The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books. The Detroit Lions selected seven players to make up their newest draft class with a focus on strengthening positions of need and adding depth to a solid core.
Between the draft and free agency, there are a lot of new players to keep an eye on as the Lions continue to work their way through the offseason training program.
Which new Lion are you most excited to see hit the field in 2026? I asked the Detroitlions.com crew, and here's what they had to say:
View photos of the seven players the Detroit Lions selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
T Blake Miller, Clemson: Round 1, 17th overall
(AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
T Blake Miller, Clemson: Round 1, 17th overall
(AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
T Blake Miller, Clemson: Round 1, 17th overall
(AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
T Blake Miller, Clemson: Round 1, 17th overall
(AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
T Blake Miller, Clemson: Round 1, 17th overall
(AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
EDGE Derrick Moore, Michigan: Round 2, 44th overall
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
EDGE Derrick Moore, Michigan: Round 2, 44th overall
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
EDGE Derrick Moore, Michigan: Round 2, 44th overall
(AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
EDGE Derrick Moore, Michigan: Round 2, 44th overall
(AP Photo/David Dermer)
EDGE Derrick Moore, Michigan: Round 2, 44th overall
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
LB Jimmy Rolder, Michigan: Round 4, 118th overall
(Gregory Payan/AP Content Services for NFL)
LB Jimmy Rolder, Michigan: Round 4, 118th overall
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
LB Jimmy Rolder, Michigan: Round 4, 118th overall
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
LB Jimmy Rolder, Michigan: Round 4, 118th overall
(AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
LB Jimmy Rolder, Michigan: Round 4, 118th overall
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
CB Keith Abney II, Arizona State: Round 5, 157th overall
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
CB Keith Abney II, Arizona State: Round 5, 157th overall
(AP Photo/Josh McSwain)
CB Keith Abney II, Arizona State: Round 5, 157th overall
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
CB Keith Abney II, Arizona State: Round 5, 157th overall
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
CB Keith Abney II, Arizona State: Round 5, 157th overall
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
WR Kendrick Law, Kentucky: Round 5, 168th overall
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
WR Kendrick Law, Kentucky: Round 5, 168th overall
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
WR Kendrick Law, Kentucky: Round 5, 168th overall
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
WR Kendrick Law, Kentucky: Round 5, 168th overall
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
WR Kendrick Law, Kentucky: Round 5, 168th overall
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
DL Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech: Round 6, 205th overall
(College Pressbox)
DL Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech: Round 6, 205th overall
(College Pressbox)
DL Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech: Round 6, 205th overall
(AP Photo/Eric Gay)
DL Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech: Round 6, 205th overall
(College Pressbox)
DL Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech: Round 6, 205th overall
(College Pressbox)
DL Tyre West, Tennessee: Round 7, 222nd overall
(AP Photo/John Amis)
DL Tyre West, Tennessee: Round 7, 222nd overall
(AP Photo/George Walker IV)
DL Tyre West, Tennessee: Round 7, 222nd overall
(AP Photo/George Walker IV)
DL Tyre West, Tennessee: Round 7, 222nd overall
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
DL Tyre West, Tennessee: Round 7, 222nd overall
(AP Photo/James Pugh)
Tim Twentyman: C Cade Mays
I'm looking forward to the difference Cade Mays could make in the center of Detroit's offensive line. The Lions needed to get younger and more athletic at that spot and did so by signing the veteran Mays to a three-year free-agent deal.
Giving quarterback Jared Goff the room to step up and being stouter in the interior alongside Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany could go a long way in making Detroit's offensive line one of the league's elite units once again.
Abigail DeYoung: CB Keith Abney II
GM Brad Holmes had a third-round grade on cornerback Keith Abney II heading into Day 3 of the NFL Draft, so I'm intrigued to see his impact this season after the Lions selected him in the fifth round.
In his last two seasons at Arizona State, he showed his versatility and production capability playing nickel and safety, recording 96 tackles, 21 passes defended and five interceptions. Abney should add a great level of competition to the secondary and could compete for a role at nickel cornerback.
View photos from offseason workouts on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge (69) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein (61) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo (94) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Payton Turner during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Damone Clark during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jackson Meeks (83) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Tyler Conklin during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Dan Jackson (28) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Greg Dortch during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Avonte Maddox (29) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Christian Izien during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (9) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Thomas Harper (12) during offseason workouts at the Meijer Performance Center on April 30, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Editor's Pick: OL Blake Miller
I'm interested to see if first-round pick Blake Miller can earn a starting role on the Lions' new-look offensive line in 2026. He showed improvement every year in college, and if that continues in the pros, the Lions could have their right tackle of the future to pair with Penei Sewell.
Miller has an opportunity to make an immediate impact as a rookie, which will be exciting to watch develop.
