Passing Time: Detroit Lions Talk

Passing Time: Lions 2026 Draft Class - The Grit over Flash Draft Day Strategy - S2E50 - 4/30/26

• Brian & Rob • Season 2 • Episode 50

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In Episode 50, Lions 2026 Draft Class - Breaking Down the GRIT over FLASH Draft Day Strategy!

Not Flashy, Just Detroit: Lions 2026 Draft Class Deep Dive

The Detroit Lions are officially stepping into the 2026 era—and once again, GM Brad Holmes is building this team the way he always has… through the trenches.

In Episode 50 of Passing Time: Detroit Lions Talk, we break down the entire 2026 Lions draft class, headlined by first-round pick Blake Miller out of Clemson Tigers football. From elite offensive line potential to defensive tone-setters like Derrick Moore, this class might not be flashy—but it screams Detroit football.

🔍 What We Cover:
🟡 Blake Miller (Round 1) – Future bookend tackle? Culture fit + elite traits
🔵 Derrick Moore (Round 2) – A disruptive EDGE from Michigan Wolverines football ready to pair with Aidan Hutchinson
🟠 Jimmy Rolder – Instinctive linebacker depth with upside
🟣 Keith Abney II – Could this be the steal of the draft?
🔴 Kendrick Law – Versatility + immediate special teams impact
🟤 Day 3 DL Adds – Motor, depth, and rotational value
⚫ Roster Impact – How this class shapes both sides of the ball
⚪ UDFA Targets – Names to watch heading into camp

Let’s talk about it.

This draft class embodies everything the Lions are building—toughness, reliability, and dominance up front. It might not win headlines today… but it could win games in January.

👉 “This might not be the flashiest draft class—but it might be one of the most Detroit Lions draft classes we’ve seen.”

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SPEAKER_01

You're listening to Passing Time, a Detroit Lions podcast. We're one pride and all grit with a passion for Detroit Lions football. Whether you're between meetings, between classes, sitting in traffic, or just relaxing at home, if you have time to pass, pass it with passing time. Detroit Lions Talk.

SPEAKER_00

Welcome back. Post draft. Episode 50. 50. Season two, year two, episode 13 of season two, Brian.

SPEAKER_02

Let's do it, man.

SPEAKER_00

Hey, post-draft. We got some content tonight. We're pretty fired up.

SPEAKER_02

Listen, the the lions went in there. They got a haul. We want to break them down. We want to look at them and uh get your reaction.

SPEAKER_00

And as always, thanks for making us a weekly listen.

SPEAKER_03

This is a Tries Podcast.

SPEAKER_00

I'm Rob. I'm Brian. Here we go. So we are going to go backstage. We're into the 2026 era here. New players, new team.

SPEAKER_02

New philosophy, maybe?

SPEAKER_00

Potentially. Yeah, it kind of feels like that, Brian.

SPEAKER_02

It does.

SPEAKER_00

We're going to break that down. How are the lines building?

SPEAKER_02

Well, I mean, you you look at what they went through in each round that they had a pick, and uh, you're getting guys that have experience, you're getting guys that are durable, and you're getting guys that are fitting needs, not just best player available.

SPEAKER_00

So and we will get into that, Brian. Don't give the secret sauce away. Um, we're gonna highlight the first round pick, but we're gonna really get into all the picks today, how they fit in the with the team, how they fit in with the identity, and what the Lions potentially are doing a little bit different in this episode of passing time.

SPEAKER_01

Let's do it.

SPEAKER_00

Let's do it. So uh let's start off with Blake Miller, Brian. Uh, first round draft pick of the Detroit Lions, a one of the highest what the highest pick they've had in three years now.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, um so Blake Miller, Clemson, uh 6'7, 317, age 22. So you got a uh a youth movement here. Um the dude is an athletic freak, though. I mean, when he comes down to tackles, um his uh I mean his RAS score was uh what 9.90. Um so he was fourth best tackle in this particular draft, and I think it was um you know in the upper uh echelon of all tackles in um you know when the RAS score as since the RAS scores come out.

SPEAKER_00

So so I mean the you you listen to a lot of draft podcasts, and you listen to ours, you listen to other people's, and Blake Miller was a name that people were kind of like uh it's an obvious lions pick, right?

SPEAKER_02

Like we even said that.

SPEAKER_00

We we talked a lot about that, you know, but you know, there was sexier picks, Brian.

SPEAKER_02

I mean, Monroe Freelancing seemed like a sexier pick, you know. Caden Proctor, if he fell Procter, if he fell, it was a sexier pick. Um you know, there's there was guys out there that seemed to be like, oh man, he's this the ceiling of this guy is gonna be so much higher. Um but I don't think we're giving Blake Miller the the credit he is is is deserving of.

SPEAKER_00

We never did. So we're in this podcast, let's put some respect on his name.

SPEAKER_02

And I and I'll I'll I'll say it, man. I I didn't give him that credit either. So let's let's do that right here. The guy, 54 straight starts, he did not miss a single practice except one. One practice, why did he miss that practice? He had surgery on his wrist the day he missed that practice, he was back on the field the next day.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I mean it Brian, if if you're if you wake up 54 straight times without hitting this news button or alarm clock, you're a superhuman, right? Like you you you're just dominating the mornings, right? But if you go out and and bang with other 300 pounders every single day of the week and you keep playing, you that that that's that's a that's a trait, right? Yep, that's a trait that the Lions are looking for.

SPEAKER_02

And that's what they're looking for. He that's why he scored high in the grit index. That's why the Detroit Lions loved him, and that's why they brought him in as our hopefully right starting right tackle.

SPEAKER_00

So uh young kid out of Ohio um gets goes on to Clemson when Clemson is a superpower at this point in Blake Miller's freshman year. Um, and uh potentially a lot of those Clemson guys fell. The Clemson team was loaded, they severely underperformed. Um, and maybe it was Cade Klubnick. I don't I I don't exactly know what happened down there with with Dabo's kind of really the last two years, but he had some surefire talent, and that's one reason that a guy like Blake Miller gets overlooked. If Clemson's sitting there in the you know in the college football playoff last year, yeah, he's getting highlighted. That that's a guy that maybe goes top 10, top 10, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

I mean he doesn't fall to 17 for sure. Um, so we can all be excited and lucky to have Blake Miller. He feels not just a best player available checkbox, he feels a need for the Detroit Lions. Um, and what that does mean is that I think we've we've solidified our offensive line to to the extent that we we probably will. Um, and I'm happy about it. I I think that we've done enough this offseason um with the Cade Mays move, with the Pinet to left and the um Blake Miller to right. You know, we've also brought in a ton of competition um at left guard or even at that right tackle position in order to raise the floor.

SPEAKER_00

So I mean, we went into this draft thinking like, okay, if we got to settle with Larry Borham as our right tackle, like we'll be good with that. Like as long as like the lines took the best player available in the draft, we're excited about that pick. But the fact that Larry Borham is sitting there as our backup tackle is a situation that we didn't have last year at all.

SPEAKER_02

We did not, and I I feel pretty good about um what what Jared Goff is gonna stand behind, you know, coming into the season, you know, being able to protect that middle, he can step up in that pocket, he's got guys around him that are gonna they're they're gonna do their job, you know, and and not only that, but they're gonna finish, they're gonna work their butts off in order to bring us back to the pedigree that we deserve.

SPEAKER_00

So can you go through that O-line projection a little bit this coming year, right now, as it kind of stands, you know, I don't know, what are you like four and a half months away from the start of the season?

SPEAKER_02

Right, way too early. But um, I I predict right now Bike Miller comes in and finds a way to start at that right tackle position. You got Tate Ratledge in in year two at that right guard. He's he's gonna continue to trend upwards. Cade Mays taking over Graham Glasgow at the center position. Um, left tackle, or I'm sorry, left guard is going to be a question mark right now. There's gonna be some competition there, but as of now, Christian Mahogany, Frazier, Barch, um, that you know, that that San Francisco, you know, guard that that's coming to compete for that left guard position, and then Panasul moving from right tackle to left tackle um to anchor uh that offensive line. And then you look at some swing tackles, and and does Larry Borum be able to be that that that extra guy? Um, does Miles Frazier fill in that role? Um, we've got options at that point, so it's kind of wild.

SPEAKER_00

It it you know, last year we didn't have this problem. If you if you go back a couple years, you're like, man, we were sitting here really podcasting talking about like how the Lions have a great offensive line, but they're starting to age. Now you got Pinet as like the the old veteran on the block, and he's still only 25 years old. So he's 25 years old. Um, there's a lot of youth on this line, there's a lot of term on contracts on this line. If this line gels, this is an asset going you know multiple years in for the franchise.

SPEAKER_02

And you know, the linchpin, like we talked about a pre-pod was Cade Mays. Is Cade Mays we talked about how he is ascending? Um, he's a guy that that we're gonna need to rely on in order to take a step up from from last year, um, in order to really make sure that that this can work.

SPEAKER_00

And you know, if if Cade doesn't work out, which you know that they vetted, you got juice drugs, you got you got you know potentially Frasier, Barch that could step in at center, and and there's a some depth there at center that if it doesn't work out, um, but man, you're starting to solve more jigsaw puzzles if Cade Mays isn't the guy there.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, it's it's not where we want to be. We'd rather have Petsing as our new OC come in with a pretty solid O-line that that allows him to be to be flexible and do what he does, be creative, you know, fill um you know, fill those roles with guys that we have. You know, if we if we have uh three amazing tight ends, we're gonna run 13 personnel. If we don't, we're not, you know. So we but we need an offensive line regardless um in order to have that effective offense, and and we're gonna need that this year.

SPEAKER_00

So yeah, I so bottom line, you know, when I think about um Blake Miller, I think about high floor, high ceiling, good culture, cornerstone of the offensive line. He could be kind of the next like five to ten year piece that we talk about a lot like a couple guys that have left us over the last couple years. Sure.

SPEAKER_02

I and I I envision him. I don't know if it's this the way that he plays the game is is a uh a Taylor Decker of the right side. You know, he if you're gonna replace that, that I'm I'm happy with that.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I I I like that. So transitioning into uh segment two, um round two, round two. I don't know how that worked out. Segment two, round two, it works out really well though. Um Derrick Moore, um, defensive end, pick number 44 out of the national championship winning University of Michigan.

SPEAKER_02

And uh you're gonna be able to speak a lot more to Derek Moore, um, knowing him and being that that hyper Michigan fan that you are. Um, but regardless, you know, it was still a position of need, as well as um a guy that we know we can all get behind a little bit. You know, we've been clamoring for right now for uh Brad Holmes to go out there and get an edge opposite of Hutch, a guy that's gonna go out there and and give us more pass rush, um, not just a guy that's gonna crush a can um and uh set an edge for the run, but a guy that's got got some upside when it comes to pass rush ability, but also has got the ability to be a solid football player.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, so um you want me to kind of take this from here?

SPEAKER_02

Damn, man. Here we go. I'm gonna sit back and uh get my drinker.

SPEAKER_00

Alright, what are you drinking tonight, Brad? Some tequila. Some tequila, I like it. So um a trade-up move by Brad Holmes. Right? Like controversial again. You know, anytime Brad does something trading up, trading picks back. Um, but we had to get ahead of the Baltimore Ravens, the Jesse Minter-led Baltimore Ravens, also with a big, big crux of former U of M analysts and assistants that he brought over, right? So um, and the Baltimore Ravens, who they got ahead of, the very next pick drafted a what? Defensive end. Defensive event. So maybe a um Phil, you we talked about this, uh, friend of the podcast, contributor to the podcast, um, a guy that came over and celebrated draft day here at the uh the den at my house. Um potentially was a guy that the the Ravens were targeting, right? So um four-year guy at Michigan, um, played on a national championship team, um, former high four-star recruit, uh, originally committed to Oklahoma out of Baltimore, St. Francis. Um, but let me tell you a little bit about Derek Moore's background quickly. Um, grew up in a very, very tough household. Um, you know, a very typical kind of broken Baltimore area household. Biff Pogy, um, a guy that uh actually ran the football program at St. Francis, a a former hedge fund millionaire uh in that area said, you know what? Um he had kids that ran through a program and he said, I want to give these inner city kids a chance. So he what he did is he built this program recruiting guys, you know, within a couple hours of that program. And this is a dorm room style program where he pulled kids out of their homes and he'd put them in a dorm room, give them structure, give them meals, and then he created this program that put these kids on a path to achieve their college dreams and their NFL dreams, Brian.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Go ahead.

SPEAKER_02

No, no, you're you're rolling.

SPEAKER_00

I'm rolling. So um originally Biff was uh still coaching that team, and Derek Moore recruited um by everybody, he's a national recruit, committed to Oklahoma. Um, Biff goes on and was a really had a really good relationship with Michigan. His son played for the University of Michigan. Um, so Biff kind of came over to Michigan to be a mentor to Jim Harbaugh, um, and ran kind of he was the associate head coach, but not an official coaching position. Um, and uh they recruited Derek and they they got him to flip his commitment over to Michigan when Biff was there, and the guy played on uh a team with stacked defensive lines, like NFL draft pick after NFL draft pick. And and all Derek did was do the things necessary for Michigan to be successful. So a very selfless player. Hey, set the edge. You're your role here. We have we have speed rushers on one side, I want you to set the edge on the other side. We don't have speed rushers anymore. I want you to be a bull rusher, I want you to do all these things. And all he did was be a team player, showed up every single day. The guy wasn't missing games, wasn't skipping bowls, a very, very key contributor to the University of Michigan, and a national champion as we as we talked about, uh, a captain of the defense, and a guy that the Lions traded up for to be a key contributor to your Detroit Lions football team.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, I mean, I'm excited. I'm excited that Derek Moore is gonna be a part of this team opposite Hutch. I think that they already have a a relationship to some extent, um, being you know, being from Michigan, being able to play together just a little bit, you know, that that freshman sophomore to the to the super senior um type relationship. But Derek Moore has already said, like, I can't wait to learn more from Aiden Hutchinson to be able to just be a sponge to what he has got to offer offer him and his growth. And not only that, but he's already a team player, he's already willing to be the the Robin to the Batman across from him. So we're we're excited to see what Derek Moore has value and what he can bring to this defense. Um, and to me, this a bit of changing philosophies of defense because Derek Moore does not fit your prototypical 6'7, 204 or 260-pound long-armed edge setter. He is somebody that has both traits of that that pass rushing um as well as run-stopping uh type of defensive end. So he's gonna be versatile. He's he could possibly be a three-down defensive end.

SPEAKER_00

And you know what? I don't think he's going in this season. I don't think the expectation is that he's gonna be your you know three-down guy not this year as he grows into the year and then to next year. This is a guy that like kind of like Tate Ratlich. Like, we didn't know what to expect, but the guy went out there and had the most starts of any offensive lineman on the team.

SPEAKER_03

Yep.

SPEAKER_00

Um, Derek Moore um played 53 games at Michigan, 23 starts, 21 sacks, 25 tackles for a loss. Um, and this was a loaded defensive line, a defensive line that actually featured five first-round picks during his tenure. Um, so Derek Moore is is part of a group. And if you want the six-seven guy, we we actually signed a guy out of New Orleans who was a former first-round pick that hasn't really panned out, that has all the you know, the the underwear measuring tapes, but Derek Moore's gonna go in there as a six-three and a half guy, um, but uh, but a workaholic kind of guy, and I think he's gonna earn your respect. So if you if you're a you know Michigan State Spartan fan, which um you know I I I like the Spartans as well. Um, and you hate the pick, you but you know what? Hey guys, I got Spartan fans as friends. You hated the Hutchinson pick too. You hated it, right? And like that's really worked out pretty well for the Lions. Give it a chance. This guy's got Detroit DNA. Um, not that he's from Detroit, but he is the working class type. Like, he's not coming in there with he with he's not a product of an IMG academy, um, a gold plated toilet seat kind of kid. This guy has he's broken home, he's earned it every single spot, and he really fits the culture of a guy coming in Detroit and saying, like, I want to learn, I want to be better, and I'm gonna work as hard as humanly possible to kind of fit this team.

SPEAKER_02

And if you continue to look at the guys that Brett Holmes and Dan Campbell are bringing in, I think the word hungry is gonna be repeated over and over and over again. Um, it's it's one of those things that I think we lost a little bit last year and that we're striving to get back to. These guys that are willing to do whatever it takes to get on the field, willing to do whatever it takes to make that next step, and willing to do whatever it takes to bring a championship to these Detroit Lions. And I think Derek Moore fits that that drive, that that character, that that role perfectly is that he's going to push everyone around him and make them better.

SPEAKER_00

So yeah, I love it. Do you have anything else you want to add before I dominate another segment?

SPEAKER_02

Let's do it. Let's go on to Jimmy Rolder.

SPEAKER_00

Alright, Jimmy Roller, you want to host me on this one?

SPEAKER_02

Hey, Rob, tell me about Jimmy Rolder. Uh third or our I'm sorry, our fourth round pick at 118.

SPEAKER_00

Fourth round pick, 118. Um, you know, a guy that like I'm sitting there beginning the fourth round, and I'm I'm like typing up a text message to the to the the passing time podcast, and I'm like, you know what? I'm not gonna do this. Um, but I'm sitting there looking at the needs of the Lions, and I'm sitting there looking at the board and being like, man, Jimmy Roller makes a lot of sense. But the Lions aren't gonna pick two guys from the University of Michigan and and back-to-back picks, right? Um, so let me tell you a little bit about Jimmy Roller. Uh having some experience uh following his whole recruitment, his his blossoming act. Um, and and maybe you know this, but I bet you if you're listening to this podcast, you probably might not know this. But Jimmy Roller was a former baseball commitment to the University of Illinois. He's an Illinois kid. Illinois in the Big Ten is the Creme de la Creme baseball school. So Big Ten's not known for their baseball. They've they've sent a couple teams pretty deep in tournaments, but they're they're kind of a lesser-than-conference. But Illinois is the cream of the crop. And Jimmy Roller was a baseball commitment to Illinois who blossomed late in his junior year as a linebacker in the state of Illinois and started getting recruited pre-senior year, which is really, really late. So we'll call him a pretty late bloomer. Ended up developing into a four-star and was relatively highly recruited. Um, Michigan was on him pretty early. Um, this was the Jim Harbaugh-led Michigan team with stacks. And the uh at the time they were recruiting um Jimmy Roller, they had Devin Bush, they had they had guys that were going to the NFL. Um, so they wooed him away from his baseball commitment, his first love baseball. Um, guy moves like a middle infielder. Um before he came to be a linebacker, he was a skinny guy that could play a lot of different positions in the middle of the of the infield. So Michigan recruits him, steals him away from Illinois, and a lot of national powers. Actually, Jimmy Roller at the end of his high school year was getting recruited by every SEC team. People were starting to get on him. Comes to Michigan, stacked room. What does he do? He carves out a really early role, special teams, becomes a special teams ace, um, played special teams on a national championship football team. Um, and later on in his career, limited starts, but develops into a just a key piece to the defense. Um, and sat behind guys a lot like Derrick Moore. When you're sitting behind really, really, really good like Justin Jefferson was never the the number one wide receiver at LSU. He sat behind really, really good wide receivers. These guys, defensive linemen, linebackers, are sitting behind a national championship team, and he really stood out on a defense once he got a shot, and it's one reason he falls to the fourth round. He's sitting there because you know what? He doesn't have a ton of tape. You know, if you want to look at special teams tape, if you want to look at backup reps tape, Roller's got some tape there, but he's only got 14 starts as a Michigan Wolverine. And these are the types of picks that are a little bit of a wild card picks. But Brad Holmes talked about it. He started watching Michigan tape. He's like, who's this new guy? I've watched a lot of Michigan tape. They've had a lot of guys come to the league, and I'm seeing this guy standing out. And he goes up fourth round and he gets him. And this is the fourth round, Brian. It's not so what's our expectation here?

SPEAKER_02

I think our expectation's got to be uh four core special teamer, somebody who can challenge uh maybe Melcom Rodriguez or Delone Clark for for one of those back up linebacker spots, or maybe a a role player in regards to that. Um, but he's going to be a guy that continues to work, play with his hair on fire, goes down on kickoff and makes plays, comes back and kick return and makes good blocks. Um, he's he's one of those dudes that we need as a Detroit Lion in order to make all phases go.

SPEAKER_00

So beginning of the year, not a lot of expectation. What do you say? Middle end of the year. What's your expectation for a Jimmy Roller? I I would say he's got a challenge.

SPEAKER_02

He's got to challenge this for for maybe the maybe the the Malcolm Rodriguez spot. May maybe he's uh develops into more of a replacement for Alex Anceloni. I think again this is indicative of a little bit of of our scheme and what we're going to see this year because I do think that we're gonna see more nickel um and we're gonna get out of more base, and so we're not gonna see uh a lot of or as much uh of that three linebackers set this year. So it allows a guy like Jimmy Rollder to develop and get his feet wet without being thrown to the to the to the fire.

SPEAKER_00

So so as a fourth rounder, I'm gonna go up, I'll make a hot take here. As a fourth rounder, uh Jimmy Rolder back half the year is your starting linebacker for the Detroit Lions, and it's not because uh somebody got hurt, it's not because somebody was playing bad, it's because Jimmy Roller is that good.

SPEAKER_02

Do you think that Jimmy Roller is uh a better fit for that Sam role, a little bit more of that pressure off the edge, a coverage linebacker, or more of that will roll, uh like a replacement for maybe a Derek Barnes?

SPEAKER_00

I I that's a tough call. You know, Jimmy Roller actually played both spots at University of Michigan. Um, I think he is gonna be more of a Sam style linebacker for the Detroit Lions. Like it. It's more of a natural fit.

SPEAKER_03

Okay.

SPEAKER_00

Um so that being said, Brian, I'm gonna give you a little bit of a chance to talk on the microphone. Even though as a Michigan fan, I'm very excited about the the first three picks, you know. But this next pick we're gonna talk about is probably the one I'm and most people are the most excited about. Um let's introduce you to round five, pick 157, Brian.

SPEAKER_02

Keith Abney the second. Um what we can all or we've been talking about maybe be the the steal of the draft at this point. This guy was um was mocked to be uh a day two guy, maybe uh even even as high as a back of the the second round, possibly top to middle of the third round. So this is one of those dudes, cornerback, um, that just just balls. Just balls. And I I can actually see him starting to pressure and push for whether that's that that nickel roll or even an outside roll. Um, and and and he's gonna fill those spots. Uh, you know, and we've all seen the the turnaround of injuries when it comes to our defensive backs. This is just again raising that floor and being able to have quality corners in that room in order to rely on. Um, he's also gonna push a guy like Ennis Rake Straw, who we haven't seen yet, and he's gonna put like, hey, look, you you got to show that you're you're worth anything, otherwise, this guy's gonna come in and take your spot.

SPEAKER_00

Um, so what's your expectation for Keith Abney uh kind of going into this year?

SPEAKER_02

I think Keith Abney, right away, at the at the very start, is gonna pressure hard for that nickel roll. He's going to he's gonna be able to come in and at least show that he's a baller. Um, and uh I do I truthfully believe that he's gonna get some time the back half of the the 2026 season.

SPEAKER_00

So we've talked about four guys, Brian, and man, like I don't know if we're drinking the Honolulu blue Kool-Aid here, but it certainly sounds like it to you that uh it's sounding a little bit like, but man, at this point, you know, if we're cutting the draft here and we're grading the Detroit Lions draft, um, this is certainly kind of feeling like B plus A minus range, right?

SPEAKER_02

I believe if you have four guys that you believe are gonna be contributors, um yeah, 100%. You're gonna you're looking at that that A minus B plus range, right? When if if you're grading these guys based upon you know a projection. Okay.

SPEAKER_00

So about a dozen picks later, the Lions make their probably most controversial pick of the draft. Okay. Um, so so spin it to me, Brian, and tell me what you think about um pick number 168 in round five.

SPEAKER_02

Kendrick Law, I I dude, I like this guy, wide receiver. Uh, he is a more of a gadgety, you know, quick twitch type of guy. But not only is he a receiver, he is another one of those guys that's gonna fill a role, maybe a um a replacement for Khalif Raymond, uh, a returner, a gunner, uh, somebody who is gonna play again quality special teams type a role. And he might not start off that way. He's going to um maybe compete with Greg Dortch in order to be that that spot, but he may be an upgrade from a Dominic Lovett, right? We drafted last year in the later rounds. Um, he is somebody who I think again raises that floor, and um I I like this pick.

SPEAKER_00

So Kenneth Law uh started his year off or his you know, college football career off at Alabama, um, was first seen by Brad Holmes when he was down there looking at other guys at Alabama, thinking, like, who's this guy? Like, I've never heard of him, seen him. Ends up transferring to Kentucky, where he gets a little bit of time at Kentucky, 53 catches, 540 yards, becomes a weapon. Um, Kentucky also sucks.

SPEAKER_02

Um more of a run first, like that's all they got kind of offense.

SPEAKER_00

So, yeah, you like this is where scouting really, really matters. And I'm not saying it's gonna be a hit. Every scouting is gonna be a hit, but you look at like Kendrick Law, you look at Jimmy Rolder, you look at some of these guys where it's like, man, you're the scouting work's gonna pay off, and the Lions gave up a lot of other opportunities to say, you know what, this year we're really gonna dig in deep to the scouting of the draft. So we hope for a higher hit rate here, but you know, again, a fifth round pick.

SPEAKER_02

Fifth round pick.

SPEAKER_00

You know, the your expectations shouldn't be too high, but um, we've seen some fifth rounders really outperform in in certain drafts, right, Brian?

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely. And I and if this guy turns into a you know fourth wide receiver on a pretty quality wide receiver room, then heck yeah, I'm I'm I'm all about it. Um, if he turns into just a return guy and a gunner, heck yeah, I'm all about it. I mean, that's that in that is value in that pick.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah. And we've seen the Lions lose games to special teams, right? Like, so like special teams aren't great unless you're bad at it and then you're really crying and moaning about your special team. So um segment, let's just talk, kind of group these guys together. We'll give them their own sunshine, and then we're gonna group them together. But the the round six and round seven picks, Brian. Um, take this away.

SPEAKER_02

Skylar Gill Howard and Tyree West, both defensive linemen, um, you know, both guys that we project that that hopefully can compete, whether that's practice squad or whether that's back end of your rotation, um, but just high motor, high grid, high character guys that we can bring into the room and just ultimately find um some some competition, push everybody around them um in order to be better.

SPEAKER_00

So kind of opposite guys, in my opinion. You look at Skylar Gale Howard, he's a shorter guy, um, with really long arms, you know, like a the kind of guy it's like a flying fat squirrel that jumps off a tree. But uh ultra ultra productive guy just doesn't fit when you try to put like defensive lineman in a box, and and I'm sure teams do this and they say, like, he's got to be this tall, this heavy. Skylar Gillhower doesn't really fit a lot of those molds, but like he was this productive, right? And and that is the mold I think the Lions were looking for there.

SPEAKER_02

Yep, a guy out of Texas Tech, 6'1, 280 pounds with a wingspan that stretches uh from sideline to sideline, um, but also a guy that's high motor, high intensity, and is not willing to back down from anybody.

SPEAKER_00

So and that's a guy that you want, you know, none other than you're you're talking about six-round pick, like give competition, like make another guy earn a spot. Um, I totally expect uh Gil Howard to make this team and and to just figure in the back end of the rotation.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, I I would look at him as uh like a Makai Wingo kind of um you know competition, you know, those those nichey type D-linemen that they're not really uh a three-tack, they're not they're definitely not a nose, they're definitely not an edge, but they're that kind of that tweener. Um, but there might be a niche role for those guys too.

SPEAKER_00

So then you get into Tyree West, who is like very opposite, right? Like um, not from a production, actually kind of from a production standpoint, but Tyree West is a guy that looks like a defensive tackle. Um, it got the height of a defensive end, um, but he's the they're lining him up out at out at DN, but he is he's he's bigger than a typical DN. He's more of a like a edge-setting guy, but they're having him rush the rush the passer. So when you look at his pro prospects, it's like all right, this guy can I don't know where he projects, but he projects somewhere on a defensive line, interior, exterior, sub-packages for goal line, but he looks like a he's a guy that like special teams, goal line packages, certain niche situations, like he's either a really quick interior defensive lineman or a really stout exterior defensive lineman.

SPEAKER_02

Another like a Levi on Zurique, kind of that like versatile D-lineman that can kind of stretch himself from from the edge down to uh you know a three-tech, you know, somebody who you can kind of place anywhere and still find production. Uh, he is relentless, he is a guy that's gonna go ahead and make tackles um behind the line of scrimmage. He is gonna be a guy that's gonna put pressure on that quarterback. Um, but at the same time, like he knows how to play the run. He's an aggressive guy that's that's I I think he's a good fit for the Detroit Lions.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, so um do you want to kind of flip it over to the undrafted fear agents and like highlight a couple guys there?

SPEAKER_02

Sure thing. Let me get down there.

SPEAKER_00

So I mean, let me kick it off here. We talked a little bit about Illinois earlier, but we got Luke Altmire, uh quarterback out of Illinois. Yep. Um, just a kind of a gamer, right?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, and I I to be honest with you, I I see him as like kind of a pair with Jared Goff, similar in their styles, similar in their their demeanors, similar in their skill sets. So it's like this is my offense. Jared Goff can run it, so can Luke. You know, you don't have to switch too many things in order for him to come in and and and be a fit.

SPEAKER_00

My comp for Luke Altmeyer is John Kitna. Um, if we get a John Kitna out of Luke Altmeyer, uh just a straight up gamer, uh suit of the game, a little bit of athleticism, um willing to to dive nose first for anything he gets out there. He I mean we're talking undrafted free agent here. If he earns that, I mean that's a compliment to him if he earns the John Kitna.

SPEAKER_02

And if he's a practice squad quarterback for us, then that's a win, right? You know, that's what we're that's what we're looking for.

SPEAKER_00

Absolute win, yeah. So is there any other undrafted free agents that you want to highlight?

SPEAKER_02

Uh Aiden Kenyana is uh a guy out of Cal that we we had given a$300,000 guarantee to come in. Um a D tackle, uh again, somebody that we we value a little bit that could bring in some competition as well, but still a UDFA. Um Eric Hunter Morgan, states guy, a linebacker, another one of those depth pieces that that we gave a little bit of uh money to come in. Um, and then uh Eric O'Neal uh from the on Edge from the Rutgers. So some some of these guys I I feel like could be contributors, may find a role um on the practice squad, and you know who knows if you if you find a guy that can catch some fire.

SPEAKER_00

So I love how everybody calls it the Rutgers. Like it's just you know it's such disrespect on their name. So um, the Ruckers. All right. So um that being all said, have you talked to your friend Bill?

SPEAKER_02

Uh I talked to Bill. I talked to Bill here and there. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

What does Bill have to say about all this?

SPEAKER_02

All right, so so Bill's right now, uh, one, there's concern on the O-line. And and for we all know Bill now at this point, right? There's always concern.

SPEAKER_00

I've yet to shake his hand, but Bill, I feel like I we know ya.

SPEAKER_02

I mean, the the viewers right now, they know ya. They they know where where Bill stands. And he's got some podcast, Bill. He's got some reservations. Um, but one of the things that Bill and I kind of started to debate was the vision of the Detroit Lions going into last season and where we stood. We where did we feel? Where was our confidence level? We came off a season um that we we fell short in the playoffs, but had such an amazing regular season, right? And now we're coming off a season where we fell short in both. Um we didn't make the playoffs. The regular season was lackluster, and um we're going into now uh a roster that has had some turnover. So this idea of coming into the 2025 season and where our feelings, well, you know, we were we were high on on the on the pedestal, we were we were feeling good, we we talked about rich people problems, all these things, and and we fell short. And now going into this 2026 season, where do we stand? Do we feel better about the O line than we did last year going into the season? Do we feel better about the defense going into last season? This year than going into last season? Where where do we feel that we've gotten better? Are you are you asking the question and willing to be answered, or is this a this was a debate that Bill and I'm gonna be a debate that Bill and I had, and if you know me, my glass is half full.

SPEAKER_00

Nah, your glass is medium.

SPEAKER_02

My glass is is half. Half something, yeah. So maybe Rob is half full and and Bill's probably half empty, you know.

SPEAKER_00

So you're a good combination of Bill and Rob.

SPEAKER_02

So this is this is where we we roll. But you know, in regards to Bill, he's he's he's concerned. He's concerned about our old line. He's concerned about Cade Mays, you know. Has he proven enough to be the linchpin, as we say? Um, you know, we lose Taylor Decker, who we feel like last year was was aging, injured, but still productive, still, still holding his own to some extent. Not great, though. Not great, but still better than most, I would say.

SPEAKER_00

And Grand Glasgow, not great.

SPEAKER_02

Exactly right.

SPEAKER_00

But but Christian Mahogany, not great.

SPEAKER_02

But Christian Mahogany is still on our own line, right? And we're now we're moving Pinnae to left, and so there's some there's some transition. It's and and change is always scary. So we talked about this, and I and I believe, based upon what we now know from last year, that this is a better situation.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Um you know, uh going back, answering your questions, you know, last year playing a first place schedule, this year playing a fourth place schedule, um, gonna make a pretty big difference in the overall record. Not a big difference in if you are a Super Bowl contender, though, because you are who you are, right? You are um you are who we thought you were, right? You know, and um so the the Lions, I think they're making a concerted effort to keep the window open long. Um, they're not going out drafting, you know, backup quarterbacks like the Rams. They're not going out there chasing their tails, you know, plucking, you know, wide receiver fours in the first couple rounds. Um they are really building within the trenches, they're trying to keep this elongated championship window open. And what I think they did is they created the opportunity to keep that window a little wider open for Jared Goff's tenure as a Detroit lion.

SPEAKER_02

And I don't disagree. I I I like what they've done. Um, I think that the the idea Brad Holmes went into this draft was a little bit different, and I can appreciate that. He he did not take the I'm gonna try to be the smartest guy in the room and draft someone who's a project that could hit or could flop. You know, he he was pretty he was he was more safe, you know? But in addition to that, he also looked beyond just guys that um he could he could find high value in with some risk. He he got guys that are pretty solid value with very little risk. And I can appreciate that when I especially when in regards to injuries. You know, I think that when you look at free agents and you look at this draft class, you look at guys that have been durable, you got you look at guys that have been on the field, that haven't missed time, that are willing and wanting to be a part and are hungry. Um, but but ultimately, these are these are guys that are gonna fit the the character and the grid index that we we know that are true lions, and are gonna be healthy in doing so.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I mean it it's a movement towards youth. Lions are gonna be younger this year, no doubt about it. Um, it's a healthier, they're no longer looking for the guy that was like, was that a one-off injury? Can we get a little value from him? Can we get a discount on him and plug him in like a Marcus Davenport? And it turns out, you know, no, it wasn't a one-off injury. Um, you know, the I see it, you could see it early enough at the youth level where it's like I'm sitting in a little league baseball draft, and I'm like, why is that kid still on the board? We're talking, you know, young kids, and the guy's like, Well, shows up late to every practice in every game. I'm like, well, maybe it'll change this year. Didn't change this year, and those things remain consistent through people's lives, and I think the lions, um, you could dig some value out because sometimes they do change, and sometimes you really unearth some extreme value there, but most of the time, like it's just like that is who they are, and the lions are turning the page on that. They're saying we don't need to like win the Powerball anymore, you know. Like, we just kind of want to get our money back and plus plus money a little bit here, and they're taking guys that have shown that they can kind of deliver and they're gonna show up each and every day with a hard nose. You talk about a Jimmy Rolder, you talk about a Derek Moore, you talk about a Blake Miller. Those are guys that like have they're not showing up in police reports online, they didn't have an accident where they killed somebody earlier in the year and we're rooting for them to take them, they're following the draft. These are guys that like, you know, like they're they're just good character, plain, boring guys are gonna show up to work and they're gonna be your blue-collar team that you're really the our identity of the Detroit Lions has been promised around, right? That's right. So a boring draft, but boring is good, right? Like, talking to my Green Bay buddy on the golf course today, Steve, saying, Hey man, like, you know, what do you think about the Green Bay draft? You know, and obviously they gave up some picks this year. And you talked about last year, I was so excited. They did an exciting draft, they drafted Matthew Golden, and that was the first time they took a wide receiver and you know, a Coon's age or whatever, and and turned out like sexy. And then a year later, it's like, man, that sexy is not so great. I want to go back to boring, I want to take trench players, and you know what the Lions did is boring. Not a lot to talk about today, but in like three, four years, it's like boring really paid off, right?

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely, and if you look at those trench players, that's what we focused on, and I love it.

SPEAKER_00

Uh, you know, Brian was all over this. We we've been sitting here talking off season football, and Brian's been sitting here talking about the trenches and the trenches, and it's Boring. It's hard to wrap a podcast around boring. But the dude's been pounding the table and nailed it, man. Like we we drafted O-line, D line, and you said that's what we're gonna do the whole time.

SPEAKER_02

And that's what we needed. And that's where we that's where we're gonna win these games, is is from the inside out, not from the outside in. And if if you think differently, uh you might not know as much ball.

SPEAKER_00

So yeah, so we're here to talk ball and uh nothing else. So you have anything you want to incorporate other than what's already been said by B Mics and Rob tonight.

SPEAKER_02

Um, no, I just hey do us a favor, like, subscribe, pass this on to the next guy. See see all of ours on social media and interact with us so that we can we can you know continue to grow this thing.

SPEAKER_00

I mean, again, if you're still watching this, if you're still listening to this, if this is still like I honestly, thank you if you made it to this point of the podcast. It's really, really cool. Um, man, you need better hobbies, but we really appreciate you because I'm the guy that listens to this part of the podcast on other podcasts. I'm like, yeah, I agree. But like, subscribe, like tell two or three friends one thing that's cool is like our numbers are ticking up. Yeah, it's cool to see that. Yeah, it's cool to flow, and when those numbers go up, um, we we catch on more algorithms, we put more pressure on ourselves to deliver a better product. And and Brian whips me into shape and says, Hey Rob, come on, yeah, pull your under the bar. Let's go. So we appreciate you. Um, next week, we promise to outperform our previous week. Um, a lot to talk about as we enter a pretty exciting time of like preseason Lions football.

SPEAKER_02

Yep, we uh we have some off-season workouts going on right now. Um, you know, towards the end of May, we're starting to see some mini camps pop up. And uh, you know, we got some Lions football to talk about, baby.

SPEAKER_00

Well, let's get after it. So let's go. Until next week, we appreciate you passing time with us. Stay gritty. Go lions.

SPEAKER_02

Go Lions.