njjj'S MOCK DRAFT
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njjj'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON MAY 16, 2026

nhj

  • njjj DRAFTING FOR THE
    Lions
Draft Selections
Andrew Sprague Head Shot
PICK: 17 RND: 1 (DET)
Andrew Sprague
OT Michigan
Ahmad Hardy Head Shot
PICK: 50 RND: 2 (DET)
Ahmad Hardy
RB Missouri
Ashton Hampton Head Shot
PICK: 118 RND: 4 (DET)
Ashton Hampton
CB Clemson
Nic Anderson Head Shot
PICK: 155 RND: 5 (DET)
Nic Anderson
WR LSU
Braylan Shelby Head Shot
PICK: 186 RND: 6 (DET)
Braylan Shelby
DE-EDGE USC
Lawson Luckie Head Shot
PICK: 203 RND: 6 (DET)
Lawson Luckie
TE Georgia
Avery Johnson Head Shot
PICK: 212 RND: 6 (DET)
Avery Johnson
QB Kansas State
TJ Metcalf Head Shot
PICK: 222 RND: 7 (DET)
TJ Metcalf
S Tennessee
Draft Grade — Lions
Overall B-
ValueB- NeedB+ TradesB- FutureB-
Nothing loud, just a tidy B- for the Lions.

The Lions pounced the moment Ahmad Hardy slipped to the 50th overall pick, and it is the smartest thing they did all weekend. Solid and sensible more than spectacular: a B-.

The linebacker hole is the one line item this class does not answer. They will need Luckie to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it.

All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but linebacker.

Pick Analysis
Pick17 Rnd1 Andrew Sprague
In Round 1, Pick 17 they get a cornerstone up front, reach and all. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Pick50 Rnd2 Ahmad Hardy
Ahmad Hardy slid further than he should have, and pick No. 50 is lovely value for the running back. It fills a real need, too.
Pick118 Rnd4 Ashton Hampton
They did well to land Ashton Hampton in the Round 4 slot, just ahead of his grade. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick155 Rnd5 Nic Anderson
Nic Anderson at the 155th pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick186 Rnd6 Braylan Shelby
No edge and no loss on Braylan Shelby in slot 186; it is a wash and a sensible one. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick203 Rnd6 Lawson Luckie
They paid up for Lawson Luckie at No. 203 when waiting would have done the job. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick212 Rnd6 Avery Johnson
A clean, defensible pick in the 212th overall pick with a little surplus value in Avery Johnson. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick222 Rnd7 TJ Metcalf
No drama and no debate, TJ Metcalf went about where he belonged in the 222nd pick. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.