With the 2026 NFL Draft just days away, the latest Mock Drafts are finally aligning. Most experts predict the Detroit Lions will select an offensive tackle with the team’s first-round pick. Ranking the top first-round prospects frequently mocked to Detroit at number 17, who will be the best fit for Detroit?
Ranking The First-Round OL Prospects Mocked To Detroit
Depending upon availability when the Lions are on the board, the consensus predicts Brad Holmes will select either Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, or Utah OT Caleb Lomu. Holmes has built a reputation for taking the best available prospect regardless of position. Assuming all three prospects are available, who is the best overall fit for the team?
Kadyn Proctor, Alabama OT
Proctor, the young Junior Crimson Tide OT, is the most frequently mentioned offensive line prospect mocked to the Lions with the 17th pick. The 6’6 5/8” 352 lb. behemoth is considered one of the elite offensive tackles in this year’s Draft. After an impressive Combine performance that ranked 5th in his class, plus a second-place spot on Bruce Feldman’s 2026 “Freaks List,” Proctor’s Draft capital skyrocketed.
Described by NFL analyst Lance Zierlein as “a mass of humanity” with bulldozing power, Proctor has “a stout anchor and strong hands to stall the rush in its track.”
Gifted with 35” arms, Proctor can halt defenders cold in their tracks. He takes on opponents with fierce determination, aggression, and the nasty mental focus of a “winner take all” fighter.
Proctor’s Biggest Weaknesses:
Proctor’s game relies too heavily on his enormous bulk and raw power rather than on improving his technique. He often struggles to maintain leverage against power rushers and is frequently criticized for inconsistent hand usage, punching power, and pad level.
As much as his size is an advantage, it also raises concerns about his overall conditioning and ability to maintain stamina for a 60-minute football game. Finally, Proctor’s size can limit his agility and range of motion against elite speedsters.
Fit For Detroit:
Zierlein predicts Proctor has the potential to “become a good right tackle or a very good guard.”
However, the biggest concern is that the Lions are seeking to replace Taylor Decker at left tackle. Drafting “a good right tackle” who might be better suited to play guard doesn’t make sense for Detroit.
Monroe Freeling, Georgia OT
A 6/7” 318 lb. Junior from Charleston, S.C. Freeling’s Draft stock has been on the rise. A four-star recruit, he was ranked the 6th best tackle in the U.S. Freeling didn’t get much playing time as a freshman with Amarius Mims ahead of him on the depth chart. However, late in the 2024 season, he replaced the injured starting left tackle.
Freeling began to make an impact when he started 13 of 14 games in 2025 and earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice. In 739 snaps at left tackle, he allowed 1.0 sack, and earned an 85.6 pass-block grade from PFF.com. Furthermore, proving his durability, Freeling suffered a high ankle sprain but didn’t miss a single game.
Freeling’s Draft Stock Climbs
Foregoing his senior year, Feeling declared for the 2026 Draft. His draft stock began to rise following a strong performance at the NFL Combine. Earning an elite Athleticism Score of 91, he finished 3rd overall among his class with a Total Score of 81.
NFL Draft Buzz touted Freeling’s rare athleticism for the position, attributing his basketball background to his impressive “balance, spatial awareness, and ability to redirect through contact.”
However, the site also noted that his “run blocking lags behind his pass protection, especially in gap schemes where leverage matters most.”
Zierlein stated that despite needing improvement in some areas, “he has the ceiling of a quality NFL starter.”
Biggest Cautions About Freeling:
The biggest concern about Freeling is his lack of experience. He started a combined total of 18 games in the last two years. The question is whether Freeling can handle the rigors of a full NFL season. A secondary concern is his run game where he scored a 61.3 PFF grade.
However, the improvement he showed in 2025 indicate a project who is highly coachable. Carrying 315 lbs. on a 6’7” frame suggests adding roughly 10-15 lbs. of muscle weight would improve his ability to maintain an anchor and not lose leverage.
Fit For Detroit:
Freeling’s agility and athleticism make him an elite prospect. Unlike other highly ranked offensive tackle prospects including Proctor, Freeling’s experience is that of a starting left tackle. While that experience is limited, he would not have to “earn to play a different position” nor would his draft require moving Penei Sewell to left tackle. That is a huge plus for the Lions.
He is a prospect who needs time, conditioning and patience to fully develop as a starting tackle. However, Brad Holmes recently stated that regardless of the Draft round, there is always going to be some development needed before he is a Day 1 starter. Assuming the Lions are willing to be patient, Freeling scores high as good fit for the team.
Caleb Lomu, Utah OT
In pairing offensive tackle Spencer Fano with Caleb Lomu at left tackle, Utah had the best offensive line duo in the country. While Fano gets much of the credit for the line’s premier performance, Lomu’s starting presence as a freshman in 2024 made a huge impact.
PFF.com gave him an 82.1 pass-blocking grade. In addition to Utah earning the Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week honors four times, Lomu was singled out for First Team All-Big 12 recognition and the Outland Trophy watch list.
Lomu’s Combine Performance
At the NFL Combine, Lomu’s 86 Athleticism Score placed 5th, and he finished in 4th place overall. Despite only being a Junior, Lomu has been repeatedly praised for his strong football IQ and technical skills. Zierlein describes Lomu as a “starting left tackle still in the early stages of his development. He shows good balance with adequate foot quickness and well-timed punches.”
Where Lomu Needs Improvement
While his passing protection is his strong suit, the run game is not as strong. Lomu lacks core strength. As a result, he struggles to maintain a consistent anchor. Additionally, his pad level needs improvement. However, these are issues that can be corrected with coaching and conditioning.
NFL Draft Buzz predicts that Lomu could become one of the biggest steals in the Draft. If he gains weight and is given time to develop, Lomu is “a bet worth making, because when the body catches up to the feet and the hands, the result could be a fixture at the most premium position on the offensive line for a decade.”
Final Thoughts and Ranking
In the short term, the Lions have the luxury of a Pro Bowl talent in Sewell who could begin the season at left tackle. However, ultimately, the best option would be to draft an experienced left tackle to take over at mid-season. This would allow Sewell to move back to the right tackle position and continue his distinguished career trajectory.
Proctor is the highest-ranked of the trio; he scores an 8 out of 10. He is a solid pick at Number 17.
While Freeling is not the athletic, physical “freak” that Proctor is, he has proven to be an accomplished left tackle. Freeling scores a 9 out of 10 and would be the best all-around fit for the Lions.
Lomu is a promising talent who undoubtedly benefited from having a strong partner in Fano at Utah. Development is needed, but his ceiling is high. He scores 7 out of 10.
Lomu is a risky selection at 17. However, he’s an excellent pick if Holmes can trade down to acquire him.
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