The Detroit Lions draft in a lane of their own.
When the Lions are on the clock for the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, Apr. 23, many fans will be anticipating the names they’ve been hearing for weeks and months: Kadyn Proctor, Monroe Freeling or Spencer Fano if he’s on the board — but the Lions have proven time and time again that their draft board tends to look different than the national consensus.
Don’t be surprised if Detroit grabs one of these names instead with its first pick on Thursday night:
Blake Miller, Offensive Tackle, Clemson
Miller is the most underrated offensive tackle prospect in the class and, as my third‑ranked tackle, my favorite realistic scenario for the Lions at pick 17.
He is by far the most experienced — and perhaps the most polished — tackle in the class. He started all 54 games for the Tigers over his four seasons, but he’s been overlooked because he doesn’t have the finishing power of the other first‑round linemen.
Miller’s measurables push him down consensus boards, but compared to Taylor Decker, who held down a tackle spot for nearly a decade in Detroit, Miller is a quarter‑inch shorter — yet measures better in weight, arm length, the 40‑yard dash, bench press and jump tests.
While he might not dominate the run game like other prospects, the Lions have already filled the brawler archetype with Penei Sewell, Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany. What they need is someone who can protect Jared Goff in the passing game.
Vega Ioane, Guard, Penn State
Ioane is my third overall player in the class. The only reason he would be available at 17 is that he plays guard — but the Lions have never been afraid to ignore positional‑value norms.
The Penn State guard has it all: great size at 6‑4, 320; athleticism he uses to overwhelm defenders; sound technique that limits mistakes and fantastic character.
Even though Detroit’s interior offensive line is one of the deepest rooms on the roster, Ioane is one of only a handful of blue‑chip players in the class — and the only one with a real shot at being available at 17.
He would be a day‑one contributor, and the Lions would have 80% of their offensive line locked in for at least the next three years.
Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF
In a class full of edge rushers with glaring concerns, Lawrence’s might be the most fixable.
Arvell Reese is a freak athlete who has hardly played the position. Reuben Bain has leverage concerns because of historically short arms. David Bailey struggles against the run. Lawrence, however, has all the tools — he’s just raw.
At 6‑4, 253 with long arms, Lawrence has elite speed and explosiveness for the position and a growing bag of pass‑rush moves. He needs to get stronger and improve his technique, gap discipline and consistency.
Detroit would only take Lawrence if it believed in its ability to develop him, but if the Lions maximized his athletic potential, he could be a star.
Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
Mesidor looks like a top‑tier edge in this class in terms of his ability to produce on day one. His only knock is that he just turned 25.
He’s strong, heavy, tenacious and disciplined in setting edges in the run game — all traits the Lions love — while still being a productive pass rusher.
The age poses legitimate questions, but if the Lions are trying to maximize their current roster, Mesidor makes perfect sense. While he could be 30 by the time he becomes a free agent, players of his size and skill set have played well into their 30s (Cam Jordan, Brandon Graham, Denico Autry, etc.).
Whether they’d extend him or not, four to five years of solid production across from Aidan Hutchinson would be well worth the pick at 17.
Kenyon Sadiq, Tight End, Oregon
Sadiq has been described as “basically a wide receiver” because he moves like one. That assessment overlooks the rest of his profile as an elite tight end prospect.
Yes, the 21‑year‑old has 4.39 speed and a 43.5‑inch vertical while running a robust route tree. But he’s also a 6‑3, 241‑pound force who punishes defenders as a more‑than‑willing blocker.
The Lions would have a tougher time carving out a high‑volume role for Sadiq on day one, but he’d form the second half of the NFL’s best tight end duo — fitting for an offense that uses multiple tight ends as much as anyone.
If everyone were healthy, Sadiq would be pushing Isaac TeSlaa or Brock Wright to the bench, depending on the formation. But rarely is everyone healthy, and he elevates Detroit’s ability to rotate weapons while staying on the right side of mismatches.
Long term, Sadiq reduces the pressure to extend Sam LaPorta amid injury concerns and even opens the door for flexibility in potential trade scenarios as the Lions navigate future salary‑cap decisions.
Ultimately, the Lions don’t draft to get applause. They draft to get good football players who fit their cultural identity.
Miller, Ioane, Lawrence, Mesidor and Sadiq fit that mold perfectly.