The Lions successfully filled a major position of need with the selection of Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller. Miller was not the only highly-rated offensive tackle prospect available to the Lions at pick No. 17, though. Who were some of those prospects and why might have the Lions passed on them?
Here is the analysis from my Detroit Lions 2026 NFL Draft Day 1 recap:
Was Monroe Freeling a consideration?
Many mocks had Freeling getting gobbled up by the Lions, as his availability at pick No. 17 wasn’t even considered a possibility earlier in the draft season.
Taylor Decker, who was released by the Lions earlier this offseason, had a career-altering shoulder issue (among other things), that may have dissuaded Detroit from drafting Freeling. Freeling’s injury history, includes a shoulder surgery.
Freeling ended up going two picks later at No. 19 to the Panthers.
What other offensive tackles might have been in consideration at No. 17?
Max Iheanachor was drafted at No. 21 by the Steelers. Like Freeling, Iheanachor had a shoulder surgery in his past as well as other issues leading to a 5/10 medical concern. There may have also been an age uncertainty there.
Caleb Lomu was my low-risk mock draft projection due to being very young (21) and very clean (0/10 medical concern). The Lions must have liked Miller’s talent better. Lomu ended up going No. 28 to the Patriots.
Other players the Lions passed on
Here’s how the rest of the board shook out after the Lions’ No. 17 overall selection:
- Florida DT Caleb Banks to Vikings
- USC WR Makai Lemon to Eagles
- Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor to the Chargers
- UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence to the Cowboys
- Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion to the Browns
- Oregon S Dillon Thieneman to the Bears
- Georgia Tech G Keylan Rutledge to the Texans
- San Diego State CB Chris Johnson to the Dolphins
- Clemson DT Peter Woods to the Chiefs
- Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. to the Jets
- Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk to the Titans
- Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price to the Seahawks
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: First-round NFL Draft prospects the Detroit Lions passed on