nightrain'S MOCK DRAFT

nightrain'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON FEB 23, 2026

02232026

  • nightrain DRAFTING FOR THE
    Lions
Draft Selections
Sonny Styles Head Shot
PICK: 31 RND: 1 (DET)
Sonny Styles
LB Ohio State
Caleb Banks Head Shot
PICK: 50 RND: 2 (DET)
Caleb Banks
DL Florida
Jake Slaughter Head Shot
PICK: 63 RND: 2 (DET)
Jake Slaughter
C Florida
Malik Muhammad Head Shot
PICK: 98 RND: 3 (DET)
Malik Muhammad
CB Texas
J.C. Davis Head Shot
PICK: 120 RND: 4 (DET)
J.C. Davis
OT Illinois
Sam Roush Head Shot
PICK: 169 RND: 5 (DET)
Sam Roush
TE Stanford
Bud Clark Head Shot
PICK: 186 RND: 6 (DET)
Bud Clark
S TCU
Eric McAlister Head Shot
PICK: 199 RND: 6 (DET)
Eric McAlister
WR TCU
Rayshaun Benny Head Shot
PICK: 203 RND: 6 (DET)
Rayshaun Benny
DL Michigan
Oscar Delp Head Shot
PICK: 210 RND: 6 (DET)
Oscar Delp
TE Georgia
Toriano Pride Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 212 RND: 6 (DET)
Toriano Pride Jr.
CB Missouri
Bryce Foster Head Shot
PICK: 222 RND: 7 (DET)
Bryce Foster
C Kansas
Draft Picks Received
Sonny Styles Head Shot
PICK: 31 RND: 1 (NE)
Sonny Styles
LB Ohio State
Jake Slaughter Head Shot
PICK: 63 RND: 2 (NE)
Jake Slaughter
C Florida
Malik Muhammad Head Shot
PICK: 98 RND: 3 (PHI)
Malik Muhammad
CB Texas
J.C. Davis Head Shot
PICK: 120 RND: 4 (GB)
J.C. Davis
OT Illinois
Sam Roush Head Shot
PICK: 169 RND: 5 (NE)
Sam Roush
TE Stanford
Eric McAlister Head Shot
PICK: 199 RND: 6 (GB)
Eric McAlister
WR TCU
Oscar Delp Head Shot
PICK: 210 RND: 6 (NE)
Oscar Delp
TE Georgia
Draft Picks Traded
Joshua Josephs Head Shot
PICK: 17 RND: 1 (DAL)
Joshua Josephs
DE-EDGE Tennessee
Jude Bowry Head Shot
PICK: 118 RND: 4 (GB)
Jude Bowry
OT Boston College
Trey Moore Head Shot
PICK: 155 RND: 5 (DAL)
Trey Moore
LB-EDGE Texas
Draft Grade — Lions
Overall B
ValueB NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
The Lions checked most of the boxes and earned a B.

There is conviction, and then there is this. The Lions took Bryce Foster a full 29 picks ahead of where the board had him, an overdraft steep enough that it colors the whole weekend. It nets out to a B, which feels about right.

Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Muhammad. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.

Add it up and it is a good, unfussy class.

Pick Analysis
Pick31 Rnd1 Sonny Styles
In the Round 1 slot they get a sideline-to-sideline linebacker at a price that makes it sweeter. A clean fit for the roster.
Pick50 Rnd2 Caleb Banks
Caleb Banks at slot 50 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the interior defensive lineman. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Pick63 Rnd2 Jake Slaughter
You do not let an offensive lineman like Jake Slaughter reach No. 63 and blink. They did not. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick98 Rnd3 Malik Muhammad
They will replay Malik Muhammad at the 98th overall pick for years; that is how good the value is. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick120 Rnd4 J.C. Davis
By-the-book stuff, J.C. Davis at pick No. 120 squarely in line with his ranking. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick169 Rnd5 Sam Roush
Good price on Sam Roush in the 169th pick, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick186 Rnd6 Bud Clark
A big swing on Bud Clark at the 186th pick, well ahead of any board in the building. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick199 Rnd6 Eric McAlister
A tidy little value on Eric McAlister in pick 199, a step better than break-even. It fills a real need, too.
Pick203 Rnd6 Rayshaun Benny
Rayshaun Benny in slot 203 is fair value, right on his grade. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
Pick210 Rnd6 Oscar Delp
Oscar Delp at Round 6, Pick 31 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick212 Rnd6 Toriano Pride Jr.
Toriano Pride Jr. at the 212th overall pick is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick222 Rnd7 Bryce Foster
Bryce Foster at pick No. 222 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.