Should the Detroit Lions trade up, down with 1st-round pick?

January 7, 2026; The 2026 NFL Draft logo is displayed atop the NFL Draft countdown clock. | Ethan Morrison / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Detroit Lions have the 17th overall pick, and with the 2026 NFL Draft under a month away, general manager Brad Holmes is likely narrowing his options at that position. Obviously, his primary goal is to evaluate talent and find the right fits for the team.

However, maneuvering around the draft is also very important to maximize the value of each selection and ensure you’ve got the best chance to acquire the best talent. In the first round, the Lions face an interesting dilemma. On one hand, Detroit’s immediate needs have been really narrowed to offensive tackle and defensive end.

If that’s the case, you could certainly make the argument that if a top talent is still on the board around the 10-15 range, Detroit could just trade up, take care of one of those needs, and feel good about where the team is. On the other hand, this team only has two top-100 picks. If they feel comfortable with still getting a high-tier player 5-10 picks lower than their current spot, acquiring more picks to help build out this team’s depth and possibly add another starter for the future.

So today’s Question of the Day is: Should the Lions trade up, trade down, or stay put at 17 overall? My answer: My preferences, in order, are stay at 17, trade down, and trade up. Right now, my perception of this draft class is that there should be a pretty good player available at 17, particularly at offensive tackle, which I view as the team’s most pressing need.