DAILYREPORT

📰 Headlines

• Georgia linebacker CJ Allen is reminiscent of Jack Campbell, who earned All-Pro honors with the Lions last season and excels at defending the run at an elite level. The Lions must decide whether to target run-stopping LBs or pass defenders after losing Alex Anzalone to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency.

• Sam LaPorta is looking to rebound from a back injury that ended his 2025 season while going into the final season of his rookie deal; Brock Wright is coming off a season-ending neck injury entering the last year of the three-year pact he signed in 2023. The tight end position offers little urgency for first-round selection, though Detroit may get serious about a tight end in Round 3, but they don't have a third-round pick this year, so any sort of aggression in that round will have to come by way of trade.

• After struggling to adapt to new faces on the line last season and the release of veteran left tackle Taylor Decker, Detroit can benefit from drafting an O-lineman early; however, the Lions were aggressive in revamping the offensive line by adding Panthers center Cade Mays, ex-Dolphins lineman Larry Borom and veteran guard Ben Bartch, so it wouldn't be surprising for Detroit to try to strengthen its defensive line early in the draft.

• The Lions finished in last place in the NFC North and missed the playoffs after a disappointing 9-8 season.

🎙️ Podcast & Media Picks

• Pride of Detroit: "Dream, Nightmare Scenarios for the 2026 Detroit Lions Draft" — Breaking down the best and worst possible scenarios for the 2026 Detroit Lions draft, including the best possible outcomes that could happen for the Lions and the absolutely nightmarish outcomes that could happen on draft day.

• The Detroit News Gritiiron Gang Podcast — Nolan Bianchi and Richard Silva conduct a live mock draft and select an offensive tackle for the Lions at No. 17.

📊 Season Watch (Theme C: Defensive Backfield Health)

Kerby Joseph is currently rehabbing from a knee injury that could sideline him to start the year, and until Joseph and Branch return to full strength, Detroit's defensive backfield will remain one of the biggest question marks heading into the 2026 season. Brian Branch is likely to be recovering until at least October, with his knee injury going either way and potentially being an injury that sticks with him the rest of his career. GM Brad Holmes is unwilling to bank on either returning to form next season and has tapped into his "pessimistic planner" mentality by signing experienced veterans like Chuck Clark, the longtime Raven who spent last season with the Steelers and has more than 5,000 defensive snaps under his belt.

🗓️ Lions History & All-Time Greats

Thirty-four years ago this spring, Barry Sanders changed everything. Barry Sanders rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his 10 seasons with the Detroit Lions (1989-1998), being the first running back ever to do so. He gained 2,053 yards in 1997—the third time ever to gain more than 2,000 yards in a season—and was named the 1988 Heisman Trophy winner. Sanders was a notable bright spot on a Lions franchise that had endured years of unsuccessful play, helping to lead the team to their first playoff victory in decades. Yet the defining question of his career—one that still echoes across Lions fandom—is how a talent so magnificent achieved so little postseason success.

🔮 What to Watch

• The NFL schedule release, expected between May 12 and 14.

• The Lions' first-round pick at No. 17; Holmes said his evaluations aren't finalized enough to declare if there will be 17 "first-round talents" on the board, but he's confident that—one way or another—they'll have a shot at a talent player this year.

• Draft day trades: Through five drafts, Holmes has traded up 12 times during the NFL Draft, while only trading down three times; in the past two drafts alone, he's traded up eight times but hasn't traded down once.