Continuing the series of draft prospects of potential intrigue for the Detroit Lions in the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s back to the offensive side of the ball. It’s perhaps the team’s most-discussed remaining need after the first couple of weeks of free agency. An offensive tackle for Detroit to consider in every round of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

 

An interior OL prospect for every round

 

An off-ball LB for every round

 

An EDGE prospect for every round

 

A safety prospect for every round

No, the Lions aren’t going to draft an offensive tackle in each round. The purpose here is to demonstrate which types of talents look to be available for Lions GM Brad Holmes in each of the draft’s seven rounds. They are done with an eye toward scheme and culture fit for Detroit. This is not a recommendation or endorsement of any of the players, with what appears to be realistic draft projection ranges with about four weeks to go until the 2026 NFL Draft. 

The Lions currently don’t have a third-round pick, but there is still a third-round candidate listed. As Holmes has repeatedly shown, he’s not afraid to go get his man in draft-day trades.  

State of the Position

Penei Sewell is one of the NFL’s best players regardless of position. Now 25, the Lions right tackle has been first-team All-Pro in each of the last three seasons. Sewell has also proven fully capable of flipping to the left side, though his most recent start at LT came in Week 3 of 2023. 

With Taylor Decker’s salary-related departure, the Lions have a vacancy at left tackle for the first time since Decker was drafted in the first round back in 2016. Right now, free agent signee Larry Borom is the projected replacement. Borom would presumably play right tackle, with Sewell switching to the left side. Now entering his sixth NFL season, the Detroit native has played his best football at right tackle in his one year in Miami. 

The $5+ million contract Borom signed for 2026 ensures he’ll be on the team. His experience allows the Lions some freedom to target a more developmental-type of tackle prospect instead of focusing on immediate starting ability. 

Speaking of developmental tackles, Giovanni Manu enters Year 3 in Detroit. A 2024 fourth-round pick, selected with a third-round pick from 2025 via trade, Manu remains largely an unknown commodity. He showed real progress from 2024 to 2025, but his starting point as a Tongan basketball player who converted to football at a Canadian college was incredibly low. A knee injury wiped out the second half of last season, slowing down the developmental progress. The hope is that Manu, a physical freak of an athlete, can show enough to at least replace now-retired Dan Skipper as the extra tackle in jumbo formations and challenge for the No. 3 tackle spot. But that’s far from a given. 

Miles Frazier is also an unknown variable. Frazier was drafted in the fifth round in 2025 after playing guard at LSU, but his work at left tackle at Florida International prior to moving to the Tigers leaves the door open for a move back to tackle. The Lions have not divulged any real plan for where Frazier fits, and he unfortunately missed his entire rookie offseason with an injury. 

Another recent draft project, 2023 fifth-rounder Colby Sorsdal, remains on the roster. Sorsdal missed 2025 with an injury suffered in preseason. He’s struggled to find a defined position in three years in Detroit. Vet Devin Cochran is also back after a stint on the Lions practice squad in 2025. He’s joined by 2025 UDFA Mason Miller on a reserve/future contract. 

1st round: Caleb Lomu, Utah

There are quite a few first-round options for Detroit, a list that includes Francis Mauigoa, Monroe Freeling, Kadyn Proctor, Blake Miller and Lomu’s Utah teammate, Spencer Fano. My favorite of the group at No. 17 overall is Lomu, a natural left tackle with considerable upside. Lomu is the best lateral mover in the class, and (like Freeling) much of what will concern NFL scouts about him deals with inexperience more than ability. 

 

Pros

–Looks the part at 6-6/313 and his frame can handle more weight

–Allowed just 2 sacks in 2 seasons as a full-time LT; both came in 2024

–Excellent quickness with his hands and feet

–Active hands that can work independently, decent initial punch

–Fluid mover on pulls and second-level run blocks

–Good core strength and footwork in handling bull rushes

–High-end athlete; RAS score of 9.88

–Can mix up his style to match the pass rush attack 

 

Cons

–Lacks people-moving power in the run game

–Will get caught playing too tall and narrow at times, mostly in run blocking

–Still learning timing and depth consistency in his outside drops and sets

–Arm length (33 ⅜) is shorter than ideal for his height

–Not a menacing finisher

 

2nd round: Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

Iheanachor might not last to No. 50, where the Lions currently sit in the second round. The gap between the precocious Sun Devil and the next grouping is perceived to be extreme enough that a trade up might be worth it. 

Pros

–Impressive agility and directional burst for his size
–Fires out his long arms with decent hand placement
–Uses his inside arm very well vs. outside rushes
–Shut down Texas Tech pass rush impressively
–Very impressive leg drive and foot frequency in run blocking
–Engages in space with power pretty well
–Understands timing and leverage in duo blocks
–Showed considerable technical improvement in 2025

Cons

–Very function over form with inconsistent footwork
–Rises upright instead of sinking his hips to anchor, at times
–Has only played RT, playing style is OT-only
–Limited football background, played basketball only thru 10th grade
–Gives up his chest too quickly on speed-to-power moves
–Has some snarl but it’s inconsistent

 

3rd round: Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern

At 6-8 and 323 pounds, Tiernan brings great size and four seasons of ample experience, the last three as the Wildcats’ starting left tackle. The Detroit-area (Livonia) native might project better at guard in the NFL, but he’s got enough to like to at least try him at tackle before moving him. 

 

Pros

–Might have the most consistent punch and initial hand placement in the draft class

–Impressive anchor strength and ability to absorb uncreative rushes

–Very good eyes and quick reactions with his hands
–Finds run and screen game targets in space well 

–Good initial quickness and gets depth quickly

–Anticipates second-level rushes nicely

–Resets his balance well for a taller blocker

 

Cons

–Short arms (32 ¼) are problematic vs. longer power

–Run game power is average

–Tends to lean instead of drive with his legs 

–Functional athleticism wanes quickly after initial movement

 

4th round: Travis Burke, Memphis

Four-year starter, with one year at Gardner Webb, two seasons at FIU and one at Memphis. The 6-foot-9 giant played left tackle before arriving at Memphis, while Burke played right tackle for the Tigers. He was recently featured as a Daily DLP Prospect of the Day

Pros

–Outstanding length and he understands how to play with it
–Finisher’s mentality
–Impressive latch strength and shoulder torque in the run game
–Good leg drive while engaged
–Uses long reach to create tough angles around the edge
–Absorbs bull rushes nicely
–Decent feel for twists and blitz pickups
–Good punch placement for being so tall
–Seals outside edge and down blocks well

Cons

–Lack quickness off the snap
–Doesn’t consistently set deep enough against outside rushers
–Penalty prone (30 in 4 years)
–Recovery footwork is generally clean but cumbersome
–Leaves inside gate open when setting wide (see USF game)

 

5th round: Markel Bell, Miami FL

A mountain of a man at 6-foot-9 and 346 pounds with arms nearly 37” long, Bell brings a “first guy off the bus” presence. Bell grew his game in two years playing left tackle at Miami. Projecting him in the fifth round might be quite pessimistic at this point; Bell could rise into the 80-120 overall range come Draft weekend. 

Pros
–Rare length in both his arms and his overall body
–Punch packs some power
–Decent two-step agility for his size
–Understands how to use his length to create bad angles for outside rushers
–Uses inside arm well when face is crossed
–Good grip and wrist strength while engaged
–Showed improvement in balance and hand placement throughout 2025
–Didn’t allow a sack of a pocket passing QB (Carson Beck) in ‘25

 

Cons
–Defenders with quick get-offs can easily get into his chest
–Consistently too high and stiff in the run game
–Lacks good instincts for how rushers will attack him
–Arm/hand reset is painfully slow, a function of his length
–Ineffective run blocker outside his initial step, really struggles to engage in space

 

6th round: Austin Barber, Florida

Experienced starter in the SEC at both left and right tackle (primarily left), Barber had games (Georgia and Kentucky stand out) where he looked like a capable NFL starter, but also games (notably TAMU) where it appeared Florida should have yanked him for the good of the offense. 

Pros
–Natural power through his shoulders and arms
–Jolting initial punch fires with quickness
–One-step range in the run game with people-moving power
–Has some technical savvy and can mix up his approach based on the attacker
–Passionate player with good intensity and grit
–At his best in gap scheme to his inside (Lions friendly)
–Team captain

Cons
–Footwork in his pass pro sets is inconsistent despite experience
–Balance issues while engaged, falls off blocks
–Lacks quick recovery athleticism if beaten
–Two-hand punch negatively impacts his balance
–Lacks “next play” mentality when beaten
–Consistently outclassed by speed during Senior Bowl week
–Short arms (33 ⅛) for a 6-foot-7 guy, might be better at guard

 

7th round: Alan Herron, Maryland

Jamaican native who transferred up from D-II for his final two seasons, Herron really helped put himself on the draft radar with an impressive Senior Bowl week as a late addition. His game play at RT for the Terrapins showed promise, but also in need of some serious technical cleanup before being NFL-ready.

Pros
–Twitchy quickness in both his arms and legs
–Light on his feet on an island
–Good lateral slide on outside/in rushes
–Above-average grip strength and active hands
–Showed technical improvement from Sept. to December
–Lived on All-Academic teams in college
–Learns quickly in-game, self-corrects well

Cons
–NFL-caliber pass rushers ate him up (Derrick Moore, Mason Reiger, Gabe Jacas)
–Needs lots of work on keeping his pad level down
–More of a hit/run striker than a sustainer in run blocking
–Can be passive with his sets against speed to the outside
–Flashes power in the run game but it’s inconsistent