With the Lions picking at No. 17 in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft, it's going to be interesting to see which direction they go in.
Detroit fans are obviously disappointed after missing the playoffs last year, but hope is not lost. The Lions are still solid and should compete for supremacy in the NFC North in 2026. With that being said, there are some holes to fill, and one of them could be addressed out of the gate at No. 17 of the upcoming NFL Draft.
Long-time Lion Taylor Decker is a Lion no more so there's at least one glaring need at left tackle. At No. 17, the Lions could go tackle in order to plug that hole. That's how ESPN's Matt Miller sees it playing out.
17. Detroit Lions — Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Taylor Decker's release leaves an opening at left tackle barring a move from Penei Sewell from the right side. Either way, the Lions need tackle help. Freeling was a one-year starter at Georgia but has elite traits in terms of movement, size (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) and 4.93 speed. Freeling is one of the few proven left tackles with a Round 1 grade and has the upside of a higher-end starter thanks to his upper-level athletic skills plus his development over the course of the 2025 season.
Our own Adam Stark also sees the Lions grabbing Freeling at No. 17 in order to solidify the offensive line that has made Detroit what it is over the last few seasons.
Monroe Freeling is a massive offensive lineman who stands at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds. He primarily played left tackle at Georgia but does have some limited experience playing right tackle. If the Lions were to draft Freeling, they would have an interesting decision to make — trust a rookie at left tackle or potentially slide Penei Sewell over to the left side.
Freeling would fit perfectly into Detroit’s already massive offensive line, where the average height is around 6-foot-5. The Lions have built their identity around physical offensive line play, and Freeling would continue that trend.
According to Pro Football Focus, Freeling posted a 71.4 overall grade in 2025, including an excellent 85.6 pass-blocking grade and a 61.3 run-blocking grade. He allowed just one sack over 747 snaps, committed only two penalties, allowed zero quarterback hits and gave up just five total pressures. His pass protection ability alone could make him a first-round target for Detroit.
After the first round, Miller sees Detroit getting faster and more athletic in several spots on the defensive side of the ball while also adding some potential depth and developmental pieces on offense.
R2, P50 — Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
R4, P118 — Jimmy Rolder, LB, Michigan
R4, P128 — DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson
R5, P157 — J'Mari Taylor, RB, Virginia
R5, P181 — Reggie Virgil, WR, Texas Tech
R6, P205 — Sawyer Robertson, QB, Baylor
R6, P213 — Beau Stephens, G, Iowa
R7, P222 — Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington