nightrain'S MOCK DRAFT
  1. Home
  2. Simulator

nightrain'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON APR 1, 2026

fools day

  • nightrain DRAFTING FOR THE
    Lions
Draft Selections
Monroe Freeling Head Shot
PICK: 18 RND: 1 (DET)
Monroe Freeling
OT Georgia
Lee Hunter Head Shot
PICK: 57 RND: 2 (DET)
Lee Hunter
DT Texas Tech
Jake Golday Head Shot
PICK: 82 RND: 3 (DET)
Jake Golday
OLB Cincinnati
Connor Lew Head Shot
PICK: 95 RND: 3 (DET)
Connor Lew
C Auburn
Jack Endries Head Shot
PICK: 118 RND: 4 (DET)
Jack Endries
TE Texas
Davison Igbinosun Head Shot
PICK: 128 RND: 4 (DET)
Davison Igbinosun
CB Ohio State
Bryce Boettcher Head Shot
PICK: 173 RND: 5 (DET)
Bryce Boettcher
LB Oregon
Febechi Nwaiwu Head Shot
PICK: 174 RND: 5 (DET)
Febechi Nwaiwu
OG Oklahoma
Domani Jackson Head Shot
PICK: 181 RND: 5 (DET)
Domani Jackson
CB Alabama
VJ Payne Head Shot
PICK: 205 RND: 6 (DET)
VJ Payne
S Kansas State
Seth McGowan Head Shot
PICK: 213 RND: 6 (DET)
Seth McGowan
RB Kentucky
Draft Picks Received
Monroe Freeling Head Shot
PICK: 18 RND: 1 (MIN)
Monroe Freeling
OT Georgia
Lee Hunter Head Shot
PICK: 57 RND: 2 (CHI)
Lee Hunter
DT Texas Tech
Jake Golday Head Shot
PICK: 82 RND: 3 (MIN)
Jake Golday
OLB Cincinnati
Connor Lew Head Shot
PICK: 95 RND: 3 (NE)
Connor Lew
C Auburn
Bryce Boettcher Head Shot
PICK: 173 RND: 5 (BAL)
Bryce Boettcher
LB Oregon
Febechi Nwaiwu Head Shot
PICK: 174 RND: 5 (BAL)
Febechi Nwaiwu
OG Oklahoma
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 7 (CHI)
NEXT YEAR (2027)
 
Draft Picks Traded
Avieon Terrell Head Shot
PICK: 17 RND: 1 (MIN)
Avieon Terrell
CB Clemson
Malachi Lawrence Head Shot
PICK: 50 RND: 2 (CHI)
Malachi Lawrence
DE-EDGE UCF
George Gumbs Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 157 RND: 5 (BAL)
George Gumbs Jr.
DE-EDGE Florida
Aiden Fisher Head Shot
PICK: 222 RND: 7 (NE)
Aiden Fisher
LB Indiana
Players Gained
Head Shot
Zah Frazier
CB
Draft Grade — Lions
Overall B
ValueB NeedB+ TradesA FutureB-
The Lions let McGowan fall into their laps, and walked away with a B.

The board owed the Lions one, and it paid up: Seth McGowan, the No. 185 name on the board, sitting there at the Round 6 slot like a gift left on the doorstep.

They will regret leaving quarterback for another day if the season turns on it. The Freeling reach is the anchor dragging on the value grade.

The dealing nudged the ledger their way without much fuss. They left with cornerback solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.

A workmanlike haul that should hold up just fine.

Pick Analysis
Pick18 Rnd1 Monroe Freeling
In the 18th overall pick they get protection for the quarterback, reach and all. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Pick57 Rnd2 Lee Hunter
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Lee Hunter in the Round 2 slot. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Pick82 Rnd3 Jake Golday
Jake Golday in slot 82 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick95 Rnd3 Connor Lew
Connor Lew slid further than he should have, and the 95th pick is lovely value for the offensive lineman. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick118 Rnd4 Jack Endries
They took Jack Endries at par in Round 4, Pick 18, which is nothing to complain about. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Pick128 Rnd4 Davison Igbinosun
A tidy bit of business in pick 128, where Davison Igbinosun graded well above the range. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Pick173 Rnd5 Bryce Boettcher
Bryce Boettcher at No. 173 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. It fills a real need, too.
Pick174 Rnd5 Febechi Nwaiwu
No edge and no loss on Febechi Nwaiwu in pick No. 174; it is a wash and a sensible one. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick181 Rnd5 Domani Jackson
A reasonable price with a little left over, Domani Jackson in slot 181. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick205 Rnd6 VJ Payne
They read the board right and VJ Payne was the payoff at No. 205. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick213 Rnd6 Seth McGowan
You do not let a running back like Seth McGowan reach the 213th pick and blink. They did not. It patches a soft spot without any drama.