That's a wrap on the 2026 NFL Draft for the Detroit Lions . They made a bunch of picks, and now we're going to take a look at each one of them and give the 2026 draft class a grade. draft class tweet/instagram post Lions' final draft grades for the 2026 class Round 1, pick 17: […]
That's a wrap on the 2026 NFL Draft for the Detroit Lions. They made a bunch of picks, and now we're going to take a look at each one of them and give the 2026 draft class a grade.
draft class tweet/instagram post
The Lions go out and get their guy at right tackle with Miller, and this pick just makes all the sense in the world. He started 54 consecutive games at Clemson and is just a football guy to the core. A Dan Campbell guy all the way.
A strong pass blocker who allowed 14 pressures and two sacks in 2025. He can help keep Jared Goff clean. The only real con here is that he needs to improve at run blocking. It's not horrible, but he needs to get better there.
Grade: A–
We mocked Moore to the Lions more than I think, just one player in this draft. It always made a ton of sense that Detroit would love him due to his ability to set the edge and his ability to get home. He serves both the Lions and their fans. Everyone gets what they want here.
Grade: A
Here's where I differ from the Lions. It's not that Rolder doesn't fit. He absolutely does. I think there was a better linebacker there with Pittsburgh 's Kyle Louis, and Detroit chose not to go with him. There are some concerns with Rolder's lack of starting experience and a bit of an injury history. If Louis were gone, this grade might be a bit higher.
Grade: C+
The steal of the draft for the Lions. Abney was supposed to be a second-round pick. We had him at 61 on our big board. Dane Brugler had him at 61 on his big board as well. Nobody expected him to fall this far. Abney can come in and start for the Lions in 2026 in that slot corner spot, and he can be a high-level player for them.
Grade: A
The Lions are more than anything thinking about the future on this one. He can be their next Kalif Raymond . A gadget player who brings a lot to special teams. The big question here is, did they need it right now? They have Greg Dortch , and they have Dominic Lovett . We're going to find out the answer to that at training camp. Until then, it feels like a bit of a reach.
Grade: C
The Lions take a bit of a flyer on a pass-rushing defensive tackle who has some versatility that he can show. He has some experience at playing linebacker and as an edge rusher as well. He is coming off a season-ending ankle injury that required surgery. So there's some possible risk there. But a sixth-round risk isn't bad.
Grade:B-
The Lions went out and grabbed one more edge rusher at the end of the draft. He has a lot of versatility along the defensive line and could find himself being a solid rotational guy. The question is, does he get any better than that?
Grade: C+
At the end of the day, as we said in the headline, this draft felt like a return to form for Brad Holmes after what felt like a weird 2025 draft where it felt like the Lions almost completely ignored need outside of a couple of picks.
The Lions were able to merge both best player available and needs this year, and walked out with multiple starters and some guys who could turn into dependable players in the rotation. Hard to really say anything bad about this one.
Grade: A–
