Friday, May 1, 2026

Lions Links for Friday 5-1-25

Articles:

TWENTYMAN: Lions hope for immediate impact from Blake Miller:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-lions-hope-for-immediate-impact-from-blake-miller


What Brad Holmes Quietly Revealed About Detroit Lions During The Draft:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/what-brad-holmes-quietly-revealed-about-detroit-lions-during-2026-draft

Prosecutor Makes Decision About DK Metcalf After Lions Fan Incident:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/prosecutor-makes-decision-about-dk-metcalf-after-lions-fan-incident

No Detroit Lions Invited To Attend 2026 NFL Rookie Premiere:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/no-detroit-lions-invited-to-attend-2026-nfl-rookie-premiere

Pro Comparisons for 2026 Detroit Lions Draft Picks:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/pro-comparisons-2026-detroit-lions-draft-picks

Jimmy Rolder Is Excited To Take Game To 'Next Level' With Lions:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/jimmy-rolder-excited-take-game-next-level-with-detroit-lions





Why the Lions needed to trade up to get Kendrick Law in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/why-the-lions-needed-to-trade-up-to-get-kendrick-law-in-the-fifth-round-of-the-2026-nfl-draft/

A timeline on when the Lions might get rookie deals done for each of their 2026 NFL Draft picks:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/a-timeline-on-when-the-lions-might-get-rookie-deals-done-for-each-of-their-2026-nfl-draft-picks/


2026 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions draft recap:  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-detroit-lions-draft-recap

2026 NFL Draft: Day 3 picks who can make an impact in the NFL (CB Keith Abney II, Detroit Lions:  Ranked 50th on the PFF Big Board, it was stunning to see Abney still available well into the fifth round. The Lions could benefit from the rookie’s intriguing profile in short order.  Abney was outstanding for Arizona State last season, playing to an 85.3 PFF coverage grade while missing just 4.3% of his tackle attempts. Even at 5-foot-10, Abney is a physical slot cornerback who consistently gets his hands on the ball, reflected in his nine pass breakups.  The Lions added free agent Roger McCreary as their projected replacement for Amik Robertson inside, but Abney has a real chance to seize the job. After all, considering Detroit’s significant cornerback injuries last season, Abney should be a next man up if history repeats itself.):  https://www.pff.com/news/2026-nfl-draft-day-3-picks-who-can-make-rookie-impacts

Sixteen Day 3 NFL draft picks who could compete for starter snaps as rookies in 2026 (3. Jimmy Rolder - Drafted: Round 4, No. 118.  Rolder's in a great position to earn playing time as a rookie after having to wait until his fourth year at Michigan to become a starter. There's an opening next to Derrick Barnes and Jack Campbell at linebacker. Rolder possesses the athleticism and toughness to make plays on all three downs.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/sixteen-day-3-nfl-draft-picks-who-could-compete-for-starter-snaps-as-rookies-in-2026

2026 NFL draft grades: All 32 rookie classes ranked, favorite picks and Day 3 sleepers (16. Detroit Lions - GRADE: B.  Detroit’s offseason checklist included two major needs at the very top: An offensive tackle to start opposite Pro Bowler Penei Sewell.  A defensive end to start opposite Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson.  In free agency, the Lions tentatively filled both of those edge roles with veteran insurance plans: Larry Borom at OT and D.J. Wonnum at DE. Then, in a surprise to no one, Brad Holmes doubled down on each spot with his first two picks in the draft. Blake Miller is a prospect many mocked to Detroit, while Derrick Moore was a less-predictable pairing, particularly as a trade-up target. At the end of the day, I can appreciate the general process. With two gaping holes in the lineup, the Lions initially shopped for one-year bargains on the open market before spending their two premium picks on longer-view solutions.  FAVORITE PICK:  Blake Miller, offensive tackle. Having started every Clemson football game in the past four seasons -- breaking the school record with an astonishing 3,778 career snaps from scrimmage -- Miller enters the NFL with as much high-level experience as possible, making him a prime candidate to start at right tackle from Day 1. And he plays with the kind of nasty Dan Campbell adores. Something tells me that Sewell, a first-team All-Pro in each of the past three seasons at RT, will be just fine moving back to his college position on the blind side.  SLEEPER:  Keith Abney II, defensive back. Abney doesn’t blow you away with speed or size, but the 5-10, 187-pounder plays with an endearing chip on his shoulder, providing physicality and premium ball production (SEE: five INTs and 21 PBUs over the past two seasons). The fierce cover man spent his three years at Arizona State as an outside corner, but his best NFL role could come in the nickel.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2026-nfl-draft-grades-all-32-rookie-classes-ranked-favorite-picks-and-day-3-sleepers

Every NFL team's biggest need remaining after the NFL Draft (Detroit Lions: Interior offensive lineman - Free agent fit: Joel Bitonio.  Adding Bitonio would be a great way for the Lions to upgrade on the interior. With new faces at right tackle (Blake Miller) and center (Cade Mays) and Penei Sewell switching to left tackle, the steady Bitonio would be a nice add on the interior.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-teams-biggest-position-to-improve-post-nfl-draft/

NFL Draft: One instant-impact rookie from every round (Round 6 (No. 205): Skyler Gill-Howard, DT, Detroit Lions - The Lions have searched for pass-rush juice opposite Aidan Hutchinson for *checks notes* about three years now.   According to Sports Info Solutions, Detroit's pressure rate with Hutchinson on the field is 42.2%, which would lead the NFL. Without him, that number plummets to 21.1%, which would rank dead last by a wide margin.  Finding anyone who can provide complementary pass-rush juice would dramatically help this defense, especially if the secondary gets healthy. Skyler Gill-Howard - Career: Former Division II walk-on who transitioned from Northern Illinois linebacker to Texas Tech defensive tackle.  Gill-Howard was an unsung hero on Texas Tech's interior defensive line. While I'm not saying he'll start immediately, he can provide pass-rush pop from the interior.  He has impressive quickness and can cross blockers' faces, which could be useful when the Lions run pass-rush games up front. He also offers effective secondary moves when his first rush stalls, helping him win late in reps. With Tyleik Williams and Alim McNeill handling early downs, Gill-Howard could carve out a valuable third-down role.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2026-nfl-draft-instant-impact-rookies-every-round/

Most eyebrow-raising NFL Draft pick made by every team (Detroit Lions: DL Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech (Round 6, No. 205 overall) - There is a lot to like about Detroit's draft class, particularly as it relates to this team. They are a physical bunch, beginning with Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller and finishing with Tennessee defensive tackle Tyre West. Gill-Howard was my least favorite of their selections, but even that was good value.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-2026-each-teams-questionable-pick/

5 Undrafted Free Agent Quarterbacks That Can Stick With an NFL Roster as Rookies (Detroit Lions: Luke Altmyer, QB, Illinois - Luke Altmyer was the best quarterback to go undrafted. The former Illinois standout completed a career-high 67.4% of his passing attempts this past season. He also tied his previous career high in touchdowns with 22, and threw his fewest interceptions with just five. Altmyer is an experienced quarterback who can run a pro-ready system. The Detroit Lions currently have Teddy Bridgewater as the No. 2. He has a legitimate shot to make the 53 man roster.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/onsi/late-round-expert/5-undrafted-free-agent-quarterbacks-that-can-stick-with-an-nfl-roster-as-rookies

One Division Dominates Our NFC Draft Class Ranking From 16 to 1 (5. Detroit Lions - Grade: B+.  The Lions rarely waver from their identity as a team that builds through the trenches. It didn’t exactly work out for them last year with the offensive line not playing up to expectations, but they quickly made impressive renovations with the selection of Miller and the signing of center Cade Mays. This group now looks complete, especially if the plan is to move Penei Sewell to left tackle and place Miller on the right side.   This could be a memorable draft class if Moore turns out to be a dependable No. 2 edge rusher. Detroit has had trouble finding help for Aidan Hutchinson.)  https://www.si.com/nfl/one-division-dominates-our-nfc-draft-class-ranking 

One Thing We Learned About Every Team During the 2026 NFL Draft (Detroit Lions - The Lions stuck to their philosophy, while also prioritizing positions of need. The Lions have made some stellar picks in the past by taking nonpremium positions high in the draft—RB Jahmyr Gibbs and LB Jack Campbell in 2023—but this year’s draft was all about the trenches in the first two rounds, as they took offensive tackle Blake Miller and edge rusher Derrick Moore with their first two picks, positions that fit both need and value for Detroit. “It really did line up, just because we’ve always said we’re gonna pick the best player,” general manager Brad Holmes said, via Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. “I’m sure there were other tackles that were available or there were other edge rushers that were available, but these were the guys that we liked. When it blends together like that, it’s really nice.”):  https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/one-thing-learned-every-team

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Posted by LionsFan at 9:24 PM

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