What was the biggest surprise of the Lions’ 2026 NFL Draft?

In the 2026 draft, Detroit added three linemen, all of whom have pass rush as a strength. Second-round pick Derrick Moore could be the 2026 counterpart to Al-Quadin Muhammad, a player used primarily as a pass rusher (although Moore has the ceiling to be an every-down player). Sixth-round pick Skyler Gill-Howard provides the team with some much-needed interior pass rush, as Wingo has seemingly fallen out of favor in Detroit. With the final pick of their draft, Detroit added Tyre West, a larger defensive end in the mold of Tyler Lacy that can bring pressure from inside and out. Even linebacker Jimmy Rolder could factor in as a pass rushing SAM linebacker (although WILL is more likely his future position).

Aside from the signing of DJ Wonnum—the frontrunner to start across from Hutchinson—the Lions have done little to bolster their run defense. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as the pass rush was sorely lacking consistency last season, but it is nonetheless an interesting pivot for this organization. Plus, free agency tends to have a second wave following the draft, so Detroit could still add to their run defense. In particular, another nose tackle to replace DJ Reader and Roy Lopez could be needed (Reader returning could still be in the cards, however).

Is this a sign that the Lions want to prioritize pass rush next season? Perhaps, though it could also be a case of Detroit seeing potential in their new rookies to grow as run defenders. We likely will not know how the scheme materializes until Week 1.