Lions 2026 draft preview: Is there space for more competition at IOL?

Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft (April 23-25 in Pittsburgh), we'll be taking a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster and how the team's needs can be met on draft weekend. Today: Interior offensive linemen.

Previously: Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends

Current roster outlook

A little bit more than a month removed from the start of free agency, it's safe to say finding an upgrade at center was the biggest priority of the offseason for Lions GM Brad Holmes, who landed former Carolina Panthers standout Cade Mays on a three-year deal worth $25 million. Mays is the only external free agent signed by the Lions this offseason to receive a multi-year commitment, signaling his importance and value in Detroit. Right guard Tate Ratledge, following a strong rookie campaign, can also be penciled in as a starter.

The battle at left guard is primed to be intense. Christian Mahogany is likely the current favorite. But that's no given after his performance in 2025, though some of his late-season struggles were potentially due to his quick return from a broken bone in his leg, even if he won't admit it. Top contenders who'll look to beat out Mahogany include Ben Bartch (free agent from the San Francisco 49ers), Miles Frazier (fifth-round draft pick in 2025) and Juice Scruggs (acquired in the David Montgomery trade). Frazier saw 46 reps at LG as a rookie after missing all of training camp and about half of the season with a knee injury. Bartch (912 career snaps at LG) and Scruggs (1,045) are veterans who've been in the league since 2020 and 2023, respectively.

Mason Miller, Michael Niese and Colby Sorsdal have all played on the interior for the Lions at some point, including during the preseason. Seth McLaughlin, formerly of Alabama and Ohio State, spent 2025 on the practice squad of the Cincinnati Bengals. An Achilles tear in November 2024 tanked McLaughlin's draft stock, but he was an All-American that season and earned the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the country's best center.

▶ Level of need: Low-Medium. The Lions are set at two spots along the interior of their offensive line, and they have three viable candidates ready to duke it out for the third starting role. There's also a good collection of youth, with eight players under 26 years old. If they were forced to play a game tomorrow, the Lions could absolutely survive with who's on the roster, and perhaps even thrive if everything works out perfectly. But left guard, at the end of the day, is still a question mark, leaving the door open for an addition.

At the top

In a draft featuring about seven offensive tackles who are receiving first-round consideration, Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State) is the only true interior player expected to come off the board on Day 1. Ioane was an elite pass protector for the Nittany Lions, allowing only four pressures across 11 contests in 2025. He didn't surrender a sack over his final 31 appearances, and he allowed only 23 pressures over that stretch (just two of those were quarterback hits), as well.

Penn State offensive lineman Vega Ioane (71) celebrates with running back Quinton Martin after the freshman scored a touchdown during the Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in State College.

Analysts have praised Ioane (6-foot-4, 320 pounds) for his strength, size and straight-line speed, all of which contributed to his success in college, where he recorded 1,879 snaps at left guard. In the NFL, he'll have to work on his lateral quickness to keep up with quick-twitch defensive tackles in both the pass and run games. Ioane is the 12th overall player on Dane Brugler's big board at The Athletic, and NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein likened Ioane to Cooper Beebe, who played guard at Kansas State but moved to center after being drafted in 2024 and has since started 27 games for the Dallas Cowboys.

More: How Penn State's Vega Ioane could fit with the Detroit Lions

▶ Teams who could be after IOL in Round 1: Titans (No. 4), Giants (5), Browns (6, 24), Dolphins (11, 30), Ravens (14), Buccaneers (15), Lions (17), Vikings (18), Panthers (19), Steelers (21), Chargers (22), Texans (28)

Down the board

Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M) and Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon) are considered the best available guards behind Ioane, though there isn't a consensus between the two. Bisontis (6-5, 315) allowed 12 pressures in 2025, while Pregnon (6-4, 314) allowed five. Both players have been praised for their power. Supporters of Bisontis, not 22 years old until June, will point to his potential. Pregnon, for comparison, will turn 25 in October of his rookie season.

Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech) is another mean, rugged interior piece, though most of his reps with the Yellow Jackets came on the right side (Bisontis and Pregnon played on the left). Rutledge (6-4, 316) was adept at working combo blocks, making his way to the second level to aggressively meet linebackers. Georgia Tech, with Rutledge helping pave the way, averaged 197.5 rushing yards per game in 2025, better than all but 21 teams nationally.

Also to keep an eye on for the Lions in the second round (Detroit is slated to pick at No. 50 overall) is Gennings Dunker (Iowa), who played 2,029 snaps as a right tackle with the Hawkeyes over the last three seasons but projects more as a guard at the next level because of his struggles as a lateral mover. The Lions have chosen players from head coach Kirk Ferentz's program before, walking out of the 2023 draft with linebacker Jack Campbell and tight end Sam LaPorta. Dunker (6-5, 319) overlapped with Campbell and LaPorta for two seasons.

One player who could slip to the draft's third day but still has relevant, encouraging experience is Jalen Farmer (Kentucky). A two-year starter for the Wildcats, Farmer (6-5, 312) has more than 1,600 reps of experience (all at right guard) since transferring in from Florida in December 2023. He's allowed 28 combined pressures over the last two seasons, split evenly between 2024 and 2025.

Should the Lions seek someone to develop behind Mays, there are about a dozen centers who are expected to be drafted. The top of this group, likely to start getting selected in or around the third round, is comprised of Sam Hecht (Kansas State), Logan Jones (Iowa), Connor Lew (Auburn) and Jake Slaughter (Florida). At the combine, Slaughter said he models how he plays and prepares after Frank Ragnow. Lew, 20, is one of the youngest players in the draft.

▶ Best time for Lions to target IOL: Ioane could very well be the pick for Detroit in the first round. If not, Bisontis, Pregnon and Rutledge could be on the table at No. 50, provided they're available and the Lions want to add more competition for Mahogany, Frazier and Bartch. As for center, the Lions are seemingly stocked well enough, with Mays leading the way and Scruggs (eight career starts at center) backing him up. There's also McLaughlin, who provides upside. But with five picks from Rounds 5-7, any position is realistically on the table. One late-round option: Pat Coogan (Indiana), who didn't allow a sack in 2025 as the Hoosiers went undefeated and won the national championship.

rsilva@detroitnews.com

@rich_silva18

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Lions 2026 draft preview: Options to consider at IOL