Daily DLP: Talking Lions draft class health outlook with Dr. Liao

Youth and Health Shape the Lions’ Plan

In today’s Daily DLP, host Jeff Risdon sat down with Dr. Jimmy Liao on the Detroit Lions Podcast to grade the class through a medical lens. The theme was clear. Youth and health. Every pick landed at age 23 or younger. None of the 24-year-old prospects were taken. The shift tracks with recent lessons. Lower medical risk. Fewer known durability flags. Play the odds.

Dr. Liao grades injury risk on a 1-to-10 scale. Younger players start lower. Age 23 and up nudges concern a bit. This class stayed on the low end across the board. It marks a turn from prior years when the Detroit Lions accepted more medical risk. In the NFL, availability matters. Detroit moved to change its philosophy and took far fewer risks in this Draft class.

Dr. Liao also provides some updates and timelines for some Lions veterans who are coming off injuries in 2025. The outlook for players like Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Levi Onwuzurike, Sam LaPorta and others get reviewed. It’s an informative, medical-based look at what the Lions have coming back in return in 2026.

#detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #lionsdraftclass #injuryupdates #detroitinjuryrisk #blakemiller #jimmyrolder #brianbranch #kerbyjoseph #jermodmccoy #levionwuzurike

More From The Detroit Lions Podcast

About the Author

Chris
Chris is the founder of everything you see here. A former radio presenter and Detroit native, he now resides in sunny California – and like so many of us, he found himself marooned on an island devoid of other Lions fans. After spending a few years in the Detroit Lions Reddit community he decided to start the Detroit Lions Podcast. Its become the #1 Detroit Lions podcast, and regularly ranks with the top podcasts in Detroit. With a mixture of pre-recorded shows, live & recorded phone-ins, and live post-game broadcasts - this is his slice of Honolulu Blue heaven.