NFL Draft rumor: Early run on offensive tackles could challenge Lions

OXFORD, MS - NOVEMBER 09: Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (57) during the college football game between Georgia Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels on November 9, 2024, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The 2026 NFL Draft is just two days away, and reporters are busy contacting all of their sources to get the last ounce of rumors out there before the three-day event.

While things have been extremely quiet connecting the Detroit Lions to any players, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler dropped an interesting note on Tuesday that could certainly impact the Lions. Per Fowler, after conversations with several teams this week, it “wouldn’t surprise” if four offensive tackles were taken in the first 15-17 picks.

With offensive tackle arguably being the Lions’ biggest need—and the team picking 17th overall—that means Detroit may have to settle for the fourth or fifth OT off the board, should they stick with that position.

Of course, Lions general manager Brad Holmes has insisted that the Lions won’t simply pick a player because he fills a position of need. So if four offensive tackles go off the board before the Lions’ pick and they don’t view the remaining prospects at tackle as top-level talent, they won’t go that way.

“You can’t take a player that you’re not really fired up about because he plays a certain position,” Holmes said last week. “And then the reason why you weren’t fired up about him, he shows that on the field, and that’s why you had reservations on him. Now you’ve got the double-whammy. We haven’t done that. We only take players that we’re really excited about.”