Brad Holmes got the prospects he wanted in the Detroit Lions’ 2026 NFL Draft, focusing on the Lions’ biggest areas of need and building out the trenches. Speaking to the media on Day 2, he acknowledged, “The trenches are so important. We’re all about building from the inside out, but when you get the guys that you love, and they happen to play in the trenches as well, that’s just a little bit of an added bonus.”
Detroit Lions 2026 NFL Draft Grades
While the majority of mock drafts predicted the Detroit Lions would take an offensive lineman in the first round, few predicted it would be Clemson OL, Blake Miller. Hearing his name called was a surprise. But make no mistake, Miller had been on the Lions’ radar for some time. The immediacy of the Lions signaling the “pick was in” indicated Holmes drafted the player he’d watched develop over the past three years.
First Round (17th Overall): Blake Miller, Clemson OL
A starting right tackle for all four years, Miller broke the Clemson record for career offensive snaps from scrimmage, playing 3,778 snaps in 54 starts. Standing 6’7” and weighing 315 lbs., with an 83 7/8-inch wingspan and 34 1/4” arms, Miller has the prototypical build of an offensive lineman, but his quickness and fluid movement are uncommon for an athlete his size. Described as an “ironman” for his durability. He brings stability to an offensive line that sank last year under the weight of ongoing injuries.
Miller has been described as a “team-first player.” According to The LionsWire, an NFL Scout reported, “The thought of letting down his coaches and teammates kills him.” Listening to his introductory press conference, Miller’s character and dedication shine through. He is exactly the type of player the Lions covet.
Lions Draft Grade A
Blake Miller NFL Draft Profile
Second Round (44th Overall -trade with the New York Jets ): Derrick Moore, Michigan EDGE
Lions fans have been clamoring for a talented EDGE to play opposite Aidan Hutchinson for ages. They finally got one in Michigan’s “bull rush aficionado,” who finished the 2025 season with an 89.9 grade from PFF.com based on 17 tackles, 11.0 sacks, 41 pressures, nine quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles on 440 snaps.
Holmes was positively beaming Friday night as he approached the podium for his post-draft interview. A strong, athletically gifted tackler, Moore flourished in the same “NFL-Style “ aggressive but disciplined approach as Aidan Hutchinson. His versatility to line up in multiple techniques and play interior and on the edge will translate well to Kelvin Sheppard’s defense. Voted a team captain in his senior year, Moore has the leadership and solid character traits the Lions prize.
Learning of Moore’s selection, Hutchinson was elated, enthusiastically tweeting, “LFG!! Another Mich Man in the building…love the pick.”
Lions Draft Grade A
Derrick Moore NFL Draft Profile
Fourth Round (118th Overall): Jimmy Rolder, Michigan LB
Selecting back-to-back U of M standouts, Holmes chose 6’2” 240 lb. linebacker Jimmy Rolder. In 2025, he led the Wolverines’ defense with 73 tackles, seven TFLs, 2.0 sacks, three PBUs, one interception, and a fumble recovery. Becoming a force of nature in games that mattered most, against rivals Michigan State University and Ohio State, Rolder posted a combined 22 tackles, two TFLs, 1.0 sack, and a fumble recovery.
A 9.51 RAS placed Rolder in the 94.9th percentile. A highly instinctive player despite his lack of starting experience, Nfldraftbuzz.com described his tackling technique as “borderline textbook.” Rolder is an agile, athletic talent with enormous upside value.
Lions Draft Grade B
Jimmy Rolder Draft Profile
Fifth Round (157th Overall): Keith Abney II, Arizona CB
After addressing the immediate priorities in the first two rounds, the Lions have addressed another key area of need by selecting Arizona State’s Keith Abney II, one of the elite corners in this draft. A versatile athlete who can play zone, man coverage, and defend against the run, he will have an immediate role in the Lions’ secondary.
Abney II has superior ball tracking skills and plays with competitive toughness. Last year, he earned an overall 86.3 PFF.com on 785 snaps with two interceptions, nine PBUs, and two forced fumbles. Praising his ability to see things, to read and react, and diagnose routes, Mel Kiper called him potentially “the steal of day three.”
Lions Draft Grade B+
Keith Abney II NFL Draft Profile
Fifth Round (168th Overall-trade with Buffalo Bills): Kendrick Law, Kentucky WR
In another surprise move, the Lions traded picks 181 and 213 to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for pick 168, to select Kentucky WR, Kendrick Law. Just as he did a year ago with Isaac TeSlaa, Holmes acquired another off-the-radar wide receiver. TeSlaa turned out to be one of the more productive members of his rookie class, and it’s a good bet Law follows the same path. In 2025, he led the Wildcats with 53 receptions for 540 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
An unexpected standout at the Combine, Law ran a 4.45 40-yard dash with a 42-inch vertical, a 10-foot-8 broad jump, and a 9.60 Relative Athletic Score that scored among the most explosive receivers in this class. Nfldraftbuzz.com highlighted Law’s “elite lower-body explosiveness and his ability to break tackles and find creases. “
Lions Draft Grade B+
Another sneaky Brad Holmes “diamond in the rough.”
Sixth Round (205th Overall): Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech DT
Pro Football Focus ranked Skyler Gill-Howard the fourth-best defensive tackle in the country last year before his season ended prematurely due to an ankle injury. As a team captain at Northern Illinois in 2024, with only one start, he led the Huskies defense with 51 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and 5.0 sacks.
Described by Lance Zierlein as a prospect who “plays with a non-stop motor and a palpable sense of urgency,” Gill-Howard is undersized at 6’0” and 280 lbs. with shorter arms. However, Zierlein described his first step and closing burst as “rush weapons.”
Ankle surgery may have limited his participation at the Combine and could present lingering issues. Fit with Detroit may include special teams.
Lions Draft Grade C+
Seventh Round (222nd Overall): Tyre West, Tennessee EDGE
A 6’1” 278 lb. EDGE with minimal starting experience, West feels like a seventh-round pick who may be destined for the bottom of the roster or the practice squad. Strong postseason performances in the American Bowl and Senior Bowl undoubtedly led to West’s Draft selection. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked him the number 33 edge rusher. However, Mel Kiper believes his size is better suited to playing an interior lineman who might be able to rush the passer. Described by Zierlein as a solid athlete with good quickness but below-average hand usage, West might find his path to the roster through special teams.
Lions Draft Grade C-
