Lions general manager reveals willingness to trade up in Round 1
Might Brad Holmes get aggressive?
Lions general manager reveals willingness to trade up in Round 1 originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . There's no two ways about it.
The 2025 season was a disaster for the Detroit Lions , stumbling to 9-8 and fumbling what was once considered a lock of a playoff spot. It was a shock to the system and a suggestion that their competitive window may be closing quicker than anticipated. Still, with one of the league's better rosters, above-average quarterback play, and a beloved head coach, the Lions aren't destined for futility just yet.
Detroit's current situation demands urgency and, in some cases, aggression. And with the 17th pick, the Lions may be in position to move up the board for a needle-mover during the 2026 NFL Draft. Could Detroit trade up?
In the middle of the first round in a class with few elite talents, Detroit is incentivized to move up the board. There are holes at offensive tackle and edge rusher, linebacker and safety. Fortunately for Detroit, the class is strong at virtually all of those spots, and its non-premium-position headliners -- Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and linebacker Sonny Styles -- may fall far enough to become acquirable.