Monday, May 4, 2026

Lions Links for Monday 5-4-26

Articles:

TWENTYMAN: Abney could compete for Lions' nickel cornerback role:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-abney-was-a-no-brainer-for-the-lions







Keith Abney: 'It Is a Dream Come True' To Play For Detroit Lions:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/keith-abney-it-is-dream-come-true-to-play-for-detroit-lions

Detroit Lions UDFA Tight End Compared to Dan Campbell:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-udfa-tight-end-compared-to-dan-campbell

One Detroit Lions Player Whose Job Is Very Safe After 2026 NFL Draft:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/one-detroit-lions-player-whose-job-very-safe-after-2026-nfl-draft

Lions Key Offseason Dates to Remember: OTAs, Mandatory Veteran Minicamp:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/lions-key-2026-offseason-dates-otas-mandatory-veteran-minicamp



One of the Lions’ biggest steals from the 2026 NFL Draft may never start a game for them:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/one-of-the-lions-biggest-steals-from-the-2026-nfl-draft-may-never-start-a-game-for-them/


The Lions trade everyone hated looks like a fleece after the 2026 NFL Draft- Plus, a look at the final outcomes of the David Montgomery, Za’Darius Smith, and Tim Patrick trades:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/the-lions-trade-everyone-hated-looks-like-a-fleece-after-the-2026-nfl-draft-plus-a-look-at-the-final-outcomes-of-the-david-montgomery-zadarius-smith-and-tim-patrick-trades/

The Lions ignored the consensus board in 2026 — here’s who they reached for and why they still had a good draft despite that:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/the-lions-ignored-the-consensus-board-in-2026-heres-who-they-reached-for-and-why-they-still-had-a-good-draft-despite-that/

3 ways the Lions can still take care of Jack Campbell after declining his fifth-year option:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/3-ways-the-lions-can-still-take-care-of-jack-campbell-after-declining-his-fifth-year-option/


NFL draft confidential: College coaches' surprise moves, sleeper picks (Clemson Tigers: Before the 2025 season, coach Dabo Swinney predicted Clemson would have nine or 10 players drafted and 15 total in camps. Despite a 7-6 record, Clemson matched or exceeded Swinney's forecast with nine selections, tying the team record in the common draft era, and 16 signed with NFL teams. All nine drafted players went in the top 175 picks.  "We've developed well for a long time here, so it's just more confirmation," Swinney said. "We didn't get some of the results that we wanted last year, but that's on us as coaches. NFL teams, they don't just pick guys because they like them. They pick them because of what they see on tape." Clemson's draft achieved another milestone as tackle Blake Miller (No. 17, Detroit Lions) became the school's first offensive lineman selected in the first round in the common draft era. Miller set a team record for snaps with 3,778, made 54 career starts and, according to Swinney, missed only two practices during his college career.  The three-time All-ACC selection is the likely replacement for Taylor Decker.  "I hadn't had a first-round OL," Swinney said. "I said, 'If Blake Miller ain't a first rounder, I'm never going to have one.' This guy's as good as we've ever seen. There's nothing you could discount Blake Miller on. He's got incredible size, length, athleticism, flexibility, he's strong as an ox, smart, high character. I mean, he really checked every single box."  Miller ended up leapfrogging defensive linemen Peter Woods and T.J. Parker, who went at Nos. 29 and 35, respectively. Swinney praised the 6-foot-2, 298-pound Woods, who played at multiple weights and at different positions at Clemson. "He's really learned how to take care of his body, but this guy's a brick house, man," Swinney said. "I told everybody, he's kind of 1 of 1. I really haven't had a guy like Peter, just his combination of speed and strength, power. He's got twitchiness. He's a really, really smart football player. The Chiefs got a good one."):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/48638948/2026-nfl-draft-confidential-college-coaches-surprise-picks-sleepers

Biggest post-draft questions facing every team: A.J. Brown on move? (Detroit Lions - Question: Has Detroit missed its Super Bowl window? This is more of a big-picture topic than some of the nitty-gritty angles we'll cover with other clubs, but it's maybe the most noteworthy of the bunch. The Lions had been in the thick of the Super Bowl conversation for the last few years, but the furthest they've advanced was the NFC Championship in 2023. Last season, Detroit's ascent hit a roadblock in the form of a 9-8 campaign that saw them finish last in the NFC North. The division is increasingly more competitive with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers rising, and if Kyler Murray hits with the Vikings, they'll make the path tougher for the Lions as well. At DraftKings Sportsbook, Detroit is the betting favorite to win the NFC North in 2026, but it's a pretty slim margin. They're +180, with the Packers right behind them at +190. If they don't bounce back in 2026, it's fair to wonder if their best chances of reaching the Super Bowl with this core have come and gone.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/biggest-post-draft-questions-nfl-a-j-brown-aaron-rodgers/

Video:

NFC North draft review | 'The Insiders':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/nfc-north-draft-review-the-insiders



Posted by LionsFan at 8:48 PM

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