At one point during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 23, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes started to get a bit nervous. During a span of four selections, three offensive tackles flew off the board.
The Cleveland Browns, holding the No. 9 pick following a trade down with the Kansas City Chiefs, snatched Utah’s Spencer Fano. The New York Giants, next on the clock, took Francis Mauigoa out of Miami (Florida). Two picks later, the Miami Dolphins (after trading down themselves) grabbed Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor.
Holmes began to worry he might lose not only the opportunity to acquire a bookend blocker of his own, but, most importantly, the one he preferred: Clemson’s Blake Miller. As it turned out, the Lions stayed put and ended up getting Miller at No. 17 – but not before Holmes was forced to sweat a bit.
“It was just a little scary,” Holmes said late Thursday.
As the anxiety started to bubble, he began to consider a trade that would allow the Lions to move up a few slots to get Miller and avoid another team leaping past the Lions to swipe him. After all, Holmes knew that the widespread perception from the outside was that the Lions were in the market for a long-term solution at tackle following the release of perennial starter Taylor Decker in March. Would he be forced to head off Miller’s potential suitors by making a preemptive move?
“We talked to teams up, way up, and tried to see if we can be at peace with what the capital is that you would have to expend,” Holmes said. "Yeah, we definitely explored strongly about trading up."
But Holmes never pulled the trigger. When the Los Angeles Rams defied most prospect rankings and selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, his fears subsided.
“I felt pretty good that we would be able to keep our assets and still land Blake,” Holmes said.
In the past, Holmes has not been afraid to wheel and deal early in the draft. In 2022, he moved up to snatch receiver Jameson Williams with the 12th overall selection. A year later, he traded from No. 6 to that very same slot before taking running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Then, in 2024, he executed a pick swap with the Dallas Cowboys that allowed the Lions to jump five spots and grab cornerback Terrion Arnold at No. 24.
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2001, Pick 18: Jeff Backus, offensive tackle, Michigan.2002, Pick 3: Joey Harrington, quarterback, Oregon.
2012, Pick 23: Riley Reiff, offensive tackle, Iowa.
2022, Pick 2: Aidan Hutchinson, defensive end, Michigan.
2022, Pick 12: Jameson Williams, receiver, Alabama.
2025, Pick 28: Tyleik Williams, defensive tackle, Ohio State.
2026, Pick 17: Blake Miller, offensive tackle, Clemson.
1 / 20Every Detroit Lions first round NFL draft pick since 20002001, Pick 18: Jeff Backus, offensive tackle, Michigan.1 / 20Every Detroit Lions first round NFL draft pick since 20002001, Pick 18: Jeff Backus, offensive tackle, Michigan.2 / 20Every Detroit Lions first round NFL draft pick since 20002002, Pick 3: Joey Harrington, quarterback, Oregon.
2012, Pick 23: Riley Reiff, offensive tackle, Iowa.
2022, Pick 2: Aidan Hutchinson, defensive end, Michigan.
2022, Pick 12: Jameson Williams, receiver, Alabama.