Mesidor is a force off the edge. Lions Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson certainly approves of this selection, although Detroit might opt to address the offensive line here. Could this be a spot for Alabama's Kadyn Proctor or Clemson's Blake Miller?

The Lions informed the league they'd be open to fielding calls and trading down. Perhaps the teams below us didn't have service. Ultimately, the decision at No. 17 came down to Freeling and Auburn edge Keldric Faulk. Faulk might be Detroit's type as a powerful pocket crusher, but you could argue the Lions need an edge with a more refined pass-rush plan. Considering the depth at edge in this class compared with tackle, it felt right to address the offensive line here, with left tackle Taylor Decker mulling retirement. No. 21 in Brugler's top 100, Freeling (6-7, 315 pounds with 34-inch arms) looks the part of a franchise tackle and can really move in space. He'll also have former Georgia teammate and current Lions right guard Tate Ratledge to help ease the transition. There's also a chance Decker sticks around another year to mentor him.

Cashius Howell is a high-motor, productive pass rusher who has shown the ability to line up at different spots. He's probably not somebody you want dropping into coverage a lot, which could make him less attractive to some teams, but the Lions need another edge to take some of the load off Aidan Hutchinson.

Taylor Decker requesting his release threw a small wrench into the Lions' offseason. It was already a critical offseason after Detroit missed the playoffs in 2025, but there was suddenly a huge hole at left tackle, adding to the overall protection issues. The Lions were 31st in pass block win rate last season at 55.5%. As the team sorted through fixes, coach Dan Campbell floated the idea of Penei Sewell sliding over from the right side, but that would still leave one of the tackle spots wide open and would be taking Sewell away from his more natural, dominant position.

It seems Detroit is sticking to that, using the first-round pick on Blake Miller, a 54-game starter at right tackle in college. It's tough to beat Miller, no matter the pass-rush move. His pressure allowed rate improved every single season, from 4.0% as a rookie to 1.8% last season. That's key for the Lions; Jared Goff has real problems when he's seeing constant pressure. And Miller should become Jahmyr Gibbs' new best friend in the run game -- he can get downfield to spring breakaway runs for his backs.

The other big area of need was the No. 2 edge rusher hole opposite Aidan Hutchinson. This might sound familiar -- along with most analysts, I wanted the Lions to address this last year, too. They didn't take an edge rusher until Round 6 with Ahmed Hassanein. Detroit got 11 sacks out of Al-Quadin Muhammad in a wild 30-year-old breakout season, but he signed with Tampa Bay; the Lions really only signed DJ Wonnum to replace him.

Will a second-round pick in Derrick Moore get the job done? I might have gone with Zion Young, who went one pick later, but I think there's upside for an eventual all-Michigan edge combo of Hutchinson and Moore (who had 10 sacks last season).

Jimmy Rolder (another Michigan player) and Keith Abney II were solid additions on defense, too. Rolder is versatile and has some burst as a blitzer. But where he really stands out is his ability to diagnose. He's a smart football player. Abney is undersized at 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds, but he gets his hands on the ball. Abney had 20 pass breakups and five picks over the past two years. He should be a good backup.

First-round OT Blake Miller and second-round DE Derrick Moore, a Michigan alum whom the Lion traded up to get, project as Week 1 starters at crucial positions of need. Moore may be a long-term wingman off the edge opposite fellow ex-Wolverine Aidan Hutchinson. This year's third-rounder was invested in a 2025 trade that netted promising WR3 Isaac TeSlaa. In totality, it might be enough to get a team that will benefit from a last-place schedule in 2026 back to the postseason.