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One Week Out, the Mock Is OnSeven days before the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions Podcast fired up a full seven-round mock. The simulator ran on the consensus board at normal speed. Every trade offer was rejected to keep the exercise clean, even though the host admitted he would take several of them in real life. Tennessee, Buffalo, and Philadelphia dangled packages with future second-round picks. Tempting, but declined.The board fell largely as expected into the teens. The goal was simple. Track how the Detroit Lions might act when real choices appear. Concrete roster needs. Scheme fits. Red flags. All in play.Round 1: OT Over CB TemptationsThe Lions sifted through a cluster that included Jermod McCoy, Dylan Thieneman, Keldric Faulk, Kadyn Proctor, Akheem Mesidor, and Caleb Lomu. McCoy brought one season of pristine outside-corner tape at Tennessee, but the knee history and whispers about a degenerative issue cooled enthusiasm. The Lions already live with that kind of concern at safety with Kirby Joseph. Pass.Edge was surveyed for a complement to Aidan Hutchinson. A prototype was on the board, but Mesidor did not fit that vision. Aveion Terrell offered coverage polish yet carried a lighter frame than ideal. Caleb Lomu drew praise for movement skills and zone-friendly run blocking, but the sense was Detroit would not value him as highly. Kadyn Proctor held appeal, just not as the apple of their eye.The pick landed where positional value and board scarcity intersected. Blake Miller, offensive tackle. Take the pillar now, develop the ceiling with Hank Fraley, and avoid forcing an offensive need later when the board thins.After 17: Runs, Snipes, and OffersOnce Miller was in, chips fell fast. McCoy came off the board. Proctor went to Houston. Gabe Jacas vanished. Then the sting. TJ Parker, a player with real Lions interest, disappeared just before 50. More trade calls arrived in the 50s with swaps that included moving down for extra Day 2 capital. Again, declined for the sake of the exercise.Round 2 Watch: Corner Takes the LeadThe Lions scanned offense and saw little they liked. Eli Stowers at tight end did not move the needle, especially with contested-catch concerns. A running back like Jadarian Price was not in play. Defense answered. Chris Johnson, an outside corner, fit cleanly and immediately jumped to the top of the conversation. Malachi Lawrence offered intrigue. Caleb Banks carried a foot injury that complicated the calculus.The takeaway was clear. By grabbing an offensive tackle early, Detroit preserved flexibility while the second-round board tilted defense. Cornerback rose to the front, with outside traits that align with how the Lions want to play on the perimeter. Health flags matter. Scheme fit matters more. One week out, this mock framed both with clarity.
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