As Jeremy outlined in his post-2026 NFL Draft Detroit Lions winners and losers article, there are several players on the roster who came out of this draft in a better spot. But a few more stood out—players whose job security feels more stable or whose roles are now better positioned for success based on the supporting pieces added around them. Below are my thoughts on six additional Lions players who benefitted from the decisions made for their 2026 NFL draft class.
Juice Scruggs, C
Once the Lions
acquired Scruggs in the David Montgomery trade and signed Cade Mays in free agency as a long-term solution at center, it never felt likely they’d add a third developmental option at the position to the 53-man roster—especially in a fairly underwhelming and mediocre center draft class. That didn’t stop some fans and media from continuing to point to the Lions tapping into the position in the draft. Fortunately for Scruggs, the Lions didn’t pull the trigger—which was encouraging given some of the overdrafting at the position, with players like Logan Jones (Iowa – Bears) and Jake Slaughter (Florida – Chargers) coming off the board earlier than expected.
Scruggs now heads into 2026 with a legitimate opportunity. He’ll just need to beat out Michael Niese and Seth McLaughlin for the backup center role behind Mays, while also offering flexibility as a reserve at both guard spots. Just as importantly, he gets a year of stable development under offensive line coach Hank Fraley, which could position him as a cost-effective starting option on the open market—or keep him in Detroit as a valuable swing interior offensive lineman.
If Scruggs is called on to step in at center this season, he should be better equipped than what the Lions were forced into last year with an aging, out-of-position Graham Glasgow.
Alim McNeill, DT
For the first time in his career, McNeill didn’t take a clear step forward last season.
He had steadily progressed each year—flashing more splash plays in 2022, becoming a more consistent every-down presence in 2023, and evolving into a true game-plan disruptor in 2024, even after Aidan Hutchinson’s injury. But last season, aside from brief spurts in his return, McNeill never fully regained that form.
Now, two years removed from injury, the Lions have built out the depth around him in a way that should better support a rebound. Additions like Skyler Gill-Howard and Tyre West, along with the return of Levi Onwuzurike, Tyler Lacy, and Mekhi Wingo, give Detroit more flexibility up front. Even if not all of those players stick, the group should help prevent McNeill from being pushed into five-technique alignments while also reducing his overall workload.
McNeill is at his best playing in the 35–50 snap range—not the 55–70 snaps he was often asked to handle last season. A fresher, more focused version of McNeill—one allowed to consistently penetrate and create disruption—should look much closer to the player who earned his extension.
Aidan Hutchinson, DE
Building off the McNeill point, a rejuvenated Alim McNeill lining up next to Aidan Hutchinson on passing downs is already a step up from last season. With both players now two years removed from injury—and with improved depth across the defensive line—this is a much healthier environment for Hutchinson to operate in.
Beyond the Day 3 interior additions already mentioned, the Lions investing in Derrick Moore as a long-term piece opposite Hutchinson is a significant development. Moore gives Detroit another legitimate threat off the edge—someone who can win one-on-ones and prevent offenses from consistently sliding extra protection toward Hutchinson. A player projected to be more impactful condensing the pocket protection than the sacrificial “other” edge rusher that has lined up opposite Hutchinson at times.
More importantly, Moore’s presence—along with DJ Wonnum and the rest of the edge rotation—should help reduce Hutchinson’s workload. Last season, he continued to function as a true ironman, regularly playing 60+ snaps and finishing with 1,005 defensive snaps—66 more than any edge rusher logged in a season over the previous two years.
At this stage, entering his age-26 season as a foundational piece of the defense, this is about preservation as much as production. Even trimming a handful of snaps per game could pay off—keeping Hutchinson fresher late in games, more effective in the postseason, and better positioned for long-term durability.
Thomas Harper, SAF
Harper is coming off a breakout 2025 season after being claimed off waivers following training camp—starting nine games, totaling 37 tackles, five pass breakups, and finishing as PFF’s 11th-highest graded safety (77.8).
Despite what many viewed as a relatively strong safety class, the Lions didn’t address the position, even while using five picks on defense. As Brad Holmes put it, the board “didn’t quite line up,” and he “didn’t really think that class was that deep.” That’s a meaningful outcome for Harper.
Beyond the uncertainty surrounding Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, Harper has a legitimate case as the third-most valuable safety on the roster. He’s also the most experienced player in the system outside of those two, logging 482 defensive snaps last season. His versatility—ability to play both free and strong safety—only strengthens that standing.
With Harper set to be a restricted free agent, he also projects as a cost-controlled option heading into 2027. As things stand, only Joseph and Dan Jackson are under contract at the position beyond this season, positioning Harper as both a valuable depth piece and al low-cost starting caliber option if his trajectory continues.
Sam LaPorta, TE & Brian Branch, SAF
Brad Holmes has consistently maintained that the goal is to sign all four foundational pieces from the Lions’ 2023 class—Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch—to long-term deals. That’s easier said than done, especially given the extensions already handed out and with both LaPorta and Branch now entering Year 4—contract seasons coming off of injury.
The Lions then went through the 2026 NFL Draft without addressing either tight end or safety. At minimum, that indirectly reflects a continued reliance on both players long-term—particularly when you consider there are no tight ends under contract beyond this season and only minimal safety commitments (Kerby Joseph, Dan Jackson) moving forward.
The Lions’ 2026 draft class also benefits both LaPorta and Branch through the pieces added around them.
For LaPorta, the addition of Blake Miller helps stabilize the offensive line. When he’s aligned in-line as a true Y, he’ll now be flanked by either Penei Sewell or Miller—two players who, assuming Miller’s development, project as assets in the run game and capable pass protectors on an island. That gives LaPorta enforcers to combo block with in the run game and should reduce how often he’s needed to chip in protection.
For Branch, the potential emergence of a starting-caliber nickel in Keith Abney II could elevate the secondary as a whole while allowing Branch to stay more consistently at safety. Rather than shifting back into nickel responsibilities like he did as a rookie, Branch can lean into his versatility from a true safety alignment and impact the game more freely.
There’s added long-term stability in how the Lions structured this class for both players.
