Anonymous execs comment on Detroit Lions' 2026 NFL Draft picks

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books. The Detroit Lions added seven players through the draft and addressed the franchise's key needs with its top two picks.

The Athletic's Mike Sando went around the NFL and spoke with league executives to get a pulse on what others around the NFL thought about the Lions' 2026 NFL Draft class.

Here's what anonymous league execs said about the Lions' 2026 NFL Draft picks:

'They know who they are and who they want to be'

The first exec that Sando talked to liked what the Lions did in the draft:

“They know who they are and who they want to be, so it’s more about, ‘What can you do to enhance what we already bring to the table?’” an exec said. “They needed a tackle. We have all been burned by the Clemson helmet, but Blake Miller is a good player. And I really like Keith Abney.”

The Keith Abney pick is applauded

ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller picked cornerback Keith Abney as his best fifth-round value pick. One of the NFL execs that The Athletic spoke with agreed:

“Abney has some scrappiness to him,” the exec added. “He is like a better Mike Hilton. Chippy, aggressive, physical. He can play in the slot. He can be competitive on the outside despite his size. You’ll have to move him around to help him, but he’s a good player who is wired the right way for them.”