timing aligns with the start of training camp, with Week One availability expected. Extension talks are in line for him. Jordan Riley ruptured an Achilles. That points to season-long IR unless there is a settlement. Given the severity, the incentive is to keep him around and let the rehab run its course. What It Means Around the North The Packers' first-round void, the Parsons clock, and the PUP tweak all converge on the same conclusion. September snaps will look different than October snaps. Week Five becomes a circle date. The Detroit Lions will plan protections and personnel with that in mind. The NFL is a timeline league. Health windows decide matchups as much as schemes. Today's recap keeps the calendar front and center for Detroit and the division. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflpuplist #packersdraft #micahparsonsacl #brandoncisse #keithabney #jagerburton #danidennis-sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A viral claim tried to hijack Detroit Lions news this week. It said Detroit invited five-time All-Pro guard Joel Bitonio to rookie minicamp. The post was fake. The Lions do not even have a rookie minicamp this week. The copy gave itself away. How the Joel Bitonio story unraveled The headline never named a player. That is the first tell. The body called Bitonio a five-time All-Pro. He is a two-time first-team All-Pro, with second-team honors mixed in, which is not the same. Then came the clincher. It said the Detroit Lions invited him to rookie minicamp. Detroit canceled rookie minicamp. There is no field to walk onto. No itinerary. No invite. Veterans do not try out at rookie minicamps. Those sessions are for draft picks, undrafted rookies, and a handful of fringe vets looking for a lifeline. Think Jamarco Jones last year, a journeyman fighting to stick before he got hurt again. That is not Joel Bitonio. That is not Bosa. That is not Von Bell. Prominent NFL vets with proven resumes are not showing up to audition at a rookie camp that does not exist. No rookie minicamp, no veteran tryouts Other NFL teams are running rookie camps this weekend. Detroit is not. That has been public for days. Even if there were a camp, attendance is not mandatory for veterans. A free agent of Bitonio's caliber would not be flying in to “earn” a look alongside rookies. The same bad actors pushed another false note, claiming Frank Ragnow was at rookie minicamp and gearing up for a return. That is not reality. If Detroit were engaging Bitonio, or if Ragnow were coming back in any capacity, you would see it from beat writers you recognize and outlets you trust. You would hear it in places you actually follow, not in a pop-up feed buried under six ads. How to spot the junk: missing names in headlines, sloppy details, breathless claims that skip basic facts, and sites that vanish as fast as they appear. If it sounds too good to be true, check reputable coverage first. What actually matters at left guard Would a veteran visit at mandatory minicamp be interesting? Sure. Do the Detroit Lions need it today? Not really. The left guard battle already has real competition. Detroit stocked the room with live bodies and playable options. Christian Mahogany is the wild card. He did not look the same when he returned from injury last year, but this is his shot at redemption. If he pops, the interior line stays strong without dipping into the veteran market. The Detroit Lions Podcast daily update is about clarity. No rookie minicamp. No star vet tryouts. A real competition at left guard. Filter the noise, and focus on what the roster is actually building. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #joelbitonio #rookieminicamp #patcaputo #christianmahogany #frankragnow #ai-generatedrumor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A first-round fit the room expected The Detroit Lions leaned into identity. On the Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Jeff Risdon welcomed draft analyst Chris Trepaso to dissect a class he graded very high. The focus opened on Blake Miller, the first-round pick who looks like a clean right tackle for Detroit's scheme. The discussion framed it simply. Power. Size. Length. Run-game movement. Anchor against bullrush. Miller checked every box for a line that already mauls people. Trepaso said he would have mock-drafted Miller to Detroit over and over. He called the fit one of the best in the first round. If Penei Sewell shifts to the left side, Miller slides in at right tackle with no friction. The NFL comparison offered was Braden Smith. Reliable. Durable. Darn good. That kind of profile settles an offensive line and keeps the run game on schedule. The measurables backed the film. Over 34-inch arms. Around 6-foot-5 and near 320 pounds. A 32-inch vertical. A 40-yard dash around five seconds. Those traits do not guarantee success, but paired with sturdy tape they signal a safe, smart NFL selection. The hosts and guest aligned on this. The Detroit Lions prioritized continuity and immediate utility up front. Miller fits. Derek Moore targets the opposite edge Day two brought Derek Moore from Michigan. Familiar player. Logical need. The Lions have searched for a stable answer across from Hutchinson. They added DJ Wonnum, but the long-term solution remains open. Moore offers speed to power with shock in his hands. He sets edges with pop. He can convert upfield urgency into displacement at the point of attack. Trepaso acknowledged the testing dip. At the Michigan pro day, Moore's vertical and broad jump were below average. That is a data point. The film still showed heavy hands, sturdy edges, and a bull rush that jars. The role in Detroit is straightforward. Win early downs with strength. Collapse the pocket when offenses slide help toward Hutchinson. Grow into the every-down threat they have chased for several seasons. Draft logic that matches Detroit's plan The thread through both picks was fit. The Detroit Lions want to stay among the NFL's best offensive lines. Miller sustains that standard and protects the run-first attitude that powers this group. The comp to Braden Smith underscored a vision for reliable right tackle play in a power running scheme. On defense, Moore's profile addresses a glaring pinch point. He aligns with what the staff values on the edge. Heavy hands. Speed to power. Assignment soundness. The Detroit Lions Podcast conversation kept circling back to this. Detroit selected players who play like Lions. The grades reflect it. The roster construction does too. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #derrickmoore #jimmyrolder #lionsdraft #2026nfldraft #christrapasso #playercomps #kendricklaw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reactions to the Draft: What the Lions Accomplished and What Still Matters The dust has finally settled on the 2026 NFL Draft, rookie minicamps are around the corner, and the Detroit Lions are back on the field for offseason workouts. That makes this the perfect moment for a reset. On this episode of the Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Jeff Risdon break down their full 2026 NFL Draft reactions, what the Lions accomplished over draft weekend, and where the roster still leaves room for concern heading into the summer. The Lions entered the draft needing to reinforce depth, toughness, and long-term stability in several key spots. Brad Holmes once again leaned into his philosophy of building through the trenches and targeting players with versatility and football character. Detroit's draft class may not have produced the flashiest national headlines, but there is a growing sense around Allen Park that this front office remains committed to constructing a roster that can sustain success rather than chase offseason buzz. That does not mean there are no debates. Quite the opposite. One of the biggest talking points from this year's class is draft quality versus public perception. Some national analysts questioned whether Detroit reached on certain prospects or failed to address enough immediate-impact positions early. Locally, however, there is a very different tone surrounding the class. Lions observers who spend every day around this team tend to evaluate these picks through the lens of culture fit, positional development, and long-term roster planning instead of instant social media reaction. Remaining Concerns for the Detroit Lions Heading Into Summer Even after the draft, there are still legitimate questions surrounding this roster, and Chris and Jeff will spend time digging into the biggest ones on the show. Edge depth remains a topic despite Aidan Hutchinson anchoring the front. The secondary still feels like a group that could use another proven veteran presence before training camp opens. There are also questions about how quickly some younger players can step into rotational roles on defense. On offense, much of the conversation continues to orbit around Jared Goff and how the Lions balance maximizing the current competitive window while still preparing for the future. Detroit believes it can compete in the NFC, but expectations have changed. This is no longer a rebuilding football team. The standard inside the building is winning playoff games, and every offseason move is now viewed through that lens. That shift has also changed the way the Lions are covered nationally. For years, Detroit existed mostly as a punchline or an afterthought in broader NFL conversations. Now the scrutiny is different. Every draft pick, every coordinator decision, every contract move gets debated at a national level. Chris and Jeff will examine whether the national coverage truly understands what Detroit is building or whether local coverage still provides the clearest picture of where this franchise stands. The Conversation Continues on the Detroit Lions Podcast This episode is more than just a recap of the draft. It is a snapshot of where the Lions sit as the offseason enters its next phase. The roster looks stronger in some places, thinner in others, and the expectations around this team remain as high as they have been in decades. Join Chris and Jeff Risdon on the Detroit Lions Podcast as they break down the full Detroit Lions offseason picture, react to the 2026 NFL Draft, discuss remaining concerns, and look ahead to what comes next for a franchise trying to turn promise into sustained success in the NFL. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #adultdraft #bestplayeravailable #blakemiller #derekmoore #keithabney #internalpushback #meettheplayer #confirmtheboard #long-termplan #otasinallenpark Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vikings zig past the mock‑draft favorite On Daily DLP, the Detroit Lions Podcast turned to the NFC North. Jeff Risdon welcomed Tyler Fornes to unpack Minnesota's draft and a loud pivot at No. 18. Oregon safety Dylan Tieneman sat there. The Vikings did not take him. Tyler was not surprised. He carried a high third round grade on Tieneman and ranked him 47th on his board. He saw a roof safety who fits the run and tackles from depth. He did not see a maneuverable chess piece. In the box, running backs bowled him over. Coverage traits did not pop on film. The industry went the other way. The mock‑draft data told the story. Tyler tracked nearly 600 mocks. Tieneman appeared in 40.5 percent of them for Minnesota. In the final four days, 69 of 107 mocks slotted him there. A February 24 projection from Daniel Jeremiah helped set the lane. A strong combine kept the lane clear. Minnesota still passed. Brian Flores' blueprint at safety The coordinator's values mattered more than the mock tide. Brian Flores does not prioritize safety early. He prioritizes intelligence. He prioritizes experience. That steered the room away from a premium investment at the position. Minnesota targeted traits that fit that approach and added Jacoby Thomas to embody it. Will he hit? That is unknown. The process aligned with Flores' philosophy, not the consensus board. Caleb Banks' profile: power, burst, and a foot break At the top of Minnesota's board, two unicorns stood out for Tyler: Kenyan Saddiq and Caleb Banks. Saddiq offered hyper athletic upside. A developmental tight end who could function as a wide receiver three. In the right offense, heavy personnel creates answers. Kyler Murray thrives in those looks. The idea was to swing for difference‑making traits in a class light on sure things. Banks brought rare tools with real risk. He broke his foot in a non‑contact combine drill. When healthy at Florida and locked in, his size and movement defied norms. Planet theory stuff. Jeff noted the blend of instant speed and brute power that Detroit fans once saw with Ndamukong Suh. The comparison was about traits, not the player. The upside case is obvious. So is the medical flag. Detroit context from inside the division The conversation framed a broader NFC North trend. This draft felt flat at the top. The best players came at safety, off‑ball linebacker, offensive tackle, and running back. Not sizzle positions. Both hosts noted how teams, including Detroit and Minnesota, leaned into the trenches early. The Detroit Lions angle is clear enough. Know what your rival values. Understand how Flores builds his defense. Then plan accordingly. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #minnesotavikings #nfcnorth #calebbanks #keithabney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside the draft grind with Emery Hunt Jeff Risdon opened the Detroit Lions Podcast with a popular request. Emery Hunt returned for a post-draft wrap and a real look at draft week on television. Hunt split days and nights between CBS Sports HQ studios in Fort Lauderdale and Connecticut. Days ran from 8 AM to 6 PM before the handoff north. That meant the 8 o'clock show, the 9 o'clock show, a 10:30 segment, a noon show, and more. No cheat sheet. No one in his ear telling him what to say. He described a car wash of segments where months of scouting get squeezed into 30 to 45 seconds. The red light comes on and there is no break. Preparation carries the day, but producers are juggling their own chaos. They are not feeding schools or names on the fly. Talent has to be ready, precise, and fast. Miss one name and that's all social media remembers. The NFL draft can feel like a sprint made of thousands of details. Why Blake Miller fits Detroit at right tackle Then came the Detroit Lions. First round, Blake Miller, right tackle, Clemson. Right tackle matters here. That's where he played extensively at Clemson, and that is what the Lions need. Hunt liked the pick and the fit. He cited excellent first step quickness that gets him into the fight fast. He praised Miller's movement skills and the ability to mirror a defensive end. The tape shows competence in pass pro and in the run game. Clemson can run it to both sides, and Miller works on both ends of the offense. On Hunt's grading scale, Miller landed a 78.5. That is a high second-round grade, close enough that taking him in round one drew no complaint. The NFL translation looks clean. Clemson runs a pro style offense. That experience matters in Detroit. Jeff pointed out the value of coming from that structure, especially when a player needs to start right away. Pro-ready traits and immediate expectations Will Miller step in now? Hunt agreed the traits and athleticism support that. He has logged a lot of games. He moves well. He can mirror. He anchors and runs. The right tackle emphasis in Detroit aligns with his resume. The Lions do not need to project a position change. They can plug a natural right tackle into a clear role. The conversation also touched on how college context can cloud projection. One Lions pick arrived from a Kentucky offense that offered little useful pro tape. Miller's situation is the opposite. His background speeds the transition. That is the through line. Detroit targeted a right tackle. They found one who played right tackle at a high level, in a system that teaches Sunday rules. On this Detroit Lions Podcast, that clarity stood out as the draft's early win. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #emoryhunt #blakemiller #keithabney #ufl #erickhunter #lukealtmeyer #jimmyrolder #skylergill-howard #kendricklaw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

High-floor bet on Blake Miller at 17 The Detroit Lions Podcast used May 4 to cut through the noise on NFL draft grades and focus on fit. The theme was steady floor over splash. Blake Miller at No. 17 fits that. He arrives as a ready-to-play NFL starting right tackle. Clemson ran a pro style offense. He worked next to an in-line tight end. He protected a pocket passer in Cade Klubnik, who could move some but played structure. That background matters for Detroit's plan up front. Miller's presence helps mitigate Jared Goff's biggest limitation, mobility. A sturdy offensive line keeps the offense on schedule. The Lions had that baseline before last season and aim to restore it. Miller projects as a dependable answer, much like Taylor Decker in profile even if he plays the opposite side. Expect a couple snaps each game where you want a little more. That is life picking 17th, not in the top 10. The trade-off is reliability. The show also noted he was in the mix when picking a favorite Lions selection this year. Derek Moore's quick wins reshape the edge room Derek Moore brings another sturdy floor. Usage at Michigan was odd. He could make a splash play, then sit a series and a half. Coaching and deployment did not always match his strengths. Even so, the traits are clear. He is a quick-win rusher who can generate instant pressure off his first move. That immediacy is the appeal. Think 2.2 seconds instead of 2.4 to 2.6. Those fractions change outcomes. Aidan Hutchinson creates steady pressure and finish, but often works through a longer path. Moore can complement that with earlier disruption. Expect Moore to alternate with DJ Wonnum, a power-based end who is not a pure speed threat. The rotation should be cleaner. The Senior Bowl tape matters here too. Moore beat third-rounder Markel Bell with shock and quickness, a snapshot of what Detroit wants more of on the edge. How the draft graders stacked the class Aggregate draft grades place the Detroit Lions in the middle of the NFL pack. Rene Buettner's annual compilation slotted Detroit 16th with a 2.89 GPA, a B-plus average. The ledger included two A-minuses from Chad Reuter and Vinnie Iyer, many Bs and B-pluses, and a few C-pluses. The outside read tracks with the show's tone: satisfaction with the top of the class, minor quibbles about ceiling. The host made one more point on process. Immediate grades are noise. Real evaluation lands after rookie deals. He plans to grade the 2022 and 2023 classes when those first contracts are over. For 2024, the takeaway is simple. Detroit emphasized high floors early, added early-pressure potential with Moore, and reinforced the offensive line with Miller to keep the offense on time. That is a coherent bet for this roster. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #derrickmoore #detroitlionsdraftgrades #clemsonfootball #keithabney #skylergill-howard #isaacteslaa #taifelton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cold Tulips, Hot Lions Buzz Holland, Michigan was cold, but Lions gear warmed the streets. Hats. Jerseys. Hoodies. Pride showed up. After a quick day off for family, the Detroit Lions Podcast returned with perspective from outside the bubble. A visiting Colts fan saw it clearly: Detroit is the better run team. That view matches what many around the NFL are saying. Why Detroit Skipped Rookie Minicamp No rookie minicamp in Allen Park. Other teams held theirs over the weekend. The Lions kept rookies involved through voluntary workouts instead. The choice stands out and invites debate. The show argued the team should host something similar, even if scaled. Minicamps can surface tryout flashes, but they can also create churn that does not help a contender. Look at a cautionary example. Las Vegas cycled players after tryouts and released Charles Snowden, a 2023 contributor in their pass rush group. That move stirred fans because help opposite Max Crosby remains unsettled there. Detroit knows the strain of a star carrying heavy snaps. Aidan Hutchinson did that last year. Chasing names cut during post-draft reshuffles can feel tempting. It often is not productive for a roster with standards. If a player cannot stick with a struggling depth chart, patience beats impulse. Free Agent Reality Check Calais Campbell signed elsewhere at age 40. The veteran market still has options, but the board is thinning. The show reviewed remaining free agents and weighed the ring-chase factor. Detroit qualifies. Around the league, the Lions are viewed as a viable NFL contender. That reputation matters when veterans pick landing spots late in the calendar. There have been no splash acquisitions in Detroit this week. Undrafted free agency remains quiet without a rookie minicamp to stage tryouts. That is fine for now. The roster can wait for a value fit rather than force a move based on a weekend flash somewhere else. Fan Pulse and Rookie Spotlight Fans in Detroit are re-energized after the draft. The class lacks headline skill names, but it fits needs and identity. The national Rookie Premiere will not feature Lions picks. That event leans to quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs. No offensive linemen were invited. Defensive linemen rarely get that nod. Pass rushers David Bailey, Arvel Reese, and Reuben Bain are expected there. Detroit drafted Blake Miller and Derek Moore up front. They are not trading-card darlings. They are trench players built for January football. Big picture, the message landed: avoid panic shopping, trust the roster, and use the calendar. The Detroit Lions are positioned to add selectively while keeping continuity. That is how real NFL contenders operate. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #rookieminicamp #kadynproctornfldraft #johndorsey #nflfreeagency #camjordan #jabrillpeppers #lionsdefense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Youth and Health Shape the Lions' Plan The Detroit Lions zigged in this NFL draft. Jeff Risdon sat down with Dr. Jimmy Liao on the Detroit Lions Podcast to grade the class through a medical lens. The theme was clear. Youth and health. Every pick landed at age 23 or younger. None of the 24-year-old prospects were taken. The shift tracks with recent lessons. Lower medical risk. Fewer known durability flags. Play the odds. Dr. Liao grades injury risk on a 1-to-10 scale. Younger players start lower. Age 23 and up nudges concern a bit. This class stayed on the low end across the board. It marks a turn from prior years when the Detroit Lions accepted more medical risk. In the NFL, availability matters. Detroit moved to stack it. Blake Miller's Ironman Profile at Clemson The top note was right tackle Blake Miller. Legendary durability at Clemson. He started 54 straight games. He logged 3,778 snaps, a school record. Dr. Liao set his medical concern at 1 out of 10. The only ding was a wrist surgery in 2024, with proof of recovery afterward. The worry there is longer-term stiffness, but his track record is strong. He is 22. That age keeps his grade low. Miller fits what the Detroit Lions want up front. Young. Battle tested. Clean enough medically to project early availability. He even graded as a top-three tackle target on the medical board. For an NFL team intent on protecting its quarterback and stabilizing the run game, this is a trend-breaking selection. Less risk. More snaps. Derek Moore's Hamstring and Second-Round Signal Next came Michigan edge Derek Moore. Before the combine he sat at 1 out of 10. A pre-combine hamstring strain bumped him to 2 out of 10. Hamstrings recur, and they spook timelines. Still, fast-twitch athletes almost all meet one sooner or later. The context matters. Detroit used a second-round pick on Moore. That signals the medical staff saw a minor issue. Dr. Liao moved him effectively back down to a 1 out of 10 after the pick. The Detroit Lions added a high-motor defender with minimal long-term concern. Recent examples of lingering hamstrings exist around the league, but the takeaway here was balance. Note the strain. Price the risk. Trust the file. The NFL demands it. On Deck: Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder The conversation turned to Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder. He drew a 3 out of 10 on the injury risk scale. He did not play a ton in college. That makes projection tougher, but it fits the draft's core theme. Younger players with manageable medical profiles. The Detroit Lions Podcast made it clear: Detroit targeted availability without sacrificing upside. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #lionsdraftclass #injuryupdates #detroitinjuryrisk #blakemiller #jimmyrolder #brianbranch #kerbyjoseph #jermodmccoy #levionwuzurike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside Allen Park: What Voluntary Workouts Really Are One week after the 2026 NFL Draft, Allen Park is busy. The Detroit Lions are in the voluntary phase of the offseason workout program. Photos show players in the building. Gibbs is there. Branch is there. Tarion is there. It's not practice. Not yet. Players are in meetings. They lift. They run. Injured players rehab with staff. Coaches sit in on meetings but do not coach on-field actions. That comes later. OTAs and a Firm Mini Camp on the Calendar The NFL calendar is set. The Lions released their OTA dates. They start later in May. There are three three-day periods. The mandatory mini camp lands around Father's Day weekend. That's the first time the entire team is required to attend. A holdout can happen, but it's rare. Last year was different. The Lions canceled mandatory mini camp because they were preparing for the Hall of Fame Game. In hindsight, that move did not help. There's no sign they will cancel it this year. Rookie Minicamp Canceled, What Changes for Newcomers The team canceled rookie minicamp. So what happens now? The rookie draft class and signed undrafted free agents will still be in the building. Contract signings are expected this weekend. The official UDFA list is likely to post today. New players will get orientation. Lockers. Food. Training rooms. Where to be and when. They also plug into parts of the offseason program tailored to rookies. They will attend the NFL PA rookie seminar. The message is direct. Do not gamble on sports. Do not gamble in the team hotel or lobby. Even if it's not football. Go across the street if you must. The J Mo situation still hangs over that topic. He got six games. The rules are the rules, even if they feel contradictory. There is a cost to scrapping the rookie minicamp. No invitee local players this year. That's where Natelyn once showed up and made noise. Ian Kennelly from Grand Valley State did the same last year and earned real preseason run. Those football reps matter for long shots. Agents notice. They are disappointed. So are some of us who value those looks. A Younger, Healthier Push by Detroit The Lions are changing things. What worked got them to a point. It felt like they plateaued. So they are pushing different buttons. Younger. Healthier. That theme runs through free agency and the draft. Tomorrow's guest on the Detroit Lions Podcast underscores it. This is a conscious shift by Brad Holmes and his staff. The same old approach wasn't enough. Detroit is trying to clear the hump, and the plan is clear. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #allenpark #offseasonworkoutprogram #otas #mandatoryminicamp #rookieminicampcanceled #undraftedfreeagents #rookieseminar #nflpa #strengthandconditioning #alexanzalone #gibbs #branch #tarion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit locks in Gibbs, declines Campbell's option The Detroit Lions made their first major post-draft decision. Jameer Gibbs is secured on his fifth-year option for 2027 at 14.3 million. Jack Campbell's fifth-year option will not be exercised. The difference is the math. Campbell's All Pro season flipped his option into the franchise tag value for linebackers. That one-year number sits at 21.9 million. Detroit will not carry that charge for an off ball linebacker in 2027. The team still controls Gibbs for 2026 on his rookie deal. Picking up his option locks a placeholder for 2027 at a number that is likely below his market. A new contract can supersede it. Expect that conversation before 2027 arrives. Why the linebacker price exploded Option values escalate. A Pro Bowl raises the figure. An All Pro nod pushes it to the franchise tag value. The NFL and NFLPA still group all linebackers together. Off ball players are lumped with edge rushers. That puts Campbell in the same bucket as stars like Micah Parsons and even Miles Garrett if classified that way. It distorts the market for a player who does not rush the passer on every snap. Campbell has earned top status at his role. He ascended last season. But a single-year 21.9 million cap hit is untenable. Declining the option is not a slight. It is the necessary bridge to a long-term deal that reflects his impact without smashing one season of cap space. The path to a Campbell extension A multi-year agreement spreads cost and control. Think four years at a market rate level with significant guarantees. Structure matters. Detroit can use signing bonus and option bonuses, then add void years to spread charges. That amortizes money over time instead of swallowing it in one year. The result is a cleaner 2027 cap while rewarding an elite off ball linebacker. This approach also removes the uncertainty that comes with a single-season option. It provides stability for the player and flexibility for the club. The longer negotiations wait, the more comparable deals rise. Moving now helps both sides. Branch and LaPorta hit contract years Second-rounders do not have fifth-year options. Brian Branch and Sam Laporta head into the final years of their rookie contracts. Branch's injury complicates timing. You want the deal, but the health timeline is unclear. He has never won with raw speed. He wins with feel, with smarts, and with physicality. That profile still plays, but the medical piece matters. Laporta's situation is straightforward. No option, one year left, and production to price. Expect those talks to heat up after the option decisions cool. The Detroit Lions Podcast will stay on the mechanics as May 1 approaches and the 2027 picture sharpens. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jahmyrgibbs #jackcampbell #fifthyearoptions #contracts #brianbranch #samlaporta #contractextensionprojections #jamesproche #djreader Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Kentucky Asked of Kendrick Law The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Lions draft pick Kendrick Law after a fresh film dive. The Kentucky offense made it tough to judge him as an NFL wide receiver. It was gimmicky and narrow. Law often operated like a move tight end from the backfield or in motion. Downfield targets were rare. In an Auburn clip, he aligned in shotgun split, flared out, broke a tackle, and followed a block for positive yards. That sequence summed up his usage. Games studied included Louisville, Tennessee, Texas, Auburn, and Toledo. He barely played in the Toledo opener and saw only one target. The rest showed a consistent pattern. Kentucky did not ask him to run routes. If he was not among the primary reads, the play might as well exclude him. Route Running and Backside Urgency Law will need route work to see Detroit Lions offensive snaps. The route tree at Kentucky was basically run straight or clear space. There was little evidence of timing, stems, or adjustments. A Louisville clip captured a telling moment. He took four steps on the snap and stopped when the play left him. No roll with the quarterback. No late outlet. No backside block. That habit repeated across the film. Some of this is on Kentucky's design, but the tape still shows a learning curve. Law previously came from Alabama, where backside effort is typically demanded. He did not play a lot there and caught under 20 passes in three years. The Lions will have to coach urgency and detail into his routes and his off-script engagement. Speed, Wiggle, and What It Means Law is fast. His acceleration shows up. But there is not much wiggle. He is not Theo Riddick or Reggie Bush. He is not Golden Tate, and he is not even Khalif Raymond in short-area shake. The burst is real, yet the elusiveness is limited. That combination narrows how you deploy him early in the NFL and puts a premium on defined roles. Kentucky's structure did not prep him for pro-level route nuance. That does not close the door. It does set expectations. Detroit will need to teach him how to separate without pure scheme help. Special Teams Projection in Detroit The clearest rookie path is special teams. He was described as this year's gift to special teams coordinator Dave Phipp. Last year, he logged nine kick returns and three punt returns. On the four kick returns reviewed, he did not break a tackle. The straight-line speed is useful, but he must find yards without much lateral shake. Put it together and the early plan is plain. Do not pencil him into the Detroit Lions offense in 2026. Let him cover kicks, compete to return, and learn the route craft. If the urgency and detail grow, the traits can translate. For now, special teams comes first, and the NFL offensive snaps will have to be earned. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #kendricklaw #specialteams #kickreturner #kentuckywildcatsfootball #filmbreakdown #scoutingreport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday, April 27. NFL draft weekend is over. Jeff is back home and on the Detroit Lions Podcast he opened the Patreon Slack for a tight Q&A window. The big topic hit fast. The Detroit Lions did not draft a safety. That choice frames the early roster story. Why Detroit Passed on a Safety Jeff reread the team's post-draft messaging on the safeties. The line was clear. It did not intentionally skip the position. It just did not line up on the board. A few targets went right before Detroit picked. The class did not look deep. You had to strike right. That was the gist. He also noted what common sense suggests. In a defense where safeties trigger so much on the back end, a pressing need would have sparked action. If they truly felt exposed, they would have moved to get one. The decision points to internal confidence. Branch and Kirby Timelines Shape the Plan That confidence centers on Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph. The recovery updates trend positive. Branch's Achilles timeline sits between Halloween and Thanksgiving. November feels right. There is a possible Europe trip in that window. Nothing official yet. Kirby's path is less defined publicly, but the tone remains optimistic. Depth will matter until they are back. The room includes Christian Isian, Avante Max, and Thomas Harper. It is not a star trio, but it is capable support. Last year told the story. When the starting secondary stayed intact, the defense played like a top-10, even top-eight unit. When injuries gutted the group, the numbers cratered to the 30-32 range by various metrics. Health flips outcomes. Post-Draft Q&A and a UDFA QB Note The Detroit Lions Podcast Slack jumped in with strong questions during a 90-minute window. The safety choice led, but roster churn always runs deep right after the NFL draft. One early undrafted note popped: quarterback Luke Altmire. Jeff had flagged him as a stylistic fit. Detroit agreed enough to bring him in as a UDFA. It is a sensible look as the team resets its depth chart post-draft. The YouTube archive has the weekend coverage that Chris and Jeff produced. Today's session kept the focus tight. No panic. No victory lap. Just what the board gave them and what the rehab timelines allow. If Branch and Kirby land on schedule, Detroit's back end regains its edge. If not, the veteran spackle holds the line until the stars return. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraftweekend #udfaclass #lukealtmeyer #kerbyjoseph #brianbranch #erickhunter #kendricklaw #2026nfldraft #dontaycorleone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2026 NFL Draft closed on Saturday, and the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on how Detroit finished. Day Three lacked its usual spark. Too many late picks around the NFL look unlikely to stick. That reality shaped a sharp read on what the Detroit Lions did and why. Jimmy Roeder at 118: Box thumper with work to do Detroit opened Day Three with Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jimmy Roeder at No. 118. Jeff Risdon had him at No. 177 on his board but backed the fit. He watched Roeder live three times, including mop-up duty in the 2024 Fresno State game. The traits showed up. Roeder thrives in the box. He stacks, strafes, and drives downhill at the run. He does not shed consistently, but he sorts traffic and finds the ball. He is a fantastic form tackler. He can close on screens, blow up a bubble screen, and reach the sideline if the edge is not sealed. The flags are clear. Coverage is the biggest one. He does not always trust his eyes. He started only one year at Michigan and played a lot of vanilla zone. There is upside, but he must get off blocks better. When the defensive line wins up front, Roeder pops. When it does not, he can fade. That mirrors how Jack Campbell looks better when DJ Reader, Ty Lake Williams, and Alene McNeil are rolling. Roeder walks in as direct competition and insurance for Malcolm Rodriguez, who returned on a one-year deal. He brings special teams experience. The value was a touch early, but the role makes sense in Detroit. Derek Moore at 44: Why Detroit moved Detroit traded up to 44 for Derek Moore on Friday night. The front office believed Baltimore would take him at 45. The Jesse Minter connection made that a plausible fear. That was their guy. They went and got him. The message was simple. Be aggressive. Do not sweat trade value charts. If you land the player, the move is worth it. Moore projects as a win. Keith Abney at 157: Undersized corner, heavyweight hits Arizona State defensive back Keith Abney at No. 157 was the favorite pick of the day. He reminds you of Amik Robertson. He is an undersized outside corner who hits like a safety and tackles like a safety. The question now is where the Detroit Lions envision him. Outside, inside, or a hybrid path will define his rookie impact. The tools and temperament are there. Day Three did not deliver the usual thrill. The class across the league looks thin. Still, Detroit found specific roles and leaned into identity. That is how you survive the NFL marathon. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #202nfldraft #lionspicks #jimmyrolder #keithabney #skylergill-howard #tyrewest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Day 2 Begins With Detroit Looking for Value and Movement The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Detroit Lions opened their weekend by selecting Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller at pick 17. It was a move that made sense for both the present and the future. Protecting Jared Goff, reinforcing the offensive line, and preparing for long-term stability in the trenches remains central to how this franchise is built. Now the focus shifts to Day 2, where the real unpredictability begins. The Lions enter Friday night holding pick 50 in the second round and, as of now, no third-round selection. That almost guarantees intrigue. Brad Holmes has never been shy about moving around the board, and Detroit feels like one of the best bets in the league to trade into additional Day 2 capital before the night is over. Our live draft show will cover every move as it happens, with full reaction to the second and third rounds, trade possibilities, and the players who could change the shape of this roster heading into training camp. Round one gets the headlines, but Day 2 often delivers the backbone of a draft class. What the Lions Could Target Tonight With Blake Miller now in the building, Detroit has flexibility. Offensive line was a priority, but it was far from the only one. Defensive line help remains a major talking point, and cornerback depth continues to be an area the front office cannot ignore. At pick 50, the Lions could find real value at edge rusher, interior defensive line, or in the secondary. There is also the possibility of a wide receiver or tight end if a player with real upside falls unexpectedly. Holmes has consistently shown a willingness to trust his board over public consensus, and that makes tonight even more compelling. The biggest question is whether Detroit stays patient or gets aggressive. Without a third-round pick, the pressure to move around is real. Trading up for a targeted player or finding a way back into Round 3 would not surprise anyone who has followed this front office. The Lions are in a win-now window, and Day 2 offers a chance to add immediate contributors rather than long-term projects. Join the Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party Live The Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party is built for nights like this. Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft is where draft boards get chaotic, surprise names fall, and teams make aggressive decisions that define entire classes. We will be live through it all with instant analysis, roster impact discussion, and real-time reaction as the board unfolds. This is not just a breakdown of picks. It is a chance for Lions fans to be part of the moment. We will be talking through trade rumors, evaluating every selection, and reacting live as Detroit makes its moves. Whether the Lions stay at 50, trade up, or find their way back into the third round, we will have it covered. The first step was Blake Miller. Tonight is about building the rest of the foundation. Join us for complete Detroit Lions Day 2 coverage as the 2026 NFL Draft continues and the next chapter of this roster starts to take shape. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #deshaunstribling #chasebesantis #widereceiverolemiss #guardtexasa&m #sanfrancisco49erspick33 #arizonacardinalspick34 #detroitlionstradeup #thirdroundmove #daythreepicksbundle #post-draftsignings #buffalopickisin #draftboardsliding #detroitlionspodcastepisode610 #livenfldraftreaction #knoxvilletravelstory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit stakes its first-round flag on Blake Miller The Detroit Lions made their intent plain on Night 1 of the NFL Draft. They selected Blake Miller, offensive tackle from Thompson. The fit looks clean. Miller brings durability and dependability. He started four years and got better where he needed to in his final season. That improvement points to real upside even with all that experience. His athleticism did not raise questions on recent film. The Detroit Lions Podcast mock held firm with Miller, and the board cooperated. It is a strong marriage of need, profile, and projection. A floated move up for Reuben Bates did not materialize. The scenario had Detroit sending picks 17 and 50 plus a fourth to Washington for No. 7 and a fifth. It proved false. Bates slid further than expected. There was uncertainty about an off-field incident, and whether it influenced his fall remains unclear. Trade lessons from Night 1's market The league-wide trade tape told a story. Using the Fitzgerald-Spielberger chart, the Cowboys paid 2,486 units to receive 1,785. That is roughly the cost of an extra third-rounder to move from 12 to 11. The purpose was straightforward. Prevent Miami from moving that slot to another suitor, Detroit or otherwise. Dallas got Downs and made it count. The Texans sent 28 and 69 to Buffalo for 26 and 91. The math came to 2,571 out for 2,063 in. That gap mirrors an early fifth. The tax to climb was steeper than normal. Over 20 percent for Dallas. A little more for Houston. What looked like a buyer's market did not play that way. That context matters for Detroit tonight. If the Lions try to rise, the price likely tops the chart values. Expect a surcharge. Plan accordingly. Day 2 for Detroit: targets, fit, and flexibility The Lions hold multiple mid and late selections. Two fourths. Two fifths. Two sixths. And a seventh. The roster has room for only a few more players. Consolidation makes sense. Ammunition is there if a target gets close. The Detroit Lions Podcast board sets a clear lane. Decker Moore. Gabe Vaki. Dani Dennis-Sutton. Anthony Hill. D'Angelo Jones. Reed Stukes. Dennis-Sutton was the final projection at 50. The fit opposite Aidan Hutchinson pops. He is a crush-the-can pass rusher with some speed. He tested off the charts. The tape does not always flash that level, but the traits are present. He might not grade as a pure value at 50. The role match for Detroit is strong. Bottom line for Friday night. The Lions secured a dependable right tackle of the future in Blake Miller. The market to move will cost extra. The board has edge help and versatile pieces waiting. Detroit has the picks to go get one. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #offensivetackle #thompson #rou #tradevaluechart #nfldraft #danidennis-sutton #lionsmockdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

# Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party: Live Coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft A Pivotal Night for the Detroit Lions at Pick 17 The Detroit Lions enter the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft with urgency, intrigue, and a clear opportunity to reshape the trajectory of the franchise. Picking at 17 after a season that fell short of expectations, Detroit finds itself in a familiar but critical position. Good enough to compete, not yet complete enough to contend. Tonight is about closing that gap. Our live draft show will bring you inside every moment as the board unfolds. The Lions are sitting in a range where flexibility becomes the story. This is where front offices earn their reputation. Do they stay put and take the best player available, or do they move up to secure a difference maker? Do they slide back and add capital in a draft that many evaluators view as deep in key positions? All eyes will be on how Detroit approaches its roster construction around **Jared Goff**. The offense has shown it can function at a high level when protected and balanced, but the conversation around long term sustainability remains. Whether the Lions lean toward reinforcing the offensive line, adding another weapon, or turning their attention to the defensive side of the ball, tonight will reveal how they see themselves moving forward. What We're Watching Live on the Draft Show On the Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party, we will track every development in real time as the 2026 NFL Draft unfolds. The early part of the round will set the tone. Quarterbacks, edge rushers, and offensive tackles are expected to come off the board quickly, and that ripple effect could push premium talent into Detroit's range. The Lions have been tied to several paths in recent weeks. Defensive line remains a focus after inconsistent pressure throughout last season. Cornerback depth has been a talking point across the offseason. At the same time, there is always the possibility that a top tier offensive player slips and forces Detroit into a decision they did not expect to face. We will break down each selection ahead of Detroit's pick, evaluate how the board is falling, and react instantly when the Lions are on the clock. Expect deep analysis on fit, value, and what the pick signals about the organization's priorities. If there is a trade, we will dissect it from every angle. Join the Live Draft Party and React With Us This is not just coverage. This is a live draft show built for Lions fans who want to be part of the moment. The Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party will feature live reactions, instant analysis, and the energy that only draft night can bring. We want your voice as part of the show. As the picks roll in and the Lions make their move, we will be engaging with listeners and viewers in real time. Whether you are celebrating the pick, questioning the strategy, or reacting to what could have been, this is your chance to be part of the conversation. Draft night defines franchises. For the Detroit Lions, picking at 17 in the **2026 NFL Draft**, this is a chance to add a cornerstone piece and reset expectations heading into the new season. Stay with us throughout the night as we break down every move and bring you the most complete Detroit Lions draft coverage anywhere. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #topeighttrade #edgerusher #offensivelineman #calebdowns #calebtownsend #jeremiahlove #monroefraley #blakemiller #terrybradshaw #terribletowels #pittsburghdraftstage #chicagodraftsetup #clevelanddraftsetup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft day is here. The board is set. Jeff Risdon opened the Detroit Lions Podcast by staking out pick 17 and sorting the flood of NFL mock drafts pointing toward Detroit. Draft-Day Plan: Risdon's No-Trade Mock Risdon's final no-trade mock locks in Blake Miller, the Clemson offensive tackle, at 17 for the Detroit Lions. It is a clean projection and a pragmatic one. He also ran a first three-round exercise with no trades. The approach is consistent: prioritize the offensive line if the board cooperates. There is a clear dream scenario. If Monroe Freeling slips to 17, that is the pick. Full stop. Risdon does not expect Freeling to last that long, which prompted the pivot to Miller in his final version. The premise is simple. Stay at 17. Take the tackle that matches the value. National Mocks: Offensive Line Leads the Way The national pulse is strong and aligned. Many prominent mocks land on Caden Proctor for Detroit. Peter Schrager has Proctor. Matt Miller does, too. Albert Brown also points the Lions to Proctor, and Joe Marino is on that track as well. Others ride with Blake Miller, reinforcing the same position focus. Monroe Freeling drew serious national support as well. Daniel Jeremiah is on Freeling. Mel Skipper is there, and Mike Renner and Jordan Reid show similar leanings. Only one national voice broke the pattern in structure rather than position: Ben Solak has Detroit trading back two spots and taking a player after the move. Among the names checked, Chad Reuter stands out as the lone national who delivered Spencer Fano to the Lions in round one. The signal from all of it is unmistakable. Offensive line at 17 remains the chalk. Local Pulse: Proctor, Miller, and a Fano Flier Locally, the room is split but still sits on the same side of the ball. Dave Burkett has Caden Proctor. Brett Whitefield is also on Proctor. Risdon himself is on Blake Miller in his final no-trade scenario, and Eric Schlitt has been a Miller fan. The Athletic's Colton Pouncy landed Spencer Fano at 17 in a run where the board broke oddly, a reminder that draft night can tilt in unexpected ways. What It Means at 17 The Detroit Lions enter tonight with a tight, credible cluster at a premium spot. Monroe Freeling is the swing if he falls. Blake Miller is the steady answer if he does not. Caden Proctor and Spencer Fano remain live depending on how the first 16 picks unfold. One notable outlier includes a modest trade back, but the bulk of mocks keep Detroit planted at 17. It is a clean plan for a roster with standards. The NFL clock starts now. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #kadynproctor #spencerfano #monroefreeling #detroitlionsdraft #pick17 #bradholmes #nationalmockdrafts #localmockdrafts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft-Eve Plans and Live Coverage Draft eve in Detroit. The Detroit Lions Podcast went live with Russell Brown, Scott Bischoff, Chris, and Jeff Risdon. The crew laid out a busy week and took questions. Brown will be on WJR with Anthony Collins and Lomas Brown from 6 to 7 PM on Thursday. It could run longer. If timing allows, he may jump back with Chris, Jeff, and Dion to react in real time. Friday brings WJR again, then a reset of the board. After that, Brown will join Fantasy Pros from picks 35 to 48. He plans to step off to watch the Detroit Lions make their move, then return to the Detroit Lions Podcast to break it down. Day three is lighter. A 7 AM coaches meeting and a baseball game sit on the calendar. He usually misses one game a year. It is almost always day three of the NFL Draft. No. 2 Overall: David Bailey vs Arvel Reed The conversation centered on the Jets at pick two. Two names led the talk: David Bailey and Arvel Reed. The hosts are not enamored with Bailey's full profile. They acknowledged his explosive, linear pass rush. That first step stresses college tackles. It can stress NFL tackles too. But they see a lacking run defender. That is a concern at the top of the board. Reed's profile is different. He comes from Ohio State and is not a finished product. He tested like a premium athlete. Around 240 to 241 pounds. Speed in the mid 4.4s. He flashes when he rushes, but the room sees him starting as a stacked linebacker. The Micah Parsons talk does not land for them. If he must begin off the ball, they questioned if that is a player you take second overall. Smoke remains thick. Maybe it is Bailey. Maybe the Jets have played months of misdirection. Other names were mentioned as possible wild cards, from Mansoor Ford Delaney to downs. If the card read Caleb Brown, it would make sense to them. One more wrinkle: Bailey's media hits, including SNY, did not sound like deep pre-draft engagement beyond a dinner. Even so, a final mock tonight would still slide Bailey to the Jets. What It Means for the Detroit Lions Detroit's plan starts with what happens at two. If the Jets choose Bailey, the board tilts one way. If they choose Reed, it tilts another. A stacked linebacker at two reshapes the early run at edge rusher. A true linear edge at two affects the second wave of offensive and defensive options. The hosts plan to reset the board Friday and react fast. Coverage spans radio, national hits, and live podcast windows tied to picks 35 to 48. The aim is simple. Track the Jets' decision, map the fallout, and target the best path for the Detroit Lions. The NFL turns quickly. The Detroit Lions Podcast will be there as the board breaks. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #davidbailey #arvelreed #jetspicktwo #stackedlinebacker #edgerusher #linearpassrush #rundefender #resettheboard #picks35to48 #fantasypros #wjr #sny Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft Eve Plan: Five Paths, No Trades The Detroit Lions Podcast hit draft eve with a focused exercise: five no-trade scenarios mapping picks 17, 50, 118 and 128. The NFL Draft is in Pittsburgh tomorrow. The show will live stream the draft with you and Chris. The purpose here is clarity. Keep Detroit at each slot. Explore real options. Invite mix and match from the board. Scenarios at 17 and 50 Scenario 1 opened with Blake Miller, offensive tackle from Clemson, at 17. Pick 50 followed with an edge option, and later a TCU linebacker, Caleb Elamzor, in the fourth. All matched the Lions' size and style targets. Scenario 2 pivoted to Monroe Fraley, Georgia offensive tackle, at 17. Anthony Hill, Texas linebacker, fits the Alex Anzalone role if Detroit seeks a successor. The fourth round stacked traits with Kieran Crawford, Auburn edge, and Sam Rausch, Stanford tight end. Rausch brings some Ebron-like movement but can block. He must catch the ball better. Scenario 3 went defense first with Kendrick Falk, Auburn edge. Calling him only an edge undersells him. He can play inside in the roles held by John Kaminski, Josh Paschal, Clark Davenport and Onwuzurike. At 50, Reader on Stuard, a defensive back from Arizona, profiles as a safety slash corner in the Branch and Avonte Maddox mold. Offense returned at 118 with Demetrius Brown, Texas A&M offensive tackle, a project that would require Larry Horton to hold right tackle while Sewell moves to the left side, a switch Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have discussed. Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M defensive tackle, rounded it out. Trenches and Fourth-Round Value Scenario 4 pressed a tackle run with Colon Proctor at 17. Decker Hatten, Penn State edge, landed at 50. Packers beat writers love Danica Sutton at 52, so this track would get over on a rival slot. The fourth-round focus was run defense with Dante Corleone, Cincinnati's Godfather, as a stout run stopper, plus BJ Payne at safety. A small trade-up into the 90s could be needed for Payne, though the exercise held Detroit in place. Scenario 5 circled back to tackle with an Arizona State option at 17. It assumed a rookie might be pressed into action early if a veteran is not ready. How to Use the Board The exercise locked picks 17, 50, 118 and 128. No trades. The point is to map Detroit Lions options and let fans assemble their own card. Audio listeners were urged to catch visuals on YouTube. The top of this NFL Draft remains murky at two, three and four. There will be moves before Detroit is on the clock. These scenarios keep the Lions steady and prepared. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #monroefraley #anthonyhill #kierancrawford #samrausch #kendrickfalk #deckerhatten #dantecorleone #danicasutton #bjpayne Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A No-Trade Board Starts With a Shock The Detroit Lions Podcast fired up a manual, no-trade mock draft and pointed the map toward pick 17. The board went sideways immediately. The Raiders claimed quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1. No trades. No hedging. Just a clean card and a surprise start that scrambled every plan behind it. Confusion defined the exercise. After the first selection, consensus vanished. Teams blurred. Needs collided with traits. The room acknowledged it had not seen an NFL draft this murky in years. That uncertainty matters to the Detroit Lions. Chaos at the top can send premium talent sliding toward 17. It can also yank scheme fits off the board before Detroit is ready to pick. Debating Pick No. 2: Traits vs. Production At No. 2, the debate locked onto edge defenders. David Bailey's get-off, length, and pass-rush juice drew early support. The counterargument centered on setting the edge. Could Bailey anchor against the run and earn the right to rush in an NFL front that demands discipline on early downs? Arvel Reed brought a different profile. A true multi-tool defender, he blitzed more than he played traditional edge in college. The versatility intrigues, but there were questions about immediate production if he is not a full-time rusher. Sonny Styles surfaced as a data point. In limited rush chances, Styles stacked sacks at a higher rate, which sharpened the focus on how Reed actually wins. Scheme fit hung over the table. The conversation circled the priorities coaches place on run force, edge integrity, and pressure. The tie broke with the need for day-one impact. The card at No. 2 read David Bailey. Cardinals at No. 3 Hold the Top-10 Keys Arizona stepped into the on-deck circle with options everywhere. Reed made sense. So did a pure rusher like David Saylors. The Cardinals also had a clear offensive path. With Chris Johnson Jr. at left tackle, right tackle help fits cleanly. Maui Noah checked that box. So did names like Ruben Payne and Francis Allen for line help. The twist came from the owner rumor mill. A running back that early is risky, but the floor can be high. Recent hits at the position were cited. The room understood the appeal while disagreeing with the value. No matter the direction, the third pick felt like a fulcrum. Move it, and the entire top 10 tilts. Keep it, and the board settles for a beat before the next surprise. For the Detroit Lions, that turbulence is the story. A quarterback at one, Bailey at two, and a wide-open Arizona decision compress talent pockets and confuse runs at specific positions. The path to 17 will be carved by how teams prioritize edge force, right tackle certainty, and whether ownership leans into a splash at running back. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #mockdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Countdown to Pittsburgh and a live mock tonight Two days before the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on pick 17 and the moving board around it. The top of the draft is unsettled. Nobody can lock in picks two through five. That uncertainty bleeds straight into Detroit's lane. The crew set a live mock draft for tonight at 8:00 with Jeff Risdon, Chris, and Scott Bischoff running the room. It is a final stress test for scenarios the Lions could face when the NFL clock hits 17. Two SEC tackles lead the Lions' options Mock drafts clustering around Detroit point to two clear front-runners: Monroe Fraley and Colon Proctor. Both are SEC offensive tackles. Both bring first-round traits with very different profiles. The conversation centered on balancing their pluses and minuses against Detroit's current line and future contracts. If either is there at 17, the pick feels clean. If both are gone, the board gets messy. Predicting availability is the trick. With the top 10 fluid and several tackle-needy teams ahead of Detroit, the range for Fraley and Proctor stretches. The Lions are preparing for one to go early, one to drift, or a late surprise that knocks a different premium player into range. Injury variables that could shake the board Health flags dominated the swing-player talk. Jermad McCoy's knee has drawn “degenerative” chatter. Production included only one strong season at Tennessee. That mix could push him into the second round. If he slips to 50, the value becomes a debate, but chronic soft-tissue and long-term knee concerns temper enthusiasm. Francis Malinois surfaced as the other big wild card. He has a back issue described as similar to what Sam LaPorta is managing. Not a herniated disc. Potentially addressable with a minor procedure and roughly three months of rehab. Teams are weighing whether surgery is even required. That uncertainty could nudge him out of the top 10 to 12. Clubs like Arizona, Cleveland, and Kansas City were cited as spots where medical risk tolerance could change plans. Kansas City in particular may be hesitant after drafting an injured tackle last year. Reading the final mocks Final boards from major analysts are landing now and shaping consensus on Detroit. Proctor shows up as one of the most frequent Lions pairings at 17. The podcast plans to comb through recent years of last-minute mocks on Thursday morning to see who historically pegged Detroit's moves and where groupthink missed. With volatility up high, the Lions' best edge at 17 is preparedness for medical-driven slides and a clear stack between the two SEC tackles leading their lane. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #monroefreeling #mockdrafts #fanpicks #kadynproctor #blakemiller #jermodmccoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A draft that flips expectations Uncertainty rules the 2026 NFL draft. Only one quarterback looks like a first-round lock. The wide receivers, once viewed as light, surged into the star group. Running back thins after Jeremiah Love. The board pushes teams toward less celebrated positions. That creates value and hard choices. It also exposes which front offices are organized and which are guessing. Tight ends, safeties and OL carry the board This Detroit Lions Podcast episode zeroes in on where the talent sits. Tight end is a headline. Kenyan Sadiq grades as a top-tier prospect and projects to go very early. Safety is strong and deeper than usual. Interior offensive line offers starter traits into Day Two. Offensive tackle holds up well, too. The sweet spot stretches through Day Two and into Day Three for these groups. Teams willing to invest in non-premium positions can clean up. That mirrors how the Detroit Lions built recent drafts with results. The conversation tracked how recent cycles elevated quarterback, running back and wide receiver. This year tilts differently. Safeties and tight ends stand out. Interior linemen anchor the depth. It is not a bad class. It is a unique class that demands precision and a clear plan. Linebacker calculus and Detroit lessons Linebacker is still devalued on draft night, but the names have juice. Arvel Reed and Niese Styles headline. CJ Allen is climbing. Jacob Rodriguez could even sneak in, depending on need. Teams hesitate unless the traits scream All-Pro. The Lions have shown it can work. They invested in Jack Campbell. They added Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta. They hit on Jabir Gibbs. Non-premium positions produced premium impact. This class lines up with that approach, especially on Day Two and Day Three. Trade talk and board ripple The Dexter Lawrence trade drew measured praise. New York did well. Cincinnati's angle also tracks. They never truly replaced DJ Reed and missed that presence. Moves like that shift boards. Safety runs can start earlier. Offensive line plans adjust. Big-name safeties can still slide outside the top 10 or even top 20, but the overall depth gives teams options. For Detroit, the value bands match where the roster-building model has thrived. Tight ends, safeties and offensive linemen anchor this draft. That is where the 2026 NFL board feels strongest and where smart clubs can separate. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #tampabaybuccaneers #kenyonsaddiq #drewallar #minnesotavikings #draftinpittsburgh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lions' filters and a three-man target band at 17 One week from Day 3, the Detroit Lions board is narrowing to players who match clear standards. No recent DUIs. No violence. No academic ineligibility. They prefer team captains, academic achievers, and multi-sport backgrounds. Maturity and coachability matter. Under Brad Holmes, the Detroit Lions draft their guys and ignore consensus boards. Expect that again. That approach frames a three-man cluster for pick No. 17 in the NFL Draft: TJ Parker, Blake Miller, and Kendrick Ford. Others could surface, including Monroe Fraley, Max Heinecker, and even Jermaine McCoy, but those three sit in the thick of it. The Detroit Lions Podcast made the case for each as culture and scheme fits. Blake Miller checks every box at right tackle Miller looks built for Detroit. Durable. Noticeable senior-year growth. Team captain. Strong football character. He can step in at right tackle quickly, as game ready as a college lineman can be entering the NFL. He also tested as an elite athlete at the combine. That level of testing did not always appear on tape, but nothing about him reads unathletic. Any narrative to the contrary is off base. If the Lions want a plug-in, long-view answer opposite Taylor Decker and in front of Aidan Hutchinson's edge, Miller is the easy fit. Why Faulk profiles as the Hutchinson complement Some fans will balk at taking Faulk at 17. The fit is plain. He is a physical clone of Marcus Davenport, only younger and healthy. He became a team captain at age 20 on a veteran Auburn team. High academic achiever. Impressive athletic profile and RAS. The critique is real: he is not super twitchy off the snap, and quicker pressure has been a fan priority. The Detroit Lions have not emphasized that timeline publicly. They value the totality of disruption and reliability opposite Hutchinson. Within that lens, Faulk makes sense at 17. Day-three watchlist: Kendrick Ford, Dante Corleone, and a sleeper at corner Ford's story fits Detroit. A blood clot cost him a season. He stayed loyal, stayed engaged on the sideline, and never detached. Two-time captain. Stylistic fit as a replacement for DJ Reed on the roster. Fourth-round range feels right given the board construction and need stack. Dante Corleone also flashed a clear line to Allen Park. In an interview, he singled out the Detroit Lions as the only team that spent significant time with him after the combine visit. The club has done its homework. Everything about his profile suggests they will like what they see. Do not sleep on Latrell McCutcheon, cornerback from the Houston Cougars. He has not been discussed enough. Good player. If Detroit wants a competitive outside corner later in the NFL Draft, he belongs on the card. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #blakemiller #keldricfaulk #dontaycorleone #vjpayne #latrellmccutchin #lionsfits #gritfit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six Days Out, the Board Turns to Saturday The Detroit Lions are six days from the start of the NFL Draft, and the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Day 3. Saturday covers rounds four through seven. The focus was specific. Detroit has a lot of capital on Day 3 right now. That is likely to change. The expectation is a move up before Saturday to secure a target. The conversation centered on which players fit the roster and how many of those Day 3 picks can realistically make the team. Day 3 is about flavor and conviction. The early rounds deliver spotlight and starters. Saturday is for dart throws and stand-on-the-table guys. The Lions will filter that through a roster that is already tough to crack. Two Fourths and the 53-Man Reality Detroit currently holds two early fourth-round selections. If the Lions add a first-rounder, a second-rounder, and those two fourths, there may not be room for much else. That was the stark roster math. The 53-man roster is tight as it stands. Late picks can push competition and land on the practice squad, which still has value. But the Lions do not need a sixth-rounder to contribute right away in 2026. That calculus fuels the idea of consolidating capital. Package some of Saturday's picks to move up earlier. Get a difference-maker that aligns with the board. Then let the two fourths address depth where it matters. A 6'8 Answer at Swing Tackle One Day 3 name stood out: Travis Bell, a right tackle from Memphis who previously played left tackle at Florida International, the Panthers. He is 6-foot-8 with long arms and rare grip strength for this tackle class. When he locks on, the rep is finished. He finishes through the whistle and plays with a bouncer's edge. Off the field he comes off as composed. On it he flips the switch. That temperament drew parallels to the way Taylor Decker carries himself. Bell profiles as an immediate swing tackle. He can back up both spots while learning behind established starters. Even if Detroit selects a tackle at 17, Bell still fits. He would stabilize depth and hedge against injuries on an offensive line that drives the Lions' identity. Pick 17 Shapes Saturday If tackle is the play at 17, names in the mix included Montgomery Freeling, Blake Miller, and Spencer Fano. That choice would ripple into Day 3. Land a starter early, then chase traits and role players later. If the board breaks differently, Bell becomes even more attractive as a developmental piece with starter tools. The mission is clear. Use the two fourths wisely. Let the 53 dictate which darts are worth throwing. And if the chance comes to go up and get the guy before Saturday, take it. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #daythreedartthrows #roundsfourthroughseven #twofourth-roundpicks #53-manroster #practicesquad #swingtackle #travisbell #memphisrighttackle #floridainternationalpanthers #gripstrength #taylordecker #blakemiller #spencerfano #montgomeryfreeling #pick17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trade smoke at picks 6 and 12 A week out from the NFL draft, the Detroit Lions Podcast locked in on the rumor with real bite. Dallas has eyes on jumping from 12 to 6 in a deal with Cleveland. That move would put the Cowboys in range for a defensive cornerstone. Names floated were concrete. Caleb Downs. Niese Styles. Rubin Bain. Jeremiah Love. Cardinal Bates. Cleveland, sliding to 12, would still sit in a clean pocket for an offensive tackle such as Caden Procter, Monroe Freeling, or Spencer Fano. The logic tracks. Dallas secures a high-end defender. Cleveland reloads up front. The Giants, Arizona, and the safe defender debate There is a catch. If Dallas covets the same player as New York, the Cowboys may need to leap the Giants. New York is not doing business with Dallas. That pushes the question higher on the board. Some believe five could be Downs' range. Positional value chatter will hum, but this class may mute it. Just take really good players. Arizona complicates everything. If Niese Styles is seen as one of the safest prospects, what stops Arizona from taking him? That possibility shapes the entire top 10. If Styles or Downs goes early, Dallas must recalibrate. If either slides to six, the door swings open for that 12-to-6 jump. What it means for the Lions at 17 The Detroit Lions sit at 17 and can let the board work for them. If Dallas climbs for a defender and Cleveland targets a tackle later, the middle of the round shifts. A run on defensive backs and edge players could shove an offensive tackle down to 17. A tackle surge could push a defender into Detroit's lap. Both outcomes help. The room weighed immediate impact versus projection. David Bailey's pass rush pop could hit early. Arnold Reed might take a different path to the same outcome. The staff's preferences matter. Aaron Glenn values defenders who attack the run and set edges with urgency. That lens will filter every option that hits 17. Detroit has done the homework on day two and day three paths. Now the choices at 17 crystallize. If the Cowboys-Browns swap happens, it clarifies priorities. If it fizzles, it still tilts the board through the threat of action. Either way, the Lions can stay patient, trust their stack, and pounce when the right player slides. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #seventeenthoverallpick #dallascowboys #clevelandbrowns #movefrom12to6 #offensivetackles #defensiveends #calebdowns #niesestyles #rubinbain #jeremiahlove #cardinalbates #cadenprocter #spencerfano Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One Week Out, the Mock Is On Seven days before the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions Podcast fired up a full seven-round mock. The simulator ran on the consensus board at normal speed. Every trade offer was rejected to keep the exercise clean, even though the host admitted he would take several of them in real life. Tennessee, Buffalo, and Philadelphia dangled packages with future second-round picks. Tempting, but declined. The board fell largely as expected into the teens. The goal was simple. Track how the Detroit Lions might act when real choices appear. Concrete roster needs. Scheme fits. Red flags. All in play. Round 1: OT Over CB Temptations The Lions sifted through a cluster that included Raymond McCoy, Dylan Spielman, Keldrick Falk, Caden Proctor, Akeem Mezzadore, and Caleb Lomu. McCoy brought one season of pristine outside-corner tape at Tennessee, but the knee history and whispers about a degenerative issue cooled enthusiasm. The Lions already live with that kind of concern at safety with Kirby Joseph. Pass. Edge was surveyed for a complement to Aidan Hutchinson. A prototype was on the board, but Mezzadore did not fit that vision. Avion Terrell offered coverage polish yet carried a lighter frame than ideal. Caleb Lomu drew praise for movement skills and zone-friendly run blocking, but the sense was Detroit would not value him as highly. Caden Proctor held appeal, just not as the apple of their eye. The pick landed where positional value and board scarcity intersected. Blake Miller, offensive tackle. Take the pillar now, develop the ceiling with Fraley, and avoid forcing an offensive need later when the board thins. After 17: Runs, Snipes, and Offers Once Miller was in, chips fell fast. McCoy came off the board. Proctor went to Houston. Gabe Vaki vanished. Then the sting. TJ Parker, a player with real Lions interest, disappeared just before 50. More trade calls arrived in the 50s with swaps that included moving down for extra Day 2 capital. Again, declined for the sake of the exercise. Round 2 Watch: Corner Takes the Lead The Lions scanned offense and saw little they liked. Eli Stowers at tight end did not move the needle, especially with contested-catch concerns. A running back like Jadarian Price was not in play. Defense answered. Chris Johnson, an outside corner, fit cleanly and immediately jumped to the top of the conversation. Malachi Lawrence offered intrigue. Kayla Banks carried a foot injury that complicated the calculus. The takeaway was clear. By grabbing an offensive tackle early, Detroit preserved flexibility while the second-round board tilted defense. Cornerback rose to the front, with outside traits that align with how the Lions want to play on the perimeter. Health flags matter. Scheme fit matters more. One week out, this mock framed both with clarity. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #blakemiller #chrisjohnson #mockdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Brad Holmes Actually Said Episode 608 lands as a 2026 Detroit Lions NFL Podcast primer, and the focus is Brad Holmes' pre-draft press conference. The Detroit Lions Podcast treats this stretch as lying season. Everyone knows the game. The wrinkle is that Detroit has often told the truth, just not in ways people caught in the moment. That tension drove the discussion. The read on Holmes was direct. He did not appear deceptive. He also did not say much. He should not. The building keeps information close. The ship is locked tighter than it used to be, which makes outside reads tougher. The group framed Holmes' approach as consistent, measured, and light on hints that can be mined by other clubs. A Tighter Ship, A Clearer Process Detroit's process under Holmes tracks with a Rams-rooted philosophy. Care less about other teams. Care most about your own board. That mindset showed up in how the presser landed. No panic. No performative noise. Just enough clarity to signal confidence in the Lions' path, without handing out details. Comparisons to other NFL front offices came up. Around the league, general managers hold similar lines in April. Some drop phrases that sound like clues. Most do not intend to tip their hand. Holmes fit that pattern, but with a notable edge: a self-focused process that shrugs at outside reaction. It narrows the signal. It cuts the static. Draft Smoke, Real Signals, and Mock Talk The conversation pushed back on fan assumptions about league-wide subterfuge. The NFL uses less smoke and mirrors than people think. Some teams do play games. Many do not. Detroit's leadership falls on the straight-line side. Truth often sits in plain sight, wrapped in careful language. Unpredictability still rules draft weekend. The show cited a past draft where a team stacked multiple centers despite an established starter. It was a reminder. Anything can happen in the draft, regardless of what a depth chart looks like in April. That applies to the Lions as they weigh value against need, and as mocks try to catch up. From there, the table was set for current mock projections for the Detroit Lions. The presser context matters. If Holmes' words are consistent with the past, Detroit will prioritize its own grades and timing. The result could challenge expectations on position and sequence. Episode 608 framed the exercise. Read the words. Respect the silence. Then test every mock against a front office that prizes process over theater. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #bradholmespresser #lyingseason #detroitlionsdraft #mockprojections #ramsline #snead #nickcaserio #buccaneersgm #lockedtighter #blowingsmoke #anythingcanhappeninthedraft #threecentersinonedraft #all-procenter #officialdetroitlionspodcastforreddit #episode608 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trade-Up Logic for a Tight Roster On April 14, Jeff Risdon opened the Detroit Lions Podcast by dropping his annual dream draft. The premise is simple. Targets he prefers at every pick, no trades in the mock, and a clear-eyed look at roster math. His NFL calculus points one way. Trade up over trading back. Risdon expects three or four selections this year might not crack the active 53-man roster. Not because they cannot play, but because the Detroit Lions have fewer open chairs. Late picks can sit on the practice squad. That shifts value toward higher picks instead of collecting more Day 3 swings. He contrasted it with earlier Lions eras that forced rookies into the lineup. Amari Spivey got thrown to the wolves. A late-round inside backer from Cal had to play right away. Today's depth means patience. Recent examples back it up. Dominic Lovett, a seventh-rounder a year ago, barely saw the offense and made little impact on special teams. Dan Jackson, also a seventh-round pick, returns healthy but might not have played much as a rookie anyway. That is a different Lions reality. It makes trading up more attractive this spring. Caleb Lomu at 17 and Panay Stays Right Risdon's first-round dream pick is Caleb Lomu, the Utah left tackle. The choice ties directly to keeping Panay Sewell at right tackle. Sewell is the best in the world there. Move him and he would still be great, but why disrupt excellence. With a true left tackle in Lomu, Detroit can preserve its right-side identity. Risdon praised Lomu's athleticism, length, and smarts. Crafty feet. Room to grow. He admitted the run blocking is not elite yet. Others are better in that phase. Spencer Fano brings more in-line drive. Francis Malinois does too. But the upside with Lomu at left tackle fits the long view while maintaining continuity with Sewell. Building the Right-Side Run and Interior Fits The vision extends to the run game. Keep the Detroit Lions pounding right. Pair Sewell with Tate Ratledge and have Cade Mays available to reinforce that side. Lomu holds down the blind side while the right side remains the hammer. The balance lets the offense dictate with angles and tempo without retooling the front. That philosophy also informs the board. In a weaker draft, higher picks matter more than a pile of late fliers. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it cleanly. Aim your swings where roster spots actually exist. Trade-Up Wildcard and Year-Two Buzz If he did climb from 17, Risdon identified a prize. Niese Styles is his No. 2 overall player. A safety background shows up in space, yet he is bigger than Arvel Reed, who projects as an edge. Styles can play with Jack Campbell and unlock sub-package flexibility. There is carryover optimism too. Last year's dream manifested early hits. The Lions landed Tylek Williams and Isaac TeSlaa sooner than expected. Risdon likes what comes next, especially for Williams in year two now that he knows NFL life. The dream stays ambitious. The logic stays grounded. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #dreamdraft #caleblomu #lefttackle #panaysewell #tradeup #tradeback #tylekwilliams #isaacteslaa #tateratledge #cademays #spencerfano #niesestyles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holmes skips owners meetings to lock in draft prep Ten days before the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Brad Holmes' message and where Detroit stands at No. 17. Holmes held his annual pre-draft press conference. He explained he did not attend the NFL owners meetings this year. He stayed in Detroit to work with the scouting staff and focus on the draft. The Lions were still represented at the meetings, with Rod Wood and Dan Campbell available on site. The episode posted later than usual to follow that availability. Travel logistics factored into coverage decisions. A three-hour drive each way for a brief presser did not add value, especially without a plan to ask questions. The focus stayed on what Holmes revealed and what he did not. Reading the board at No. 17 Holmes was pressed on how many true first-round grades the Lions hold and what that means at 17. He did not bite. The general manager avoided specifics and declined to lock a number to the board. One fragment carried weight: "We feel pretty good about" what will be there at 17. That line framed Detroit's outlook. The message matched league chatter. This is not billed as the greatest class, but teams expect to find players they like in their strike zones. Holmes has sharpened his poker face since his early sessions at the podium. He kept priorities concealed while signaling confidence in outcomes. The takeaway for the NFL and Detroit Lions watchers: the club trusts its board without tipping needs or targets. Trade calls timing and Detroit's approach On movement around the pick, Holmes said this is the time when calls start to happen. To this point, they have not. That is not a denial of interest. It is a timestamp. Ten days out is when the market forms. The question is who dials first. Detroit's tendency has been to let others ring them. That stands in contrast to the more aggressive, feeler-heavy style associated with John Dorsey during his Cleveland Browns tenure. The current Lions approach gathers information by fielding offers rather than fishing early. Up, back, or staying put all remain in play. The board and the phone will guide the path. The principle is clear. Detroit will not force action before the market sets. Pittsburgh trip notes coming later this week The show teased a travel-focused episode for fans headed to Pittsburgh. Recent time on the ground produced useful local notes that will drop later this week. The can cracked today was a Doctor Pepper. Sponsorship inquiries are open, with examples mentioned on air. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #bradholmes #pressconference #larryborom #d.j.wonnum #ruebenbain #nfldrafttrades Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Late-Round Targets With Real Detroit Fits The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on two late Day 3 options who match Detroit's defensive profile. The focus stayed tight: an interior disruptor who penetrates and a defensive back with real slot juice and verified top-end speed. Both players project as developmental pieces who can fill defined roles in the NFL and compete for snaps in Detroit. Penetration From the Interior: Cameron Ball Cameron Ball, a defensive tackle from Arkansas, stands 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds and tested at the combine. His game is built on first-step quickness and backfield penetration. He wins by getting narrow through gaps and shooting into the backfield, not by anchoring and two-gapping. The production reflects a creator more than a finisher: three sacks and 13 tackles for loss across four seasons, with steady disruption and pursuit. The motor runs hot. He tackles well and moves unexpectedly well in space for his size, getting outside the box to finish plays. Block shedding is inconsistent, and he is not a classic run stuffer. He must win early with quickness. The athletic profile is decent, not elite, and the projection lands late on Day 3, potentially the sixth or seventh round. The fit in Detroit is clear. Ball profiles as a rotational rush tackle behind Alim McNeill, with insurance value when Levi Onwuzurike shifts. Detroit has dabbled with penetrators inside, including bigger bodies asked to knife and facilitate rather than rack up sacks. Ball can make quarterbacks hesitate on their step-up when edge pressure compresses the pocket. That kind of interior disturbance has value in this defense. Slot Speed and Versatility: C.A. Wright C.A. Wright, a Nebraska cornerback and former USC recruit, brings verified speed. GPS tracking has him over 22 miles per hour repeatedly. Nebraska kicked him inside to the slot, where his game took off, though he also saw time outside and some at safety. That inside-out experience matters for a secondary that values versatility and alignments that disguise intentions. Wright turned heads in all-star settings, including a strong week in the Dallas area. The attraction is straightforward: true slot range with recovery speed, plus the ability to handle varied coverage assignments. He projects in the late rounds, with the speed and role clarity to compete right away for nickel work while developing boundary technique over time. Why These Profiles Matter for Detroit Detroit needs rotational defenders who do specific jobs well. Ball offers gap shooting from the interior to complement edge pressure and lighten the load on early downs with change-of-pace penetration. Wright brings slot athleticism and flexibility across multiple spots in the secondary. Both are realistic Day 3 targets for the Detroit Lions, with traits that translate and roles that fit the plan. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraftday3 #cameronball #ceyairwright #camdorner #curtisallen #scoutingreports Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft Runway and Roster Posture The Detroit Lions Podcast turned spring break into roster talk as Jeff Risdon sat down with Nick Baumgartner two weeks before the NFL Draft. They opened with Michigan basketball's national title and a nod to John Beilein getting his overdue moment. Then they pivoted hard to the Detroit Lions and the NFL calendar. The tone was steady. The message was clear. Detroit is in good shape. Baumgartner said the front office did what it needed to do. The approach was careful. The only gripe raised was not giving Frank Regnal bonus money. Everything else from Brad Holmes and Dan tracked with the plan. The roster now lets Detroit enter the first round with freedom. Best player available is back on the table. That likely points to the trenches. An offensive lineman sits high on the board. It does not have to be a pure tackle. Guard or tackle both fit the current path. Free Agency Adds Reshape the Board The Detroit Lions Podcast highlighted several additions that tighten depth and raise the floor. Cade Maze drew praise as a value signing. Pacheco did too. Corrao landed as a swing tackle who can cover short term needs. He can start in a pinch if a rookie needs time. Those moves matter when the NFL Draft starts to slide. They buy patience. They keep the board honest. Detroit can wait for its guy instead of forcing a reach. With those pieces in place, the Lions can let the draft come to them. If a tackle falls, they can pounce. If the board tilts to an interior mauler, they can plug that in and roll. Either way, the goal stays the same. Protect the quarterback. Keep the run game on schedule. Own the line of scrimmage. Secondary Competition Tightens Inside Risdon pushed a point he thinks the fan base has overlooked. Roger McCreary and Tyler Conklin were called out as signings who will play and help right away. They were framed as upgrades over the players they replace. The slot comparison was direct. McCreary was labeled a better cover guy than Amiek Robertson on the inside. The versatility note followed. McCreary can do more. That flexibility changes matchups and pressures route timing. Chris Isiom came up as another under-the-radar pickup. The theme continued. Holmes keeps finding defensive backs off the scrap Wheat and making them fit. More bodies. More traits. More competition. It all stacks to a cleaner picture on draft night. Detroit can target the best player instead of scrambling to fill a hole. That is the difference between chasing and controlling. The NFL rewards control. The Detroit Lions Podcast made that point plain. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jeffrisdon #nickbaumgartner #nfldraft #offensivelineman #swingtackle #guardortackle #bradholmes #frankregnal #cademaze #pacheco #corrao #rogermccreary #tylerconklin #amiekrobertson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 1,200-Player Lens on the NFL Draft Jeff Risdon welcomed Emery Hunt to the Detroit Lions Podcast for a focused draft conversation. Hunt outlined how his process starts in January after a season spent covering the NFL and college football. He hits nine to ten all star games, including the combine, to form first looks on prospects. Then he stacks twelve hour film days from February until the guide publishes. His draft guide includes over 1,200 individual scouting reports, one page per player he has actually watched. Buyers since 2020 would now hold more than 6,600 reports. It is built for draft weekend, camp cuts, and the regular season when rosters churn. The guide lists a clear grade for everyone he studied and costs $25. What Fits at Pick 17 for Detroit The discussion turned to the Detroit Lions at pick 17. Detroit added help on the edge in free agency. Inside, McNeil anchors a sturdy interior with capable help next to him. Hutchinson gives them a proven outside presence. That context points to two prime pathways. One is getting younger at edge if the board cooperates. Hunt said he would feel comfortable taking Reed Mesa in that range. He stressed a modern expectation for first rounders. Three productive years is success in a league where even top picks move quickly. The other path is the offensive line. If early action at the top reshapes the tackle market, Detroit could find a true left tackle on the board. The Browns' choices at six and twenty four could influence that flow. In that scenario, Monroe Fraley fits as a clean left tackle projection. He offers the flexibility to keep him on the left side or cross train him on the right, depending on how Detroit wants to arrange the room. Interior offensive line was also mentioned as a viable consideration. Secondary Swing and a First-Round Wild Card Cornerback remains a live option if the medicals break right. If Manu McCoy checks out and slides, that would be a strong pickup at value. The show also floated a first round wild card. Anzalone Ponds of Indiana profiles as an outside corner who matches the physical, competitive edge the Lions prioritize. That type of player fits the team's identity and adds matchup flexibility on the perimeter. However the board falls, Detroit has leverage. Free agency work on the defensive line gives room to target value. The roster's core pieces create options rather than needs. At seventeen, the Lions can credibly choose edge, tackle, interior offensive line, or corner. With multiple workable lanes and a deep pool of scouted prospects, they can trust the grades and take the cleanest fit. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #jeffrisdon #emeryhunt #draftguide #pick17 #edgerusher #interiordefensiveline #mcneil #hutchinson #monroefraley #reedmesa #manumccoy #anzaloneponds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices