NFL mock draft season is ramping up, and ESPN just hit us with a three-round mock that may have fallen perfectly for the Detroit Lions, particularly in the first round.
The mock, which was created by ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Jordan Reid, and Field Yates, made a pair of familiar picks for the Lions at both 17th and 50th overall. But it’s how the board fell that is particularly interesting to me.
Lions’ 17th overall pick: Georgia OT Monroe Freeling
Pick made by: Kiper
Kiper’s explanation:
“Regardless of which side Penei Sewell plays
next season, the Lions need a long-term answer at the other offensive tackle spot. Freeling started just 18 games in college, but he’s long and quick, and his ceiling is high.“
In this scenario, Freeling was just the second offensive lineman off the board. Only Miami’s Francis Mauigoa had been taken before the Lions were on the clock, going third overall to the Arizona Cardinals. That left Detroit with their pick of Utah’s Spencer Fano (went 19th), Penn State’s Vega Ioane (21st), Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor (23rd), Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor (24th), or Blake Miller (4oth).
If that was the case, unless the Lions are absolutely sold on Freeling, this feels like an ideal scenario for trading down. With no third-round pick, Detroit could use the extra draft capital. And with so much offensive line talent still on the board, they could trade down, add picks, and still get a starting-level lineman in the first round. It’s worth noting the edge defender market wasn’t as potent, with Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Rueben Bain Jr, and Akheem Mesidor all off the board by 17.
As for the pick itself, Freeling has been widely paired to Detroit this offseason. A supreme athlete with ideal size and movement, it’s easy to see how he could slide in and be a Day 1 replacement for Taylor Decker—particularly with how good of a pass protector he was in 2025. Freeling’s 17 collegiate starts all came at left tackle. But that lack of experience and some technical rawness has some wondering if he’s a early or late first-round talent.
Lions’ 50th overall pick: Michigan EDGE Jaishawn Barham
Pick made by: Miller
Miller’s explanation:
“Detroit goes down the road to get a sudden defender who is still ascending after moving from linebacker to a full-time edge rusher role. Barham could help fill the void opposite Aidan Hutchinson.“
Barham would be an interesting fit for the Lions. At 6-foot-3.5 and 240 pounds, he is certainly not the big, edge-setting defensive end they’d like as a three-down defensive lineman. However, he could potentially be a fit in Detroit’s SAM linebacker role, if Detroit was considering moving Derrick Barnes to former Lions Alex Anzalone’s WILL linebacker position. And given Barham’s history as an off-ball linebacker, he could be a pretty ideal fit.
Barham’s college career started at Maryland, where he started 12 games in 2022 and 11 in 2023 at linebacker. Upon transferring to Michigan, Barham kept his status as a starter, but in 2025, he began to play more on the edge (four starts at linebacker, seven on the edge).
As a pass rusher, he’s still developing given his limited experience (only eclipsed 100 pass rushing snaps once in four years), but the potential is there. He’s got excellent explosiveness and some untapped bend as a rusher. Last year, he produced his best work as a pass rusher, tallying 4.0 sacks, 21 pressures, and nine QB hits. But he’s still very much a work in progress there.
Even better for Detroit, his relentless, physical style of play has turned him into a very good run defender in his off-ball responsibilities. His PFF run defense score has never been below 72, and he’s posted elite scores in each of the last two seasons (87.2, 90.4)
Paired with DJ Wonnum and Levi Onwuzurike, Barham would provide diversity and depth to Detroit’s defensive end position, while also giving the Lions some options at linebacker following the departure of Anzalone.
