Detroit Lions emerging as trade-up threat ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

League buzz builds as Detroit explores moving up from No. 17 with offensive tackle in focus

The Detroit Lions are one of the teams everyone is watching as the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft gets underway Thursday night.

Across the league, there’s a growing belief that Detroit won’t simply sit at No. 17. The Lions have been active behind the scenes, making calls and positioning themselves in case the board starts to break a certain way.

The chatter picked up after the team moved on from Taylor Decker, putting a spotlight squarely on the offensive tackle position. That need was already on the radar, but the roster shift made it impossible to ignore.

Offensive tackle shaping Detroit’s first-round strategy

There’s an expectation that tackles could come off the board quickly Thursday night. If that run starts earlier than expected, the Lions may not be comfortable waiting.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, teams around the league view Detroit as a legitimate trade-up candidate. He also noted that the Lions have been making calls, adding fuel to the idea that they’re preparing to move if the opportunity presents itself.

No deal is locked in. But the groundwork is being laid.

Mock drafts point to aggressive move up the board

Recent projections are telling the same story.

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter mapped out a scenario where Detroit moves from No. 17 to No. 13, packaging a fifth-round pick and a future third-rounder to land Utah tackle Spencer Fano.

Another mock from ESPN’s Peter Schrager had a similar jump to No. 13, this time sending picks No. 17 and No. 118 along with a 2027 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor.