DETROIT — The 2026 NFL draft opened in Pittsburgh on Thursday. The three-day event continued with Rounds 2-3 on Friday. Rounds 4-7 are on Saturday (noon ET).
The Detroit Lions took offensive tackle Blake Miller No. 17 overall.
A full list of the Lions’ selections is below and will be updated with pick-by-pick analysis through the weekend.
Round 1, No. 17 overall: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
My take: The Lions have added what they hope is another foundational piece with Miller, who is Detroit’s first offensive lineman selected in the opening round since taking All-Pro Penei Sewell as the seventh overall pick in 2021. Miller will be expected to help the team immediately after the unit struggled in 2025, with the second-worst pass block win rate in the NFL (56%). He is a strong pick and fulfills a team need as the Lions have emphasized better pass protection for quarterback Jared Goff this offseason by beefing up the line through free agency and now the draft.
Will he start as a rookie?: There’s a strong chance that Miller can earn a starting role this upcoming season. Lions coach Dan Campbell said he’s considering switching Sewell to left tackle for the 2026 season, which could be beneficial for Miller, who took 97% of career snaps in college at right tackle. The Lions also released veteran left tackle Taylor Decker in March and added three new linemen in free agency.
What they said: Campbell to FOX2 Sports on drafting Miller: “He’s played a lot of football. He’s solid. He’s steady. He can do it all. He plays physical in the run game. Freaking smart. Tough. Headsy. Got length. Moves well. We feel like this is a guy that can come in and compete and help us with the O-line.
Blake Miller on playing alongside OL Penei Sewell: “I can’t wait. I’ve watched a lot of his tape throughout my time in college and there’s so much stuff that he does incredibly well. His ability to move, get out in space, his ability to pass protect, use his hands effectively, how light he is on his feet. All those things are remarkable. And just to be able to sit in the same room as him and be on the same field as him and pick his brain and go over things and get his perspective on things. I can’t wait.”
What’s next: Lions GM Brad Holmes says they’ll stick to their approach of selecting the best player available, instead of focusing on team needs. Detroit could certainly benefit from adding another edge rusher to pair with Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson, or selecting a cornerback, or another defensive tackle. The Lions have drafted seven players since 2021 who have made the Pro Bowl, the most in the NFL during that span.
Round 2, No. 44 overall: Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan
My take: Finally, the Lions have drafted an edge rusher in the early rounds. Fans have been begging for Holmes to draft a top prospect to pair with Hutchinson for years, and Moore is in line to be that guy. Detroit traded up six spots to No. 44, sending picks 50 and 128 to the Jets, to select Moore. He is the first University of Michigan player selected by the Lions since Hutchinson was picked second overall in 2022.
Is this pick for depth or does it fill a hole? This certainly fills a hole as Detroit desperately needs help on the edge, especially after losing DE Al-Quadin Muhammad to Tampa Bay via free agency. The Lions ranked 26th in the NFL in pass rush win rate last season (32%), according to ESPN Analytics/NFL Next Gen Stats. Muhammad and Hutchinson also combined for over half of the team’s 207 pressures. Moore led the Big Ten with a 17.5% pressure percentage in 2025 along with 10.0 sacks at Michigan.
What’s next: Day 2 of the draft was quick and easy as the Lions addressed both of their top positions of need in Rounds 1 and 2. Detroit currently holds six more picks, beginning in the fourth round, and could go in several different directions, most notably at DT, CB or RB. Holmes called Miller and Moore “the guys that we liked” in this year’s draft class and said he couldn’t be happier with the current picks.
Remaining picks:
Round 4: No. 118
Round 5: No. 157
Round 5: No. 181
Round 6: No. 205
Round 6: No. 213
Round 7: No. 222
