The Lions return All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell but will enter the season without long-time left tackle Taylor Decker after he was released this offseason.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke to reporters at last week's Annual League Meetings in Arizona and said he’s leaning toward moving Sewell to left tackle to protect Jared Goff’s blindside. That would open a spot for a new starter on the right side, whether that's newly acquired Larry Borom, veteran Giovanni Manu or a rookie added to the roster later this month in the NFL Draft.
"If you're asking me, I'd like to move him," Campbell said of Sewell playing left tackle in 2026. "We are ready to do that, if need be. I don't want to say right now I'm going to commit to that, but we are ready to do that."
Sewell's flexibility to play both right and left tackle means the Lions can target the best tackle prospect and not worry about the side. That's a good spot for Lions general manager Brad Holmes to be in if he looks to add to the position via the draft.
View photos of the top tackle prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Florida offensive lineman Austin Barber (58) protects the pocket during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025 in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
Florida offensive lineman Austin Barber (02) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Boise State offensive tackle Kage Casey (77) during the Fiesta Bowl College Football Playoff game against Boise State, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Boise State offensive lineman Kage Casey (13) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (55) blocks during an NCAA football game against UCLA on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (22) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (57) plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (24) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arizona State offensive lineman Max Iheanachor (58) looks to block during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona State offensive lineman Max Iheanachor (29) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah offensive lineman Caleb Lomu blocks during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Baylor and Utah Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Utah offensive lineman Caleb Lomu (33) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (61) blocks during an NCAA football game on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)
Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, right, works out during the school's NFL football pro day, Monday March 23, 2026, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
Clemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (78) plays during an NCAA college football game between Clemson and Furman on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Clemson offensive lineman Blake Miller (35) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) sets up to block during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (41) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Northwestern offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan (50) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Northwestern offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan (50) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III (60) waits for the snap during an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Texas A&M offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III (57) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Tackle class draft strength: High-end early talent with good depth. There are seven tackles that made NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's most recent list of the Top 50 prospects in the class. There are 12 tackles who have received a first- through third-round grade entering the draft.
It's a really strong group at the top with a handful of first-round picks expected to be able to come in and start right away. There's a chance we could see as many as seven offensive tackles taken in the first round.
Lions tackle depth chart: Sewell, Borom, Manu, Devin Cochran, Colby Sorsdal
Lions tackle draft priority: High. Detroit views Borom as a potential starter at right tackle with 38 career NFL starts under his belt, but they'd certainly like more competition at that spot throughout the offseason and training camp before making that determination.
The Lions are hoping Manu continues to take steps forward in his development, but they can't go into the season counting on him to be starter ready. It's likely the Lions will come out of this draft with a young tackle prospect they think can push Borom and Manu for a starting role. The competition alone will make everyone better.
Five tackles who fit Lions:
1. Francis Mauigoa, Miami
6-5, 329. 5.10 seconds 40-yard dash (1.72 10-yard split)
Mauigoa is a big, powerful right tackle prospect who should immediately be a plus player as a run blocker. He's a mauler and a people mover in the run game. He can bend and anchor in pass pro and should be an immediate starter.
2. Spencer Fano, Utah
6-5, 311. 4.91 seconds 40-yard dash (1.72 10-yard split)
Started at left tackle at Utah as a freshman and moved over to right tackle as a sophomore where he has started the last two seasons. He's a terrific athlete who is quick out of his stance with good feet and terrific technique. In the run game, he moves people. Utah ran behind him when they needed tough yards. Fano has position versatility being able to flip inside to guard because of his strength and athleticism. He even took snaps at center at the Combine.
View photos of NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's updated 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 LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
No. 4 EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
No. 5 EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State
No. 6 WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
No. 7 EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
No. 8 CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
No. 9 S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
No. 10 OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
No. 11 OL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
No. 12 WR Makai Lemon, USC
No. 13 OL Spencer Fano, Utah
No. 14 TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
No. 15 CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
No. 16 S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
No. 17 S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
No. 18 WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
No. 19 OT Blake Miller, Clemson
No. 20 OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
No. 21 WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
No. 22 OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
No. 23 EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
No. 24 EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson
No. 25 CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
No. 26 OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
No. 27 WR Denzel Boston, Washington
No. 28 EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
No. 29 WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
No. 30 LB CJ Allen, Georgia
No. 31 EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
No. 32 LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
No. 33 DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
No. 34 CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
No. 35 OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
No. 36 DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
No. 37 DT Peter Woods, Clemson
No. 38 QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
No. 39 RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
No. 40 CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
No. 41 LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
No. 42 DT Caleb Banks, Florida
No. 43 CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
No. 44 CB Keionte Scott, Miami
No. 45 EDGE Zion Young, Missouri
No. 46 EDGE Malachi Lawrence. UCF
No. 47 OL Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
No. 48 WR Antonio Williams, Clemson
No. 49 EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
No. 50 WR Germie Bernard, Alabama
3. Monroe Freeling, Georgia
6-7, 315. 4.93 seconds 40-yard dash (1.71 10-yard split)
Freeling is one of the most athletic tackles to enter the draft in decades with an RAS (Relative Athletic Score) of 99.99 out of 100, ranking No. 2 out of 1,512 offensive tackles from 1987 to 2026. He's got the kind of length, long arms (34 3/4), quickness and athleticism teams love at the position with room to still add mass and strength to his frame.
4. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
6-7, 352. 5.21 seconds 40-yard dash (1.84 10-yard split)
Proctor is a massive human with terrific athletic traits. He gets downhill in the run game and moves defenders out of the way. He has quicker feet in pass pro than most people would think for a man his size. Alabama put him in the backfield and used him as a fullback which shows off the kind of athleticism we're talking about with Proctor.
5. Caleb Lomu, Utah
6-6, 313. 4.99 seconds 40-yard dash (1.74 10-yard split)
A two-year starter at left tackle with plenty of room to still grow. He's technically sound with terrific play strength and balance. He's going to continue to grow as he adds strength at the next level and projects to be a quality starter for a long time.
