The three positions that continue to have the most value to teams in the NFL Draft are quarterbacks, players who protect the quarterback and players who can get after the quarterback.
The Detroit Lions could look to draft help at tackle, especially if veteran left tackle Taylor Decker decides to retire this offseason. At the very least, Detroit could look to start a succession plan at the position for Decker. The rookie would also have a chance to become the swing tackle and play in extra offensive lineman sets, which new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing uses quite a bit in his scheme.
This year's NFL Draft is exceptionally deep at tackle, as we could see nearly a dozen players taken in the first couple of rounds.
Top 5 tackles to watch at the Combine:
1. Spencer Fano, Utah, 6-6, 308
A three-year starter with experience at both tackle spots, Fano excels in the run game with his combination of athleticism and movement skills and still has room to build his frame up to handle bigger, bull-rushing edges in the NFL.
View photos of the offensive line prospects who were invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Memphis OL Chris Adams (61)
Florida OT Austin Barber (58)
Northwestern OL Evan Beerntsen (60)
Miami OL Markel Bell (70)
Texas A&M OL Chase Bisontis (71)
Boston College OL Jude Bowry (71)
Alabama OL Parker Brailsford (72)
Kentucky OL Jager Burton (62)
Texas OL DJ Campbell (52)
Arkansas OL Fernando Carmona (55)
Boise State OL Kage Casey (77)
Indiana OL Pat Coogan (78)
Miami OL Anez Cooper (73)
Texas A&M OT Dametrious Crownover (78)
Illinois OL J.C. Davis (74)
UCLA OL Garrett DiGiorgio (72)
Iowa OT Gennings Dunker (67)
Utah OT Spencer Fano (55)
Georgia OT Monroe Freeling (57)
Michigan State OL Matt Gulbin (51)
Oregon OL Alex Harkey (71)
Kansas State OL Sam Hecht (75)
Maryland OL Alan Herron (71)
Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor (58)
Penn State OG Olaivavega Ioane (71)
Iowa C Logan Jones (65)
Auburn C Connor Lew (75)
Utah OT Caleb Lomu (71)
Miami OT Francis Mauigoa (61)
Clemson OT Blake Miller (78)
Georgia OL Micah Morris (56)
Oklahoma OL Febechi Nwaiwu (54)
Duke OL Brian Parker II (53)
Mississippi OL Diego Pounds (61)
Oregon OG Emmanuel Pregnon (75)
Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor (74)
Texas A&M OG Ar'maj Reed-Adams (55)
Alabama OL Jaeden Roberts (77)
Georgia Tech OL Keylan Rutledge (77)
Notre Dame OG Billy Schrauth (74)
Penn State OT Drew Shelton (66)
Florida C Jake Slaughter (66)
Iowa OL Beau Stephens (70)
Auburn OL Dillon Wade (52)
Notre Dame OT Aamil Wagner (59)
Washington OL Carver Willis (50)
Oregon OT Isaiah World (76)
Auburn OL Jeremiah Wright (77)
Texas A&M OL Trey Zuhn III (60)
2. Francis Mauigoa, Miami, 6-6, 335
A three-year starter at right tackle for the Hurricanes, Mauigoa has the frame of an NFL guard but the athleticism and movement skills of a tackle. He allowed just two sacks and nine total pressures this past season helping to lead Miami to the National Championship Game, where they lost to Indiana.
3. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama, 6-7, 366
Proctor is an enormous tackle with remarkably good feet and athleticism for such a massive frame. He was used as a skill player in the backfield at times and even caught a pass, which speaks to his athleticism. He's a mauler in the run game as well. Before the 2025 season, Proctor squatted 815 pounds, benched 535 and power cleaned 405, per The Athletic's Bruce Feldman.
4. Caleb Lomu, Utah, 6-6, 308
Draft analysts think there's a lot of upside with Lomu as he builds out his frame and core strength once he gets into an NFL weight program. Lomu plays with good technique and has all the tools to be a good tackle in this league as he adds muscle and experience.
5. Monroe Freeling, Georgia, 6-7, 315
A starter at left tackle for the Bulldogs in 2025 with plenty of room to grow having just 16 college starts to his credit. He has an ideal frame and athleticism to be a starting left tackle for a long time in the NFL.
View photos of NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's first ranking of his Top 50 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
No. 1 QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
No. 2 RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
No. 3 EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State
No. 4 EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
No. 5 LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
No. 6 EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
No. 7 WR Makai Lemon, USC
No. 8 CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
No. 9 WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
No. 10 S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
No. 11 OL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
No. 12 OT Spencer Fano, Utah
No. 13 OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
No. 14 CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
No. 15 WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
No. 16 CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
No. 17 EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
No. 18 EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
No. 19 S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
No. 20 WR Denzel Boston, Washington
No. 21 TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
No. 22 LB CJ Allen, Georgia
No. 23 OT Blake Miller, Clemson
No. 24 OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
No. 25 S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
No. 26 DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
No. 27 EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
No. 28 OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
No. 29 OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
No. 30 CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
No. 31 CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
No. 32 WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
No. 33 DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
No. 34 DT Peter Woods, Clemson
No. 35 EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
No. 36 WR Antonio Williams, Clemson
No. 37 DT Christen Miller, Georgia
No. 38 EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson
No. 39 DT Caleb Banks, Florida
No. 40 QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
No. 41 OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
No. 42 LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
No. 43 RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
No. 44 WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
No. 45 WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
No. 46 WR Deion Burks, Oklahoma
No. 47 LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati
No. 48 WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia
No. 49 OL Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
No. 50 WR Chris Bell, Louisville
Combine sleeper to watch: Keagen Trost, Missouri, 6-4, 316
Trost was the highest graded tackle by Pro Football Focus in all of college football this past season with a 92.0 grade allowing just one sack and seven total pressures with a 1.7 percent pressure rate. He has the flexibility to move inside to play guard as well.
Lions need at the position: Yet to be determined.
Just how big a need the tackle position is for the Lions depends on Decker's retirement decision and any possible moves the Lions make to add to the position via free agency.
Even if Decker, who turns 33 in August, decides to return in 2026, the Lions don't have a proven successor waiting in the wings or a reliable backup and swing tackle currently on the roster. Dan Skipper, last year's top reserve and swing tackle, retired this offseason to pursue a coaching career.
One of the most important items on general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell's to-do list this offseason is improving the talent, competition level and depth along the offensive line to get that unit playing at a much higher level in 2026 and beyond.
Key stat: The Lions allowed 39 sacks this past season, which ranked 18th in the NFL. Denver allowed the fewest (23) and Las Vegas the most (64).
