The 2026 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and the post-draft chatter is already heating up. One of the most exciting parts of the aftermath? Hearing what anonymous league insiders really think about each team's picks. Fans love a little inside praise, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler delivered just that—tapping into his network of scouts, coaches, and executives to get the real scoop.

When it comes to the Detroit Lions, one NFC executive had particularly high praise for their first-round selection. With a glaring need at offensive tackle, Detroit had several options on the board—including Georgia's Monroe Freeling, Arizona State's Max Iheanachor, and Utah's Caleb Lomu. There were even whispers that the Lions were eyeing Alabama's Kadyn Proctor, but he was already off the board by the time Detroit picked at No. 17 overall.

In the end, the Lions went with Clemson's Blake Miller—and according to one NFC exec, they made the right call. "He's the best tackle in the draft," the executive told Fowler. That's some serious praise for a player whose stock soared late in the process.

But Miller wasn't the only tackle generating buzz. Proctor, who went 12th overall, is widely considered a top-five talent—though questions remain about whether he'll reach his full potential. Freeling was also highly regarded, and Lomu was reportedly on the Panthers' short list. Meanwhile, the Steelers were impressed by Iheanachor's power and agility during the Senior Bowl, where he and Iowa's Gennings Dunker looked dominant on the same line. That set the stage for Pittsburgh to snag Iheanachor at No. 21 and Dunker at No. 96.

As for Lomu, he was the last of the top seven offensive tackles to come off the board, making it a logical move for the Patriots to trade up and secure him. All in all, the 2026 tackle class is shaping up to be one of the deepest in recent memory—and the Lions may have landed the crown jewel.