Which positions could the Lions unexpectedly draft in the first round?
Detroit Lions executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes speaks during media availability at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Detroit Lions need help at offensive tackle and defensive end.
This has become a fact over the recent weeks in the leadup to the 2026 NFL Draft. As mock drafts have predicted for months , one of these two positions are reasonable targets for Detroit in the first round, and there should be an ample number of prospects available to them at pick 17. However, what if the Lions zig when everyone else zags?
Going against expectations has, funnily enough, been the expectation for general manager Brad Holmes. He has made bold selections on each day of the draft, many turning out well, some turning out not so well. In a draft where the choices seem obvious, there is a chance that Detroit makes a shocking, albeit justifiable, selection.
Today’s Question of the Day is: Which positions could the Detroit Lions unexpectedly draft in the first round? My answer: Safety. The Lions have rarely drafted for immediate need, and if “their guys” are no longer available by the time the 17th (or later) pick rolls around, I could see them targeting insurance at safety.
Although the current safety room is fairly stocked on paper—Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Christian Izien, Thomas Harper, Avonte Maddox, Chuck Clark, Dan Jackson, and Loren Strickland makes eight—the future is very much a question mark. Of the eight safeties, only four are signed beyond 2026: Joseph, Branch, Harper, and Jackson. Joseph and Branch each face significant uncertainty regarding their health, with Joseph potentially battling a long-term knee condition and Branch coming off an often devastating Achilles tear.