The Detroit Lions Podcast

Rookie Deals Reset: Derek Moore at 44 The Detroit Lions are back on the field in Detroit. Rookies checked in yesterday without a rookie minicamp. Most draft picks put pen to paper. One exception stands out. Blake Miller remains unsigned, though there is little to negotiate. Derek Moore is the headline. The Lions locked the No. 44 pick into a four-year, $11,426,000 contract. Fully guaranteed at signing. That mirrors a growing NFL shift. Last year, top second-rounders pushed for guarantees like first-rounders. Teams such as the Texans and Browns agreed. The trend extended down to the 40th pick in 2025, Saints quarterback Tyler Shuck. Third-rounders still tend to get only their signing bonuses guaranteed. The financial landscape is changing fast, and the Lions moved with it. Inside Pick 37: The Call and the Restraint The New York Giants released their draft room video. In it, GM Joe Shane takes a call while on the clock at No. 37. You can hear him say 118, 128, and 157. Those are Detroit’s picks. The Lions were trying to climb for Moore. Detroit did not go that high. They moved from 50 to 44 instead and still landed Moore. The price to jump to 37 would have cost assets that became Jimmy Rolder and Keith Abney. The Giants did not trade the pick. They kept it and made their selection. Detroit read the board and got their guy without spending the extra capital. Holmes’ Aggression, This Time in Check There is a pattern with Brad Holmes. He targets his players and goes hard. In 2021, he said he would have traded into the first round for Levi Anzuriki. The cost to acquire Isaac Tussle was steep too. Two third-round picks this year and one last year. Value can blur when conviction takes over. This time, restraint showed. The Lions avoided an unnecessary jump to 37 and kept useful pieces. Rolder now heads into OTAs set to battle Malcolm Rodriguez for the third or fourth linebacker role. Abney draws praise and could push to start sooner than later. Those opportunities exist because Detroit held firm. The Derek Moore deal fits a new NFL reality. Second-round guarantees are rising, and the Lions did not hesitate. The attempted trade to 37 shows the front office’s urgency for Moore. The decision not to force it shows growth. On the Detroit Lions Podcast, this is the balance that matters. Get the player. Keep the board. Build the roster. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflscheduleleaks #lionsdraft #derrickmoore #newyorkgiants #nfldrafttrades #rookiecontracts #lionsjerseynumbers #jerseychanges Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Officiating Deal, Real Stakes for Detroit A bright yellow flag hung behind the mic. The NFL just locked in its officials through 2032. The Detroit Lions Podcast dug into what that means and why it matters. No replacement refs are coming. That alone eases memories of the Fail Mary and Golden Tate’s contested catch from the last time stand-ins worked games. The agreement adds access and structure. Officials will work more in the offseason at mini camps, training camp, and joint practices. The league plans to build a deeper bench of officials. It will also lean more on performance metrics for postseason assignments instead of seniority. For the Detroit Lions, that points to consistency and accountability in the biggest moments. Postseason Assignments, Grading, and Crew Continuity January football exposes crew chemistry. The league often selects individual officials for playoff crews rather than moving whole units together. That can create communication gaps. New voices. New tendencies. Timing and mechanics change. The show underscored how much smoother it gets when the same group works together repeatedly. Grading is the crux. The metrics that decide who advances remain largely opaque. Jeff and Chris stressed that accountability must be more than a memo. Better evaluations should translate to better assignments. Postseason games also pay more, so strong grades must matter. The deal includes an average 6.4% annual raise for officials. That is a meaningful incentive to refine standards and reward excellence without pretending perfection exists. Why Full-Time Refs Still Are Not the Answer The common call is to make officials full time. The reality is many do not want that. Officiating is not every official’s primary income. Examples prove it. Referee Clete Blakeman is an attorney. Umpire Scott Campbell is a professional firefighter. Demanding full-time status would push out skilled people who prefer to keep their careers and still work NFL games. The new framework tries a different route. More reps with teams in the offseason. Clearer paths to the playoffs for those who grade well. More development on a deeper bench. Quick Lions Notes: Schedule Week and Mother’s Day Monday’s daily DLP arrived with schedule week on deck. The hosts recorded Sunday night after a family-first Mother’s Day, a thoughtful moment that framed the show. Now it is back to business. The Detroit Lions will soon see the path to fall. The officiating changes will travel with them. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflofficiating #replacementrefs #postseasonassignments #performancemetrics #trainingcamp #minicamps #jointpractices #deanblandino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Green Bay’s Draft Without Pick No. 1 The Detroit Lions Podcast put the NFC North under the microscope. Green Bay navigated the 2026 NFL Draft without a first-round pick. Inside the room, they essentially treated Micah Parsons as that missing top selection. It framed every other choice and every roster bet. That context matters for Detroit Lions fans sizing up the division. Scouting and process took center stage. The conversation cut through recycled big boards and highlighted year-round work. Senior Bowl trips. Shrine practices back when they were in St. Petersburg. Long lists stacked against real tape. Original evaluations, not echoes. That lens set up a blunt look at how Green Bay built its board and why. Micah Parsons and the Ten-Month ACL Clock The timetable was clear. The modern ACL return is a ten-month arc from injury to full snap load. Map that to the NFL calendar and the target becomes around Week Five. Expect a roster stash to start. The assumption is the PUP list to open the season, then a ramp-up to real usage. Expectations were once sky-high. A defensive coach even floated league-leading sack potential before leaving for the Miami job. Reality now lives in checkpoints, not headlines. That timeline shapes how Detroit prepares to block, chip, and slide protections when the calendar turns. It also mirrors a familiar Detroit thread. Brian Branch’s earlier injury surfaced as a reference point for working backward from health, not hype. The New PUP Rule and Week Five Targets The NFL tweaked the PUP rules, and it changes the math. Previously, players on PUP could not practice with the team for four weeks. Now the no-practice window is two weeks. After that, teams can designate to return and build a two-week ramp while the player remains on PUP. For a contender, that is roster flexibility. For the Detroit Lions, it is a calendar to monitor across the division. Layer in Green Bay’s broader injury picture. Devonte Wyatt is on track. Tucker Craft’s timing aligns with the start of training camp, with Week One availability expected. Extension talks are in line for him. Jordan Riley ruptured an Achilles. That points to season-long IR unless there is a settlement. Given the severity, the incentive is to keep him around and let the rehab run its course. What It Means Around the North The Packers’ first-round void, the Parsons clock, and the PUP tweak all converge on the same conclusion. September snaps will look different than October snaps. Week Five becomes a circle date. The Detroit Lions will plan protections and personnel with that in mind. The NFL is a timeline league. Health windows decide matchups as much as schemes. Today’s recap keeps the calendar front and center for Detroit and the division. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nflpuplist #packersdraft #micahparsonsacl #brandoncisse #keithabney #jagerburton #danidennis-sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A viral claim tried to hijack Detroit Lions news this week. It said Detroit invited five-time All-Pro guard Joel Bitonio to rookie minicamp. The post was fake. The Lions do not even have a rookie minicamp this week. The copy gave itself away. How the Joel Bitonio story unraveled The headline never named a player. That is the first tell. The body called Bitonio a five-time All-Pro. He is a two-time first-team All-Pro, with second-team honors mixed in, which is not the same. Then came the clincher. It said the Detroit Lions invited him to rookie minicamp. Detroit canceled rookie minicamp. There is no field to walk onto. No itinerary. No invite. Veterans do not try out at rookie minicamps. Those sessions are for draft picks, undrafted rookies, and a handful of fringe vets looking for a lifeline. Think Jamarco Jones last year, a journeyman fighting to stick before he got hurt again. That is not Joel Bitonio. That is not Bosa. That is not Von Bell. Prominent NFL vets with proven resumes are not showing up to audition at a rookie camp that does not exist. No rookie minicamp, no veteran tryouts Other NFL teams are running rookie camps this weekend. Detroit is not. That has been public for days. Even if there were a camp, attendance is not mandatory for veterans. A free agent of Bitonio’s caliber would not be flying in to “earn” a look alongside rookies. The same bad actors pushed another false note, claiming Frank Ragnow was at rookie minicamp and gearing up for a return. That is not reality. If Detroit were engaging Bitonio, or if Ragnow were coming back in any capacity, you would see it from beat writers you recognize and outlets you trust. You would hear it in places you actually follow, not in a pop-up feed buried under six ads. How to spot the junk: missing names in headlines, sloppy details, breathless claims that skip basic facts, and sites that vanish as fast as they appear. If it sounds too good to be true, check reputable coverage first. What actually matters at left guard Would a veteran visit at mandatory minicamp be interesting? Sure. Do the Detroit Lions need it today? Not really. The left guard battle already has real competition. Detroit stocked the room with live bodies and playable options. Christian Mahogany is the wild card. He did not look the same when he returned from injury last year, but this is his shot at redemption. If he pops, the interior line stays strong without dipping into the veteran market. The Detroit Lions Podcast daily update is about clarity. No rookie minicamp. No star vet tryouts. A real competition at left guard. Filter the noise, and focus on what the roster is actually building. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #joelbitonio #rookieminicamp #patcaputo #christianmahogany #frankragnow #ai-generatedrumor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A first-round fit the room expected The Detroit Lions leaned into identity. On the Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Jeff Risdon welcomed draft analyst Chris Trepaso to dissect a class he graded very high. The focus opened on Blake Miller, the first-round pick who looks like a clean right tackle for Detroit’s scheme. The discussion framed it simply. Power. Size. Length. Run-game movement. Anchor against bullrush. Miller checked every box for a line that already mauls people. Trepaso said he would have mock-drafted Miller to Detroit over and over. He called the fit one of the best in the first round. If Penei Sewell shifts to the left side, Miller slides in at right tackle with no friction. The NFL comparison offered was Braden Smith. Reliable. Durable. Darn good. That kind of profile settles an offensive line and keeps the run game on schedule. The measurables backed the film. Over 34-inch arms. Around 6-foot-5 and near 320 pounds. A 32-inch vertical. A 40-yard dash around five seconds. Those traits do not guarantee success, but paired with sturdy tape they signal a safe, smart NFL selection. The hosts and guest aligned on this. The Detroit Lions prioritized continuity and immediate utility up front. Miller fits. Derek Moore targets the opposite edge Day two brought Derek Moore from Michigan. Familiar player. Logical need. The Lions have searched for a stable answer across from Hutchinson. They added DJ Wonnum, but the long-term solution remains open. Moore offers speed to power with shock in his hands. He sets edges with pop. He can convert upfield urgency into displacement at the point of attack. Trepaso acknowledged the testing dip. At the Michigan pro day, Moore’s vertical and broad jump were below average. That is a data point. The film still showed heavy hands, sturdy edges, and a bull rush that jars. The role in Detroit is straightforward. Win early downs with strength. Collapse the pocket when offenses slide help toward Hutchinson. Grow into the every-down threat they have chased for several seasons. Draft logic that matches Detroit’s plan The thread through both picks was fit. The Detroit Lions want to stay among the NFL’s best offensive lines. Miller sustains that standard and protects the run-first attitude that powers this group. The comp to Braden Smith underscored a vision for reliable right tackle play in a power running scheme. On defense, Moore’s profile addresses a glaring pinch point. He aligns with what the staff values on the edge. Heavy hands. Speed to power. Assignment soundness. The Detroit Lions Podcast conversation kept circling back to this. Detroit selected players who play like Lions. The grades reflect it. The roster construction does too. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #derrickmoore #jimmyrolder #lionsdraft #2026nfldraft #christrapasso #playercomps #kendricklaw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reactions to the Draft: What the Lions Accomplished and What Still Matters The dust has finally settled on the 2026 NFL Draft, rookie minicamps are around the corner, and the Detroit Lions are back on the field for offseason workouts. That makes this the perfect moment for a reset. On this episode of the Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Jeff Risdon break down their full 2026 NFL Draft reactions, what the Lions accomplished over draft weekend, and where the roster still leaves room for concern heading into the summer. The Lions entered the draft needing to reinforce depth, toughness, and long-term stability in several key spots. Brad Holmes once again leaned into his philosophy of building through the trenches and targeting players with versatility and football character. Detroit’s draft class may not have produced the flashiest national headlines, but there is a growing sense around Allen Park that this front office remains committed to constructing a roster that can sustain success rather than chase offseason buzz. That does not mean there are no debates. Quite the opposite. One of the biggest talking points from this year’s class is draft quality versus public perception. Some national analysts questioned whether Detroit reached on certain prospects or failed to address enough immediate-impact positions early. Locally, however, there is a very different tone surrounding the class. Lions observers who spend every day around this team tend to evaluate these picks through the lens of culture fit, positional development, and long-term roster planning instead of instant social media reaction. Remaining Concerns for the Detroit Lions Heading Into Summer Even after the draft, there are still legitimate questions surrounding this roster, and Chris and Jeff will spend time digging into the biggest ones on the show. Edge depth remains a topic despite Aidan Hutchinson anchoring the front. The secondary still feels like a group that could use another proven veteran presence before training camp opens. There are also questions about how quickly some younger players can step into rotational roles on defense. On offense, much of the conversation continues to orbit around Jared Goff and how the Lions balance maximizing the current competitive window while still preparing for the future. Detroit believes it can compete in the NFC, but expectations have changed. This is no longer a rebuilding football team. The standard inside the building is winning playoff games, and every offseason move is now viewed through that lens. That shift has also changed the way the Lions are covered nationally. For years, Detroit existed mostly as a punchline or an afterthought in broader NFL conversations. Now the scrutiny is different. Every draft pick, every coordinator decision, every contract move gets debated at a national level. Chris and Jeff will examine whether the national coverage truly understands what Detroit is building or whether local coverage still provides the clearest picture of where this franchise stands. The Conversation Continues on the Detroit Lions Podcast This episode is more than just a recap of the draft. It is a snapshot of where the Lions sit as the offseason enters its next phase. The roster looks stronger in some places, thinner in others, and the expectations around this team remain as high as they have been in decades. Join Chris and Jeff Risdon on the Detroit Lions Podcast as they break down the full Detroit Lions offseason picture, react to the 2026 NFL Draft, discuss remaining concerns, and look ahead to what comes next for a franchise trying to turn promise into sustained success in the NFL. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #adultdraft #bestplayeravailable #blakemiller #derekmoore #keithabney #internalpushback #meettheplayer #confirmtheboard #long-termplan #otasinallenpark Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vikings zig past the mock‑draft favorite On Daily DLP, the Detroit Lions Podcast turned to the NFC North. Jeff Risdon welcomed Tyler Fornes to unpack Minnesota’s draft and a loud pivot at No. 18. Oregon safety Dylan Tieneman sat there. The Vikings did not take him. Tyler was not surprised. He carried a high third round grade on Tieneman and ranked him 47th on his board. He saw a roof safety who fits the run and tackles from depth. He did not see a maneuverable chess piece. In the box, running backs bowled him over. Coverage traits did not pop on film. The industry went the other way. The mock‑draft data told the story. Tyler tracked nearly 600 mocks. Tieneman appeared in 40.5 percent of them for Minnesota. In the final four days, 69 of 107 mocks slotted him there. A February 24 projection from Daniel Jeremiah helped set the lane. A strong combine kept the lane clear. Minnesota still passed. Brian Flores’ blueprint at safety The coordinator’s values mattered more than the mock tide. Brian Flores does not prioritize safety early. He prioritizes intelligence. He prioritizes experience. That steered the room away from a premium investment at the position. Minnesota targeted traits that fit that approach and added Jacoby Thomas to embody it. Will he hit? That is unknown. The process aligned with Flores’ philosophy, not the consensus board. Caleb Banks’ profile: power, burst, and a foot break At the top of Minnesota’s board, two unicorns stood out for Tyler: Kenyan Saddiq and Caleb Banks. Saddiq offered hyper athletic upside. A developmental tight end who could function as a wide receiver three. In the right offense, heavy personnel creates answers. Kyler Murray thrives in those looks. The idea was to swing for difference‑making traits in a class light on sure things. Banks brought rare tools with real risk. He broke his foot in a non‑contact combine drill. When healthy at Florida and locked in, his size and movement defied norms. Planet theory stuff. Jeff noted the blend of instant speed and brute power that Detroit fans once saw with Ndamukong Suh. The comparison was about traits, not the player. The upside case is obvious. So is the medical flag. Detroit context from inside the division The conversation framed a broader NFC North trend. This draft felt flat at the top. The best players came at safety, off‑ball linebacker, offensive tackle, and running back. Not sizzle positions. Both hosts noted how teams, including Detroit and Minnesota, leaned into the trenches early. The Detroit Lions angle is clear enough. Know what your rival values. Understand how Flores builds his defense. Then plan accordingly. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #minnesotavikings #nfcnorth #calebbanks #keithabney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside the draft grind with Emery Hunt Jeff Risdon opened the Detroit Lions Podcast with a popular request. Emery Hunt returned for a post-draft wrap and a real look at draft week on television. Hunt split days and nights between CBS Sports HQ studios in Fort Lauderdale and Connecticut. Days ran from 8 AM to 6 PM before the handoff north. That meant the 8 o’clock show, the 9 o’clock show, a 10:30 segment, a noon show, and more. No cheat sheet. No one in his ear telling him what to say. He described a car wash of segments where months of scouting get squeezed into 30 to 45 seconds. The red light comes on and there is no break. Preparation carries the day, but producers are juggling their own chaos. They are not feeding schools or names on the fly. Talent has to be ready, precise, and fast. Miss one name and that’s all social media remembers. The NFL draft can feel like a sprint made of thousands of details. Why Blake Miller fits Detroit at right tackle Then came the Detroit Lions. First round, Blake Miller, right tackle, Clemson. Right tackle matters here. That’s where he played extensively at Clemson, and that is what the Lions need. Hunt liked the pick and the fit. He cited excellent first step quickness that gets him into the fight fast. He praised Miller’s movement skills and the ability to mirror a defensive end. The tape shows competence in pass pro and in the run game. Clemson can run it to both sides, and Miller works on both ends of the offense. On Hunt’s grading scale, Miller landed a 78.5. That is a high second-round grade, close enough that taking him in round one drew no complaint. The NFL translation looks clean. Clemson runs a pro style offense. That experience matters in Detroit. Jeff pointed out the value of coming from that structure, especially when a player needs to start right away. Pro-ready traits and immediate expectations Will Miller step in now? Hunt agreed the traits and athleticism support that. He has logged a lot of games. He moves well. He can mirror. He anchors and runs. The right tackle emphasis in Detroit aligns with his resume. The Lions do not need to project a position change. They can plug a natural right tackle into a clear role. The conversation also touched on how college context can cloud projection. One Lions pick arrived from a Kentucky offense that offered little useful pro tape. Miller’s situation is the opposite. His background speeds the transition. That is the through line. Detroit targeted a right tackle. They found one who played right tackle at a high level, in a system that teaches Sunday rules. On this Detroit Lions Podcast, that clarity stood out as the draft’s early win. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #emoryhunt #blakemiller #keithabney #ufl #erickhunter #lukealtmeyer #jimmyrolder #skylergill-howard #kendricklaw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

High-floor bet on Blake Miller at 17 The Detroit Lions Podcast used May 4 to cut through the noise on NFL draft grades and focus on fit. The theme was steady floor over splash. Blake Miller at No. 17 fits that. He arrives as a ready-to-play NFL starting right tackle. Clemson ran a pro style offense. He worked next to an in-line tight end. He protected a pocket passer in Cade Klubnik, who could move some but played structure. That background matters for Detroit’s plan up front. Miller’s presence helps mitigate Jared Goff’s biggest limitation, mobility. A sturdy offensive line keeps the offense on schedule. The Lions had that baseline before last season and aim to restore it. Miller projects as a dependable answer, much like Taylor Decker in profile even if he plays the opposite side. Expect a couple snaps each game where you want a little more. That is life picking 17th, not in the top 10. The trade-off is reliability. The show also noted he was in the mix when picking a favorite Lions selection this year. Derek Moore’s quick wins reshape the edge room Derek Moore brings another sturdy floor. Usage at Michigan was odd. He could make a splash play, then sit a series and a half. Coaching and deployment did not always match his strengths. Even so, the traits are clear. He is a quick-win rusher who can generate instant pressure off his first move. That immediacy is the appeal. Think 2.2 seconds instead of 2.4 to 2.6. Those fractions change outcomes. Aidan Hutchinson creates steady pressure and finish, but often works through a longer path. Moore can complement that with earlier disruption. Expect Moore to alternate with DJ Wonnum, a power-based end who is not a pure speed threat. The rotation should be cleaner. The Senior Bowl tape matters here too. Moore beat third-rounder Markel Bell with shock and quickness, a snapshot of what Detroit wants more of on the edge. How the draft graders stacked the class Aggregate draft grades place the Detroit Lions in the middle of the NFL pack. Rene Buettner’s annual compilation slotted Detroit 16th with a 2.89 GPA, a B-plus average. The ledger included two A-minuses from Chad Reuter and Vinnie Iyer, many Bs and B-pluses, and a few C-pluses. The outside read tracks with the show’s tone: satisfaction with the top of the class, minor quibbles about ceiling. The host made one more point on process. Immediate grades are noise. Real evaluation lands after rookie deals. He plans to grade the 2022 and 2023 classes when those first contracts are over. For 2024, the takeaway is simple. Detroit emphasized high floors early, added early-pressure potential with Moore, and reinforced the offensive line with Miller to keep the offense on time. That is a coherent bet for this roster. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #derrickmoore #detroitlionsdraftgrades #clemsonfootball #keithabney #skylergill-howard #isaacteslaa #taifelton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cold Tulips, Hot Lions Buzz Holland, Michigan was cold, but Lions gear warmed the streets. Hats. Jerseys. Hoodies. Pride showed up. After a quick day off for family, the Detroit Lions Podcast returned with perspective from outside the bubble. A visiting Colts fan saw it clearly: Detroit is the better run team. That view matches what many around the NFL are saying. Why Detroit Skipped Rookie Minicamp No rookie minicamp in Allen Park. Other teams held theirs over the weekend. The Lions kept rookies involved through voluntary workouts instead. The choice stands out and invites debate. The show argued the team should host something similar, even if scaled. Minicamps can surface tryout flashes, but they can also create churn that does not help a contender. Look at a cautionary example. Las Vegas cycled players after tryouts and released Charles Snowden, a 2023 contributor in their pass rush group. That move stirred fans because help opposite Max Crosby remains unsettled there. Detroit knows the strain of a star carrying heavy snaps. Aidan Hutchinson did that last year. Chasing names cut during post-draft reshuffles can feel tempting. It often is not productive for a roster with standards. If a player cannot stick with a struggling depth chart, patience beats impulse. Free Agent Reality Check Calais Campbell signed elsewhere at age 40. The veteran market still has options, but the board is thinning. The show reviewed remaining free agents and weighed the ring-chase factor. Detroit qualifies. Around the league, the Lions are viewed as a viable NFL contender. That reputation matters when veterans pick landing spots late in the calendar. There have been no splash acquisitions in Detroit this week. Undrafted free agency remains quiet without a rookie minicamp to stage tryouts. That is fine for now. The roster can wait for a value fit rather than force a move based on a weekend flash somewhere else. Fan Pulse and Rookie Spotlight Fans in Detroit are re-energized after the draft. The class lacks headline skill names, but it fits needs and identity. The national Rookie Premiere will not feature Lions picks. That event leans to quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs. No offensive linemen were invited. Defensive linemen rarely get that nod. Pass rushers David Bailey, Arvel Reese, and Reuben Bain are expected there. Detroit drafted Blake Miller and Derek Moore up front. They are not trading-card darlings. They are trench players built for January football. Big picture, the message landed: avoid panic shopping, trust the roster, and use the calendar. The Detroit Lions are positioned to add selectively while keeping continuity. That is how real NFL contenders operate. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #rookieminicamp #kadynproctornfldraft #johndorsey #nflfreeagency #camjordan #jabrillpeppers #lionsdefense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Youth and Health Shape the Lions’ Plan The Detroit Lions zigged in this NFL draft. Jeff Risdon sat down with Dr. Jimmy Liao on the Detroit Lions Podcast to grade the class through a medical lens. The theme was clear. Youth and health. Every pick landed at age 23 or younger. None of the 24-year-old prospects were taken. The shift tracks with recent lessons. Lower medical risk. Fewer known durability flags. Play the odds. Dr. Liao grades injury risk on a 1-to-10 scale. Younger players start lower. Age 23 and up nudges concern a bit. This class stayed on the low end across the board. It marks a turn from prior years when the Detroit Lions accepted more medical risk. In the NFL, availability matters. Detroit moved to stack it. Blake Miller’s Ironman Profile at Clemson The top note was right tackle Blake Miller. Legendary durability at Clemson. He started 54 straight games. He logged 3,778 snaps, a school record. Dr. Liao set his medical concern at 1 out of 10. The only ding was a wrist surgery in 2024, with proof of recovery afterward. The worry there is longer-term stiffness, but his track record is strong. He is 22. That age keeps his grade low. Miller fits what the Detroit Lions want up front. Young. Battle tested. Clean enough medically to project early availability. He even graded as a top-three tackle target on the medical board. For an NFL team intent on protecting its quarterback and stabilizing the run game, this is a trend-breaking selection. Less risk. More snaps. Derek Moore’s Hamstring and Second-Round Signal Next came Michigan edge Derek Moore. Before the combine he sat at 1 out of 10. A pre-combine hamstring strain bumped him to 2 out of 10. Hamstrings recur, and they spook timelines. Still, fast-twitch athletes almost all meet one sooner or later. The context matters. Detroit used a second-round pick on Moore. That signals the medical staff saw a minor issue. Dr. Liao moved him effectively back down to a 1 out of 10 after the pick. The Detroit Lions added a high-motor defender with minimal long-term concern. Recent examples of lingering hamstrings exist around the league, but the takeaway here was balance. Note the strain. Price the risk. Trust the file. The NFL demands it. On Deck: Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder The conversation turned to Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder. He drew a 3 out of 10 on the injury risk scale. He did not play a ton in college. That makes projection tougher, but it fits the draft’s core theme. Younger players with manageable medical profiles. The Detroit Lions Podcast made it clear: Detroit targeted availability without sacrificing upside. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #lionsdraftclass #injuryupdates #detroitinjuryrisk #blakemiller #jimmyrolder #brianbranch #kerbyjoseph #jermodmccoy #levionwuzurike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside Allen Park: What Voluntary Workouts Really Are One week after the 2026 NFL Draft, Allen Park is busy. The Detroit Lions are in the voluntary phase of the offseason workout program. Photos show players in the building. Gibbs is there. Branch is there. Tarion is there. It’s not practice. Not yet. Players are in meetings. They lift. They run. Injured players rehab with staff. Coaches sit in on meetings but do not coach on-field actions. That comes later. OTAs and a Firm Mini Camp on the Calendar The NFL calendar is set. The Lions released their OTA dates. They start later in May. There are three three-day periods. The mandatory mini camp lands around Father’s Day weekend. That’s the first time the entire team is required to attend. A holdout can happen, but it’s rare. Last year was different. The Lions canceled mandatory mini camp because they were preparing for the Hall of Fame Game. In hindsight, that move did not help. There’s no sign they will cancel it this year. Rookie Minicamp Canceled, What Changes for Newcomers The team canceled rookie minicamp. So what happens now? The rookie draft class and signed undrafted free agents will still be in the building. Contract signings are expected this weekend. The official UDFA list is likely to post today. New players will get orientation. Lockers. Food. Training rooms. Where to be and when. They also plug into parts of the offseason program tailored to rookies. They will attend the NFL PA rookie seminar. The message is direct. Do not gamble on sports. Do not gamble in the team hotel or lobby. Even if it’s not football. Go across the street if you must. The J Mo situation still hangs over that topic. He got six games. The rules are the rules, even if they feel contradictory. There is a cost to scrapping the rookie minicamp. No invitee local players this year. That’s where Natelyn once showed up and made noise. Ian Kennelly from Grand Valley State did the same last year and earned real preseason run. Those football reps matter for long shots. Agents notice. They are disappointed. So are some of us who value those looks. A Younger, Healthier Push by Detroit The Lions are changing things. What worked got them to a point. It felt like they plateaued. So they are pushing different buttons. Younger. Healthier. That theme runs through free agency and the draft. Tomorrow’s guest on the Detroit Lions Podcast underscores it. This is a conscious shift by Brad Holmes and his staff. The same old approach wasn’t enough. Detroit is trying to clear the hump, and the plan is clear. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #allenpark #offseasonworkoutprogram #otas #mandatoryminicamp #rookieminicampcanceled #undraftedfreeagents #rookieseminar #nflpa #strengthandconditioning #alexanzalone #gibbs #branch #tarion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit locks in Gibbs, declines Campbell’s option The Detroit Lions made their first major post-draft decision. Jameer Gibbs is secured on his fifth-year option for 2027 at 14.3 million. Jack Campbell’s fifth-year option will not be exercised. The difference is the math. Campbell’s All Pro season flipped his option into the franchise tag value for linebackers. That one-year number sits at 21.9 million. Detroit will not carry that charge for an off ball linebacker in 2027. The team still controls Gibbs for 2026 on his rookie deal. Picking up his option locks a placeholder for 2027 at a number that is likely below his market. A new contract can supersede it. Expect that conversation before 2027 arrives. Why the linebacker price exploded Option values escalate. A Pro Bowl raises the figure. An All Pro nod pushes it to the franchise tag value. The NFL and NFLPA still group all linebackers together. Off ball players are lumped with edge rushers. That puts Campbell in the same bucket as stars like Micah Parsons and even Miles Garrett if classified that way. It distorts the market for a player who does not rush the passer on every snap. Campbell has earned top status at his role. He ascended last season. But a single-year 21.9 million cap hit is untenable. Declining the option is not a slight. It is the necessary bridge to a long-term deal that reflects his impact without smashing one season of cap space. The path to a Campbell extension A multi-year agreement spreads cost and control. Think four years at a market rate level with significant guarantees. Structure matters. Detroit can use signing bonus and option bonuses, then add void years to spread charges. That amortizes money over time instead of swallowing it in one year. The result is a cleaner 2027 cap while rewarding an elite off ball linebacker. This approach also removes the uncertainty that comes with a single-season option. It provides stability for the player and flexibility for the club. The longer negotiations wait, the more comparable deals rise. Moving now helps both sides. Branch and LaPorta hit contract years Second-rounders do not have fifth-year options. Brian Branch and Sam Laporta head into the final years of their rookie contracts. Branch’s injury complicates timing. You want the deal, but the health timeline is unclear. He has never won with raw speed. He wins with feel, with smarts, and with physicality. That profile still plays, but the medical piece matters. Laporta’s situation is straightforward. No option, one year left, and production to price. Expect those talks to heat up after the option decisions cool. The Detroit Lions Podcast will stay on the mechanics as May 1 approaches and the 2027 picture sharpens. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jahmyrgibbs #jackcampbell #fifthyearoptions #contracts #brianbranch #samlaporta #contractextensionprojections #jamesproche #djreader Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Kentucky Asked of Kendrick Law The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Lions draft pick Kendrick Law after a fresh film dive. The Kentucky offense made it tough to judge him as an NFL wide receiver. It was gimmicky and narrow. Law often operated like a move tight end from the backfield or in motion. Downfield targets were rare. In an Auburn clip, he aligned in shotgun split, flared out, broke a tackle, and followed a block for positive yards. That sequence summed up his usage. Games studied included Louisville, Tennessee, Texas, Auburn, and Toledo. He barely played in the Toledo opener and saw only one target. The rest showed a consistent pattern. Kentucky did not ask him to run routes. If he was not among the primary reads, the play might as well exclude him. Route Running and Backside Urgency Law will need route work to see Detroit Lions offensive snaps. The route tree at Kentucky was basically run straight or clear space. There was little evidence of timing, stems, or adjustments. A Louisville clip captured a telling moment. He took four steps on the snap and stopped when the play left him. No roll with the quarterback. No late outlet. No backside block. That habit repeated across the film. Some of this is on Kentucky’s design, but the tape still shows a learning curve. Law previously came from Alabama, where backside effort is typically demanded. He did not play a lot there and caught under 20 passes in three years. The Lions will have to coach urgency and detail into his routes and his off-script engagement. Speed, Wiggle, and What It Means Law is fast. His acceleration shows up. But there is not much wiggle. He is not Theo Riddick or Reggie Bush. He is not Golden Tate, and he is not even Khalif Raymond in short-area shake. The burst is real, yet the elusiveness is limited. That combination narrows how you deploy him early in the NFL and puts a premium on defined roles. Kentucky’s structure did not prep him for pro-level route nuance. That does not close the door. It does set expectations. Detroit will need to teach him how to separate without pure scheme help. Special Teams Projection in Detroit The clearest rookie path is special teams. He was described as this year’s gift to special teams coordinator Dave Phipp. Last year, he logged nine kick returns and three punt returns. On the four kick returns reviewed, he did not break a tackle. The straight-line speed is useful, but he must find yards without much lateral shake. Put it together and the early plan is plain. Do not pencil him into the Detroit Lions offense in 2026. Let him cover kicks, compete to return, and learn the route craft. If the urgency and detail grow, the traits can translate. For now, special teams comes first, and the NFL offensive snaps will have to be earned. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #kendricklaw #specialteams #kickreturner #kentuckywildcatsfootball #filmbreakdown #scoutingreport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday, April 27. NFL draft weekend is over. Jeff is back home and on the Detroit Lions Podcast he opened the Patreon Slack for a tight Q&A window. The big topic hit fast. The Detroit Lions did not draft a safety. That choice frames the early roster story. Why Detroit Passed on a Safety Jeff reread the team’s post-draft messaging on the safeties. The line was clear. It did not intentionally skip the position. It just did not line up on the board. A few targets went right before Detroit picked. The class did not look deep. You had to strike right. That was the gist. He also noted what common sense suggests. In a defense where safeties trigger so much on the back end, a pressing need would have sparked action. If they truly felt exposed, they would have moved to get one. The decision points to internal confidence. Branch and Kirby Timelines Shape the Plan That confidence centers on Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph. The recovery updates trend positive. Branch’s Achilles timeline sits between Halloween and Thanksgiving. November feels right. There is a possible Europe trip in that window. Nothing official yet. Kirby’s path is less defined publicly, but the tone remains optimistic. Depth will matter until they are back. The room includes Christian Isian, Avante Max, and Thomas Harper. It is not a star trio, but it is capable support. Last year told the story. When the starting secondary stayed intact, the defense played like a top-10, even top-eight unit. When injuries gutted the group, the numbers cratered to the 30-32 range by various metrics. Health flips outcomes. Post-Draft Q&A and a UDFA QB Note The Detroit Lions Podcast Slack jumped in with strong questions during a 90-minute window. The safety choice led, but roster churn always runs deep right after the NFL draft. One early undrafted note popped: quarterback Luke Altmire. Jeff had flagged him as a stylistic fit. Detroit agreed enough to bring him in as a UDFA. It is a sensible look as the team resets its depth chart post-draft. The YouTube archive has the weekend coverage that Chris and Jeff produced. Today’s session kept the focus tight. No panic. No victory lap. Just what the board gave them and what the rehab timelines allow. If Branch and Kirby land on schedule, Detroit’s back end regains its edge. If not, the veteran spackle holds the line until the stars return. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraftweekend #udfaclass #lukealtmeyer #kerbyjoseph #brianbranch #erickhunter #kendricklaw #2026nfldraft #dontaycorleone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2026 NFL Draft closed on Saturday, and the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on how Detroit finished. Day Three lacked its usual spark. Too many late picks around the NFL look unlikely to stick. That reality shaped a sharp read on what the Detroit Lions did and why. Jimmy Roeder at 118: Box thumper with work to do Detroit opened Day Three with Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jimmy Roeder at No. 118. Jeff Risdon had him at No. 177 on his board but backed the fit. He watched Roeder live three times, including mop-up duty in the 2024 Fresno State game. The traits showed up. Roeder thrives in the box. He stacks, strafes, and drives downhill at the run. He does not shed consistently, but he sorts traffic and finds the ball. He is a fantastic form tackler. He can close on screens, blow up a bubble screen, and reach the sideline if the edge is not sealed. The flags are clear. Coverage is the biggest one. He does not always trust his eyes. He started only one year at Michigan and played a lot of vanilla zone. There is upside, but he must get off blocks better. When the defensive line wins up front, Roeder pops. When it does not, he can fade. That mirrors how Jack Campbell looks better when DJ Reader, Ty Lake Williams, and Alene McNeil are rolling. Roeder walks in as direct competition and insurance for Malcolm Rodriguez, who returned on a one-year deal. He brings special teams experience. The value was a touch early, but the role makes sense in Detroit. Derek Moore at 44: Why Detroit moved Detroit traded up to 44 for Derek Moore on Friday night. The front office believed Baltimore would take him at 45. The Jesse Minter connection made that a plausible fear. That was their guy. They went and got him. The message was simple. Be aggressive. Do not sweat trade value charts. If you land the player, the move is worth it. Moore projects as a win. Keith Abney at 157: Undersized corner, heavyweight hits Arizona State defensive back Keith Abney at No. 157 was the favorite pick of the day. He reminds you of Amik Robertson. He is an undersized outside corner who hits like a safety and tackles like a safety. The question now is where the Detroit Lions envision him. Outside, inside, or a hybrid path will define his rookie impact. The tools and temperament are there. Day Three did not deliver the usual thrill. The class across the league looks thin. Still, Detroit found specific roles and leaned into identity. That is how you survive the NFL marathon. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #202nfldraft #lionspicks #jimmyrolder #keithabney #skylergill-howard #tyrewest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Day 2 Begins With Detroit Looking for Value and Movement The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Detroit Lions opened their weekend by selecting Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller at pick 17. It was a move that made sense for both the present and the future. Protecting Jared Goff, reinforcing the offensive line, and preparing for long-term stability in the trenches remains central to how this franchise is built. Now the focus shifts to Day 2, where the real unpredictability begins. The Lions enter Friday night holding pick 50 in the second round and, as of now, no third-round selection. That almost guarantees intrigue. Brad Holmes has never been shy about moving around the board, and Detroit feels like one of the best bets in the league to trade into additional Day 2 capital before the night is over. Our live draft show will cover every move as it happens, with full reaction to the second and third rounds, trade possibilities, and the players who could change the shape of this roster heading into training camp. Round one gets the headlines, but Day 2 often delivers the backbone of a draft class. What the Lions Could Target Tonight With Blake Miller now in the building, Detroit has flexibility. Offensive line was a priority, but it was far from the only one. Defensive line help remains a major talking point, and cornerback depth continues to be an area the front office cannot ignore. At pick 50, the Lions could find real value at edge rusher, interior defensive line, or in the secondary. There is also the possibility of a wide receiver or tight end if a player with real upside falls unexpectedly. Holmes has consistently shown a willingness to trust his board over public consensus, and that makes tonight even more compelling. The biggest question is whether Detroit stays patient or gets aggressive. Without a third-round pick, the pressure to move around is real. Trading up for a targeted player or finding a way back into Round 3 would not surprise anyone who has followed this front office. The Lions are in a win-now window, and Day 2 offers a chance to add immediate contributors rather than long-term projects. Join the Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party Live The Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party is built for nights like this. Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft is where draft boards get chaotic, surprise names fall, and teams make aggressive decisions that define entire classes. We will be live through it all with instant analysis, roster impact discussion, and real-time reaction as the board unfolds. This is not just a breakdown of picks. It is a chance for Lions fans to be part of the moment. We will be talking through trade rumors, evaluating every selection, and reacting live as Detroit makes its moves. Whether the Lions stay at 50, trade up, or find their way back into the third round, we will have it covered. The first step was Blake Miller. Tonight is about building the rest of the foundation. Join us for complete Detroit Lions Day 2 coverage as the 2026 NFL Draft continues and the next chapter of this roster starts to take shape. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #deshaunstribling #chasebesantis #widereceiverolemiss #guardtexasa&m #sanfrancisco49erspick33 #arizonacardinalspick34 #detroitlionstradeup #thirdroundmove #daythreepicksbundle #post-draftsignings #buffalopickisin #draftboardsliding #detroitlionspodcastepisode610 #livenfldraftreaction #knoxvilletravelstory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detroit stakes its first-round flag on Blake Miller The Detroit Lions made their intent plain on Night 1 of the NFL Draft. They selected Blake Miller, offensive tackle from Thompson. The fit looks clean. Miller brings durability and dependability. He started four years and got better where he needed to in his final season. That improvement points to real upside even with all that experience. His athleticism did not raise questions on recent film. The Detroit Lions Podcast mock held firm with Miller, and the board cooperated. It is a strong marriage of need, profile, and projection. A floated move up for Reuben Bates did not materialize. The scenario had Detroit sending picks 17 and 50 plus a fourth to Washington for No. 7 and a fifth. It proved false. Bates slid further than expected. There was uncertainty about an off-field incident, and whether it influenced his fall remains unclear. Trade lessons from Night 1’s market The league-wide trade tape told a story. Using the Fitzgerald-Spielberger chart, the Cowboys paid 2,486 units to receive 1,785. That is roughly the cost of an extra third-rounder to move from 12 to 11. The purpose was straightforward. Prevent Miami from moving that slot to another suitor, Detroit or otherwise. Dallas got Downs and made it count. The Texans sent 28 and 69 to Buffalo for 26 and 91. The math came to 2,571 out for 2,063 in. That gap mirrors an early fifth. The tax to climb was steeper than normal. Over 20 percent for Dallas. A little more for Houston. What looked like a buyer’s market did not play that way. That context matters for Detroit tonight. If the Lions try to rise, the price likely tops the chart values. Expect a surcharge. Plan accordingly. Day 2 for Detroit: targets, fit, and flexibility The Lions hold multiple mid and late selections. Two fourths. Two fifths. Two sixths. And a seventh. The roster has room for only a few more players. Consolidation makes sense. Ammunition is there if a target gets close. The Detroit Lions Podcast board sets a clear lane. Decker Moore. Gabe Vaki. Dani Dennis-Sutton. Anthony Hill. D'Angelo Jones. Reed Stukes. Dennis-Sutton was the final projection at 50. The fit opposite Aidan Hutchinson pops. He is a crush-the-can pass rusher with some speed. He tested off the charts. The tape does not always flash that level, but the traits are present. He might not grade as a pure value at 50. The role match for Detroit is strong. Bottom line for Friday night. The Lions secured a dependable right tackle of the future in Blake Miller. The market to move will cost extra. The board has edge help and versatile pieces waiting. Detroit has the picks to go get one. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #offensivetackle #thompson #rou #tradevaluechart #nfldraft #danidennis-sutton #lionsmockdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

# Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party: Live Coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft A Pivotal Night for the Detroit Lions at Pick 17 The Detroit Lions enter the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft with urgency, intrigue, and a clear opportunity to reshape the trajectory of the franchise. Picking at 17 after a season that fell short of expectations, Detroit finds itself in a familiar but critical position. Good enough to compete, not yet complete enough to contend. Tonight is about closing that gap. Our live draft show will bring you inside every moment as the board unfolds. The Lions are sitting in a range where flexibility becomes the story. This is where front offices earn their reputation. Do they stay put and take the best player available, or do they move up to secure a difference maker? Do they slide back and add capital in a draft that many evaluators view as deep in key positions? All eyes will be on how Detroit approaches its roster construction around **Jared Goff**. The offense has shown it can function at a high level when protected and balanced, but the conversation around long term sustainability remains. Whether the Lions lean toward reinforcing the offensive line, adding another weapon, or turning their attention to the defensive side of the ball, tonight will reveal how they see themselves moving forward. What We’re Watching Live on the Draft Show On the Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party, we will track every development in real time as the 2026 NFL Draft unfolds. The early part of the round will set the tone. Quarterbacks, edge rushers, and offensive tackles are expected to come off the board quickly, and that ripple effect could push premium talent into Detroit’s range. The Lions have been tied to several paths in recent weeks. Defensive line remains a focus after inconsistent pressure throughout last season. Cornerback depth has been a talking point across the offseason. At the same time, there is always the possibility that a top tier offensive player slips and forces Detroit into a decision they did not expect to face. We will break down each selection ahead of Detroit’s pick, evaluate how the board is falling, and react instantly when the Lions are on the clock. Expect deep analysis on fit, value, and what the pick signals about the organization’s priorities. If there is a trade, we will dissect it from every angle. Join the Live Draft Party and React With Us This is not just coverage. This is a live draft show built for Lions fans who want to be part of the moment. The Detroit Lions Podcast Draft Party will feature live reactions, instant analysis, and the energy that only draft night can bring. We want your voice as part of the show. As the picks roll in and the Lions make their move, we will be engaging with listeners and viewers in real time. Whether you are celebrating the pick, questioning the strategy, or reacting to what could have been, this is your chance to be part of the conversation. Draft night defines franchises. For the Detroit Lions, picking at 17 in the **2026 NFL Draft**, this is a chance to add a cornerstone piece and reset expectations heading into the new season. Stay with us throughout the night as we break down every move and bring you the most complete Detroit Lions draft coverage anywhere. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #topeighttrade #edgerusher #offensivelineman #calebdowns #calebtownsend #jeremiahlove #monroefraley #blakemiller #terrybradshaw #terribletowels #pittsburghdraftstage #chicagodraftsetup #clevelanddraftsetup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft day is here. The board is set. Jeff Risdon opened the Detroit Lions Podcast by staking out pick 17 and sorting the flood of NFL mock drafts pointing toward Detroit. Draft-Day Plan: Risdon’s No-Trade Mock Risdon’s final no-trade mock locks in Blake Miller, the Clemson offensive tackle, at 17 for the Detroit Lions. It is a clean projection and a pragmatic one. He also ran a first three-round exercise with no trades. The approach is consistent: prioritize the offensive line if the board cooperates. There is a clear dream scenario. If Monroe Freeling slips to 17, that is the pick. Full stop. Risdon does not expect Freeling to last that long, which prompted the pivot to Miller in his final version. The premise is simple. Stay at 17. Take the tackle that matches the value. National Mocks: Offensive Line Leads the Way The national pulse is strong and aligned. Many prominent mocks land on Caden Proctor for Detroit. Peter Schrager has Proctor. Matt Miller does, too. Albert Brown also points the Lions to Proctor, and Joe Marino is on that track as well. Others ride with Blake Miller, reinforcing the same position focus. Monroe Freeling drew serious national support as well. Daniel Jeremiah is on Freeling. Mel Skipper is there, and Mike Renner and Jordan Reid show similar leanings. Only one national voice broke the pattern in structure rather than position: Ben Solak has Detroit trading back two spots and taking a player after the move. Among the names checked, Chad Reuter stands out as the lone national who delivered Spencer Fano to the Lions in round one. The signal from all of it is unmistakable. Offensive line at 17 remains the chalk. Local Pulse: Proctor, Miller, and a Fano Flier Locally, the room is split but still sits on the same side of the ball. Dave Burkett has Caden Proctor. Brett Whitefield is also on Proctor. Risdon himself is on Blake Miller in his final no-trade scenario, and Eric Schlitt has been a Miller fan. The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy landed Spencer Fano at 17 in a run where the board broke oddly, a reminder that draft night can tilt in unexpected ways. What It Means at 17 The Detroit Lions enter tonight with a tight, credible cluster at a premium spot. Monroe Freeling is the swing if he falls. Blake Miller is the steady answer if he does not. Caden Proctor and Spencer Fano remain live depending on how the first 16 picks unfold. One notable outlier includes a modest trade back, but the bulk of mocks keep Detroit planted at 17. It is a clean plan for a roster with standards. The NFL clock starts now. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #kadynproctor #spencerfano #monroefreeling #detroitlionsdraft #pick17 #bradholmes #nationalmockdrafts #localmockdrafts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft-Eve Plans and Live Coverage Draft eve in Detroit. The Detroit Lions Podcast went live with Russell Brown, Scott Bischoff, Chris, and Jeff Risdon. The crew laid out a busy week and took questions. Brown will be on WJR with Anthony Collins and Lomas Brown from 6 to 7 PM on Thursday. It could run longer. If timing allows, he may jump back with Chris, Jeff, and Dion to react in real time. Friday brings WJR again, then a reset of the board. After that, Brown will join Fantasy Pros from picks 35 to 48. He plans to step off to watch the Detroit Lions make their move, then return to the Detroit Lions Podcast to break it down. Day three is lighter. A 7 AM coaches meeting and a baseball game sit on the calendar. He usually misses one game a year. It is almost always day three of the NFL Draft. No. 2 Overall: David Bailey vs Arvel Reed The conversation centered on the Jets at pick two. Two names led the talk: David Bailey and Arvel Reed. The hosts are not enamored with Bailey’s full profile. They acknowledged his explosive, linear pass rush. That first step stresses college tackles. It can stress NFL tackles too. But they see a lacking run defender. That is a concern at the top of the board. Reed’s profile is different. He comes from Ohio State and is not a finished product. He tested like a premium athlete. Around 240 to 241 pounds. Speed in the mid 4.4s. He flashes when he rushes, but the room sees him starting as a stacked linebacker. The Micah Parsons talk does not land for them. If he must begin off the ball, they questioned if that is a player you take second overall. Smoke remains thick. Maybe it is Bailey. Maybe the Jets have played months of misdirection. Other names were mentioned as possible wild cards, from Mansoor Ford Delaney to downs. If the card read Caleb Brown, it would make sense to them. One more wrinkle: Bailey’s media hits, including SNY, did not sound like deep pre-draft engagement beyond a dinner. Even so, a final mock tonight would still slide Bailey to the Jets. What It Means for the Detroit Lions Detroit’s plan starts with what happens at two. If the Jets choose Bailey, the board tilts one way. If they choose Reed, it tilts another. A stacked linebacker at two reshapes the early run at edge rusher. A true linear edge at two affects the second wave of offensive and defensive options. The hosts plan to reset the board Friday and react fast. Coverage spans radio, national hits, and live podcast windows tied to picks 35 to 48. The aim is simple. Track the Jets’ decision, map the fallout, and target the best path for the Detroit Lions. The NFL turns quickly. The Detroit Lions Podcast will be there as the board breaks. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #davidbailey #arvelreed #jetspicktwo #stackedlinebacker #edgerusher #linearpassrush #rundefender #resettheboard #picks35to48 #fantasypros #wjr #sny Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft Eve Plan: Five Paths, No Trades The Detroit Lions Podcast hit draft eve with a focused exercise: five no-trade scenarios mapping picks 17, 50, 118 and 128. The NFL Draft is in Pittsburgh tomorrow. The show will live stream the draft with you and Chris. The purpose here is clarity. Keep Detroit at each slot. Explore real options. Invite mix and match from the board. Scenarios at 17 and 50 Scenario 1 opened with Blake Miller, offensive tackle from Clemson, at 17. Pick 50 followed with an edge option, and later a TCU linebacker, Caleb Elamzor, in the fourth. All matched the Lions’ size and style targets. Scenario 2 pivoted to Monroe Fraley, Georgia offensive tackle, at 17. Anthony Hill, Texas linebacker, fits the Alex Anzalone role if Detroit seeks a successor. The fourth round stacked traits with Kieran Crawford, Auburn edge, and Sam Rausch, Stanford tight end. Rausch brings some Ebron-like movement but can block. He must catch the ball better. Scenario 3 went defense first with Kendrick Falk, Auburn edge. Calling him only an edge undersells him. He can play inside in the roles held by John Kaminski, Josh Paschal, Clark Davenport and Onwuzurike. At 50, Reader on Stuard, a defensive back from Arizona, profiles as a safety slash corner in the Branch and Avonte Maddox mold. Offense returned at 118 with Demetrius Brown, Texas A&M offensive tackle, a project that would require Larry Horton to hold right tackle while Sewell moves to the left side, a switch Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have discussed. Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M defensive tackle, rounded it out. Trenches and Fourth-Round Value Scenario 4 pressed a tackle run with Colon Proctor at 17. Decker Hatten, Penn State edge, landed at 50. Packers beat writers love Danica Sutton at 52, so this track would get over on a rival slot. The fourth-round focus was run defense with Dante Corleone, Cincinnati’s Godfather, as a stout run stopper, plus BJ Payne at safety. A small trade-up into the 90s could be needed for Payne, though the exercise held Detroit in place. Scenario 5 circled back to tackle with an Arizona State option at 17. It assumed a rookie might be pressed into action early if a veteran is not ready. How to Use the Board The exercise locked picks 17, 50, 118 and 128. No trades. The point is to map Detroit Lions options and let fans assemble their own card. Audio listeners were urged to catch visuals on YouTube. The top of this NFL Draft remains murky at two, three and four. There will be moves before Detroit is on the clock. These scenarios keep the Lions steady and prepared. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #blakemiller #monroefraley #anthonyhill #kierancrawford #samrausch #kendrickfalk #deckerhatten #dantecorleone #danicasutton #bjpayne Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A No-Trade Board Starts With a Shock The Detroit Lions Podcast fired up a manual, no-trade mock draft and pointed the map toward pick 17. The board went sideways immediately. The Raiders claimed quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1. No trades. No hedging. Just a clean card and a surprise start that scrambled every plan behind it. Confusion defined the exercise. After the first selection, consensus vanished. Teams blurred. Needs collided with traits. The room acknowledged it had not seen an NFL draft this murky in years. That uncertainty matters to the Detroit Lions. Chaos at the top can send premium talent sliding toward 17. It can also yank scheme fits off the board before Detroit is ready to pick. Debating Pick No. 2: Traits vs. Production At No. 2, the debate locked onto edge defenders. David Bailey’s get-off, length, and pass-rush juice drew early support. The counterargument centered on setting the edge. Could Bailey anchor against the run and earn the right to rush in an NFL front that demands discipline on early downs? Arvel Reed brought a different profile. A true multi-tool defender, he blitzed more than he played traditional edge in college. The versatility intrigues, but there were questions about immediate production if he is not a full-time rusher. Sonny Styles surfaced as a data point. In limited rush chances, Styles stacked sacks at a higher rate, which sharpened the focus on how Reed actually wins. Scheme fit hung over the table. The conversation circled the priorities coaches place on run force, edge integrity, and pressure. The tie broke with the need for day-one impact. The card at No. 2 read David Bailey. Cardinals at No. 3 Hold the Top-10 Keys Arizona stepped into the on-deck circle with options everywhere. Reed made sense. So did a pure rusher like David Saylors. The Cardinals also had a clear offensive path. With Chris Johnson Jr. at left tackle, right tackle help fits cleanly. Maui Noah checked that box. So did names like Ruben Payne and Francis Allen for line help. The twist came from the owner rumor mill. A running back that early is risky, but the floor can be high. Recent hits at the position were cited. The room understood the appeal while disagreeing with the value. No matter the direction, the third pick felt like a fulcrum. Move it, and the entire top 10 tilts. Keep it, and the board settles for a beat before the next surprise. For the Detroit Lions, that turbulence is the story. A quarterback at one, Bailey at two, and a wide-open Arizona decision compress talent pockets and confuse runs at specific positions. The path to 17 will be carved by how teams prioritize edge force, right tackle certainty, and whether ownership leans into a splash at running back. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #mockdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Countdown to Pittsburgh and a live mock tonight Two days before the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on pick 17 and the moving board around it. The top of the draft is unsettled. Nobody can lock in picks two through five. That uncertainty bleeds straight into Detroit’s lane. The crew set a live mock draft for tonight at 8:00 with Jeff Risdon, Chris, and Scott Bischoff running the room. It is a final stress test for scenarios the Lions could face when the NFL clock hits 17. Two SEC tackles lead the Lions’ options Mock drafts clustering around Detroit point to two clear front-runners: Monroe Fraley and Colon Proctor. Both are SEC offensive tackles. Both bring first-round traits with very different profiles. The conversation centered on balancing their pluses and minuses against Detroit’s current line and future contracts. If either is there at 17, the pick feels clean. If both are gone, the board gets messy. Predicting availability is the trick. With the top 10 fluid and several tackle-needy teams ahead of Detroit, the range for Fraley and Proctor stretches. The Lions are preparing for one to go early, one to drift, or a late surprise that knocks a different premium player into range. Injury variables that could shake the board Health flags dominated the swing-player talk. Jermad McCoy’s knee has drawn “degenerative” chatter. Production included only one strong season at Tennessee. That mix could push him into the second round. If he slips to 50, the value becomes a debate, but chronic soft-tissue and long-term knee concerns temper enthusiasm. Francis Malinois surfaced as the other big wild card. He has a back issue described as similar to what Sam LaPorta is managing. Not a herniated disc. Potentially addressable with a minor procedure and roughly three months of rehab. Teams are weighing whether surgery is even required. That uncertainty could nudge him out of the top 10 to 12. Clubs like Arizona, Cleveland, and Kansas City were cited as spots where medical risk tolerance could change plans. Kansas City in particular may be hesitant after drafting an injured tackle last year. Reading the final mocks Final boards from major analysts are landing now and shaping consensus on Detroit. Proctor shows up as one of the most frequent Lions pairings at 17. The podcast plans to comb through recent years of last-minute mocks on Thursday morning to see who historically pegged Detroit’s moves and where groupthink missed. With volatility up high, the Lions’ best edge at 17 is preparedness for medical-driven slides and a clear stack between the two SEC tackles leading their lane. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #monroefreeling #mockdrafts #fanpicks #kadynproctor #blakemiller #jermodmccoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A draft that flips expectations Uncertainty rules the 2026 NFL draft. Only one quarterback looks like a first-round lock. The wide receivers, once viewed as light, surged into the star group. Running back thins after Jeremiah Love. The board pushes teams toward less celebrated positions. That creates value and hard choices. It also exposes which front offices are organized and which are guessing. Tight ends, safeties and OL carry the board This Detroit Lions Podcast episode zeroes in on where the talent sits. Tight end is a headline. Kenyan Sadiq grades as a top-tier prospect and projects to go very early. Safety is strong and deeper than usual. Interior offensive line offers starter traits into Day Two. Offensive tackle holds up well, too. The sweet spot stretches through Day Two and into Day Three for these groups. Teams willing to invest in non-premium positions can clean up. That mirrors how the Detroit Lions built recent drafts with results. The conversation tracked how recent cycles elevated quarterback, running back and wide receiver. This year tilts differently. Safeties and tight ends stand out. Interior linemen anchor the depth. It is not a bad class. It is a unique class that demands precision and a clear plan. Linebacker calculus and Detroit lessons Linebacker is still devalued on draft night, but the names have juice. Arvel Reed and Niese Styles headline. CJ Allen is climbing. Jacob Rodriguez could even sneak in, depending on need. Teams hesitate unless the traits scream All-Pro. The Lions have shown it can work. They invested in Jack Campbell. They added Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta. They hit on Jabir Gibbs. Non-premium positions produced premium impact. This class lines up with that approach, especially on Day Two and Day Three. Trade talk and board ripple The Dexter Lawrence trade drew measured praise. New York did well. Cincinnati’s angle also tracks. They never truly replaced DJ Reed and missed that presence. Moves like that shift boards. Safety runs can start earlier. Offensive line plans adjust. Big-name safeties can still slide outside the top 10 or even top 20, but the overall depth gives teams options. For Detroit, the value bands match where the roster-building model has thrived. Tight ends, safeties and offensive linemen anchor this draft. That is where the 2026 NFL board feels strongest and where smart clubs can separate. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #tampabaybuccaneers #kenyonsaddiq #drewallar #minnesotavikings #draftinpittsburgh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lions’ filters and a three-man target band at 17 One week from Day 3, the Detroit Lions board is narrowing to players who match clear standards. No recent DUIs. No violence. No academic ineligibility. They prefer team captains, academic achievers, and multi-sport backgrounds. Maturity and coachability matter. Under Brad Holmes, the Detroit Lions draft their guys and ignore consensus boards. Expect that again. That approach frames a three-man cluster for pick No. 17 in the NFL Draft: TJ Parker, Blake Miller, and Kendrick Ford. Others could surface, including Monroe Fraley, Max Heinecker, and even Jermaine McCoy, but those three sit in the thick of it. The Detroit Lions Podcast made the case for each as culture and scheme fits. Blake Miller checks every box at right tackle Miller looks built for Detroit. Durable. Noticeable senior-year growth. Team captain. Strong football character. He can step in at right tackle quickly, as game ready as a college lineman can be entering the NFL. He also tested as an elite athlete at the combine. That level of testing did not always appear on tape, but nothing about him reads unathletic. Any narrative to the contrary is off base. If the Lions want a plug-in, long-view answer opposite Taylor Decker and in front of Aidan Hutchinson’s edge, Miller is the easy fit. Why Faulk profiles as the Hutchinson complement Some fans will balk at taking Faulk at 17. The fit is plain. He is a physical clone of Marcus Davenport, only younger and healthy. He became a team captain at age 20 on a veteran Auburn team. High academic achiever. Impressive athletic profile and RAS. The critique is real: he is not super twitchy off the snap, and quicker pressure has been a fan priority. The Detroit Lions have not emphasized that timeline publicly. They value the totality of disruption and reliability opposite Hutchinson. Within that lens, Faulk makes sense at 17. Day-three watchlist: Kendrick Ford, Dante Corleone, and a sleeper at corner Ford’s story fits Detroit. A blood clot cost him a season. He stayed loyal, stayed engaged on the sideline, and never detached. Two-time captain. Stylistic fit as a replacement for DJ Reed on the roster. Fourth-round range feels right given the board construction and need stack. Dante Corleone also flashed a clear line to Allen Park. In an interview, he singled out the Detroit Lions as the only team that spent significant time with him after the combine visit. The club has done its homework. Everything about his profile suggests they will like what they see. Do not sleep on Latrell McCutcheon, cornerback from the Houston Cougars. He has not been discussed enough. Good player. If Detroit wants a competitive outside corner later in the NFL Draft, he belongs on the card. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #blakemiller #keldricfaulk #dontaycorleone #vjpayne #latrellmccutchin #lionsfits #gritfit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six Days Out, the Board Turns to Saturday The Detroit Lions are six days from the start of the NFL Draft, and the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Day 3. Saturday covers rounds four through seven. The focus was specific. Detroit has a lot of capital on Day 3 right now. That is likely to change. The expectation is a move up before Saturday to secure a target. The conversation centered on which players fit the roster and how many of those Day 3 picks can realistically make the team. Day 3 is about flavor and conviction. The early rounds deliver spotlight and starters. Saturday is for dart throws and stand-on-the-table guys. The Lions will filter that through a roster that is already tough to crack. Two Fourths and the 53-Man Reality Detroit currently holds two early fourth-round selections. If the Lions add a first-rounder, a second-rounder, and those two fourths, there may not be room for much else. That was the stark roster math. The 53-man roster is tight as it stands. Late picks can push competition and land on the practice squad, which still has value. But the Lions do not need a sixth-rounder to contribute right away in 2026. That calculus fuels the idea of consolidating capital. Package some of Saturday’s picks to move up earlier. Get a difference-maker that aligns with the board. Then let the two fourths address depth where it matters. A 6'8 Answer at Swing Tackle One Day 3 name stood out: Travis Bell, a right tackle from Memphis who previously played left tackle at Florida International, the Panthers. He is 6-foot-8 with long arms and rare grip strength for this tackle class. When he locks on, the rep is finished. He finishes through the whistle and plays with a bouncer’s edge. Off the field he comes off as composed. On it he flips the switch. That temperament drew parallels to the way Taylor Decker carries himself. Bell profiles as an immediate swing tackle. He can back up both spots while learning behind established starters. Even if Detroit selects a tackle at 17, Bell still fits. He would stabilize depth and hedge against injuries on an offensive line that drives the Lions’ identity. Pick 17 Shapes Saturday If tackle is the play at 17, names in the mix included Montgomery Freeling, Blake Miller, and Spencer Fano. That choice would ripple into Day 3. Land a starter early, then chase traits and role players later. If the board breaks differently, Bell becomes even more attractive as a developmental piece with starter tools. The mission is clear. Use the two fourths wisely. Let the 53 dictate which darts are worth throwing. And if the chance comes to go up and get the guy before Saturday, take it. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #daythreedartthrows #roundsfourthroughseven #twofourth-roundpicks #53-manroster #practicesquad #swingtackle #travisbell #memphisrighttackle #floridainternationalpanthers #gripstrength #taylordecker #blakemiller #spencerfano #montgomeryfreeling #pick17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trade smoke at picks 6 and 12 A week out from the NFL draft, the Detroit Lions Podcast locked in on the rumor with real bite. Dallas has eyes on jumping from 12 to 6 in a deal with Cleveland. That move would put the Cowboys in range for a defensive cornerstone. Names floated were concrete. Caleb Downs. Niese Styles. Rubin Bain. Jeremiah Love. Cardinal Bates. Cleveland, sliding to 12, would still sit in a clean pocket for an offensive tackle such as Caden Procter, Monroe Freeling, or Spencer Fano. The logic tracks. Dallas secures a high-end defender. Cleveland reloads up front. The Giants, Arizona, and the safe defender debate There is a catch. If Dallas covets the same player as New York, the Cowboys may need to leap the Giants. New York is not doing business with Dallas. That pushes the question higher on the board. Some believe five could be Downs’ range. Positional value chatter will hum, but this class may mute it. Just take really good players. Arizona complicates everything. If Niese Styles is seen as one of the safest prospects, what stops Arizona from taking him? That possibility shapes the entire top 10. If Styles or Downs goes early, Dallas must recalibrate. If either slides to six, the door swings open for that 12-to-6 jump. What it means for the Lions at 17 The Detroit Lions sit at 17 and can let the board work for them. If Dallas climbs for a defender and Cleveland targets a tackle later, the middle of the round shifts. A run on defensive backs and edge players could shove an offensive tackle down to 17. A tackle surge could push a defender into Detroit’s lap. Both outcomes help. The room weighed immediate impact versus projection. David Bailey’s pass rush pop could hit early. Arnold Reed might take a different path to the same outcome. The staff’s preferences matter. Aaron Glenn values defenders who attack the run and set edges with urgency. That lens will filter every option that hits 17. Detroit has done the homework on day two and day three paths. Now the choices at 17 crystallize. If the Cowboys-Browns swap happens, it clarifies priorities. If it fizzles, it still tilts the board through the threat of action. Either way, the Lions can stay patient, trust their stack, and pounce when the right player slides. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #seventeenthoverallpick #dallascowboys #clevelandbrowns #movefrom12to6 #offensivetackles #defensiveends #calebdowns #niesestyles #rubinbain #jeremiahlove #cardinalbates #cadenprocter #spencerfano Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One Week Out, the Mock Is On Seven 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 Temptations The Lions sifted through a cluster that included Raymond McCoy, Dylan Spielman, Keldrick Falk, Caden Proctor, Akeem Mezzadore, 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 Mezzadore did not fit that vision. Avion 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. Caden 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 Fraley, and avoid forcing an offensive need later when the board thins. After 17: Runs, Snipes, and Offers Once Miller was in, chips fell fast. McCoy came off the board. Proctor went to Houston. Gabe Vaki 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 Lead The 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. Kayla 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. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #blakemiller #chrisjohnson #mockdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Brad Holmes Actually Said Episode 608 lands as a 2026 Detroit Lions NFL Podcast primer, and the focus is Brad Holmes’ pre-draft press conference. The Detroit Lions Podcast treats this stretch as lying season. Everyone knows the game. The wrinkle is that Detroit has often told the truth, just not in ways people caught in the moment. That tension drove the discussion. The read on Holmes was direct. He did not appear deceptive. He also did not say much. He should not. The building keeps information close. The ship is locked tighter than it used to be, which makes outside reads tougher. The group framed Holmes’ approach as consistent, measured, and light on hints that can be mined by other clubs. A Tighter Ship, A Clearer Process Detroit’s process under Holmes tracks with a Rams-rooted philosophy. Care less about other teams. Care most about your own board. That mindset showed up in how the presser landed. No panic. No performative noise. Just enough clarity to signal confidence in the Lions’ path, without handing out details. Comparisons to other NFL front offices came up. Around the league, general managers hold similar lines in April. Some drop phrases that sound like clues. Most do not intend to tip their hand. Holmes fit that pattern, but with a notable edge: a self-focused process that shrugs at outside reaction. It narrows the signal. It cuts the static. Draft Smoke, Real Signals, and Mock Talk The conversation pushed back on fan assumptions about league-wide subterfuge. The NFL uses less smoke and mirrors than people think. Some teams do play games. Many do not. Detroit’s leadership falls on the straight-line side. Truth often sits in plain sight, wrapped in careful language. Unpredictability still rules draft weekend. The show cited a past draft where a team stacked multiple centers despite an established starter. It was a reminder. Anything can happen in the draft, regardless of what a depth chart looks like in April. That applies to the Lions as they weigh value against need, and as mocks try to catch up. From there, the table was set for current mock projections for the Detroit Lions. The presser context matters. If Holmes’ words are consistent with the past, Detroit will prioritize its own grades and timing. The result could challenge expectations on position and sequence. Episode 608 framed the exercise. Read the words. Respect the silence. Then test every mock against a front office that prizes process over theater. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #bradholmespresser #lyingseason #detroitlionsdraft #mockprojections #ramsline #snead #nickcaserio #buccaneersgm #lockedtighter #blowingsmoke #anythingcanhappeninthedraft #threecentersinonedraft #all-procenter #officialdetroitlionspodcastforreddit #episode608 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trade-Up Logic for a Tight Roster On April 14, Jeff Risdon opened the Detroit Lions Podcast by dropping his annual dream draft. The premise is simple. Targets he prefers at every pick, no trades in the mock, and a clear-eyed look at roster math. His NFL calculus points one way. Trade up over trading back. Risdon expects three or four selections this year might not crack the active 53-man roster. Not because they cannot play, but because the Detroit Lions have fewer open chairs. Late picks can sit on the practice squad. That shifts value toward higher picks instead of collecting more Day 3 swings. He contrasted it with earlier Lions eras that forced rookies into the lineup. Amari Spivey got thrown to the wolves. A late-round inside backer from Cal had to play right away. Today’s depth means patience. Recent examples back it up. Dominic Lovett, a seventh-rounder a year ago, barely saw the offense and made little impact on special teams. Dan Jackson, also a seventh-round pick, returns healthy but might not have played much as a rookie anyway. That is a different Lions reality. It makes trading up more attractive this spring. Caleb Lomu at 17 and Panay Stays Right Risdon’s first-round dream pick is Caleb Lomu, the Utah left tackle. The choice ties directly to keeping Panay Sewell at right tackle. Sewell is the best in the world there. Move him and he would still be great, but why disrupt excellence. With a true left tackle in Lomu, Detroit can preserve its right-side identity. Risdon praised Lomu’s athleticism, length, and smarts. Crafty feet. Room to grow. He admitted the run blocking is not elite yet. Others are better in that phase. Spencer Fano brings more in-line drive. Francis Malinois does too. But the upside with Lomu at left tackle fits the long view while maintaining continuity with Sewell. Building the Right-Side Run and Interior Fits The vision extends to the run game. Keep the Detroit Lions pounding right. Pair Sewell with Tate Ratledge and have Cade Mays available to reinforce that side. Lomu holds down the blind side while the right side remains the hammer. The balance lets the offense dictate with angles and tempo without retooling the front. That philosophy also informs the board. In a weaker draft, higher picks matter more than a pile of late fliers. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it cleanly. Aim your swings where roster spots actually exist. Trade-Up Wildcard and Year-Two Buzz If he did climb from 17, Risdon identified a prize. Niese Styles is his No. 2 overall player. A safety background shows up in space, yet he is bigger than Arvel Reed, who projects as an edge. Styles can play with Jack Campbell and unlock sub-package flexibility. There is carryover optimism too. Last year’s dream manifested early hits. The Lions landed Tylek Williams and Isaac TeSlaa sooner than expected. Risdon likes what comes next, especially for Williams in year two now that he knows NFL life. The dream stays ambitious. The logic stays grounded. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #dreamdraft #caleblomu #lefttackle #panaysewell #tradeup #tradeback #tylekwilliams #isaacteslaa #tateratledge #cademays #spencerfano #niesestyles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holmes skips owners meetings to lock in draft prep Ten days before the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Brad Holmes’ message and where Detroit stands at No. 17. Holmes held his annual pre-draft press conference. He explained he did not attend the NFL owners meetings this year. He stayed in Detroit to work with the scouting staff and focus on the draft. The Lions were still represented at the meetings, with Rod Wood and Dan Campbell available on site. The episode posted later than usual to follow that availability. Travel logistics factored into coverage decisions. A three-hour drive each way for a brief presser did not add value, especially without a plan to ask questions. The focus stayed on what Holmes revealed and what he did not. Reading the board at No. 17 Holmes was pressed on how many true first-round grades the Lions hold and what that means at 17. He did not bite. The general manager avoided specifics and declined to lock a number to the board. One fragment carried weight: "We feel pretty good about" what will be there at 17. That line framed Detroit’s outlook. The message matched league chatter. This is not billed as the greatest class, but teams expect to find players they like in their strike zones. Holmes has sharpened his poker face since his early sessions at the podium. He kept priorities concealed while signaling confidence in outcomes. The takeaway for the NFL and Detroit Lions watchers: the club trusts its board without tipping needs or targets. Trade calls timing and Detroit’s approach On movement around the pick, Holmes said this is the time when calls start to happen. To this point, they have not. That is not a denial of interest. It is a timestamp. Ten days out is when the market forms. The question is who dials first. Detroit’s tendency has been to let others ring them. That stands in contrast to the more aggressive, feeler-heavy style associated with John Dorsey during his Cleveland Browns tenure. The current Lions approach gathers information by fielding offers rather than fishing early. Up, back, or staying put all remain in play. The board and the phone will guide the path. The principle is clear. Detroit will not force action before the market sets. Pittsburgh trip notes coming later this week The show teased a travel-focused episode for fans headed to Pittsburgh. Recent time on the ground produced useful local notes that will drop later this week. The can cracked today was a Doctor Pepper. Sponsorship inquiries are open, with examples mentioned on air. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #bradholmes #pressconference #larryborom #d.j.wonnum #ruebenbain #nfldrafttrades Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Late-Round Targets With Real Detroit Fits The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on two late Day 3 options who match Detroit’s defensive profile. The focus stayed tight: an interior disruptor who penetrates and a defensive back with real slot juice and verified top-end speed. Both players project as developmental pieces who can fill defined roles in the NFL and compete for snaps in Detroit. Penetration From the Interior: Cameron Ball Cameron Ball, a defensive tackle from Arkansas, stands 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds and tested at the combine. His game is built on first-step quickness and backfield penetration. He wins by getting narrow through gaps and shooting into the backfield, not by anchoring and two-gapping. The production reflects a creator more than a finisher: three sacks and 13 tackles for loss across four seasons, with steady disruption and pursuit. The motor runs hot. He tackles well and moves unexpectedly well in space for his size, getting outside the box to finish plays. Block shedding is inconsistent, and he is not a classic run stuffer. He must win early with quickness. The athletic profile is decent, not elite, and the projection lands late on Day 3, potentially the sixth or seventh round. The fit in Detroit is clear. Ball profiles as a rotational rush tackle behind Alim McNeill, with insurance value when Levi Onwuzurike shifts. Detroit has dabbled with penetrators inside, including bigger bodies asked to knife and facilitate rather than rack up sacks. Ball can make quarterbacks hesitate on their step-up when edge pressure compresses the pocket. That kind of interior disturbance has value in this defense. Slot Speed and Versatility: C.A. Wright C.A. Wright, a Nebraska cornerback and former USC recruit, brings verified speed. GPS tracking has him over 22 miles per hour repeatedly. Nebraska kicked him inside to the slot, where his game took off, though he also saw time outside and some at safety. That inside-out experience matters for a secondary that values versatility and alignments that disguise intentions. Wright turned heads in all-star settings, including a strong week in the Dallas area. The attraction is straightforward: true slot range with recovery speed, plus the ability to handle varied coverage assignments. He projects in the late rounds, with the speed and role clarity to compete right away for nickel work while developing boundary technique over time. Why These Profiles Matter for Detroit Detroit needs rotational defenders who do specific jobs well. Ball offers gap shooting from the interior to complement edge pressure and lighten the load on early downs with change-of-pace penetration. Wright brings slot athleticism and flexibility across multiple spots in the secondary. Both are realistic Day 3 targets for the Detroit Lions, with traits that translate and roles that fit the plan. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraftday3 #cameronball #ceyairwright #camdorner #curtisallen #scoutingreports Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft Runway and Roster Posture The Detroit Lions Podcast turned spring break into roster talk as Jeff Risdon sat down with Nick Baumgartner two weeks before the NFL Draft. They opened with Michigan basketball’s national title and a nod to John Beilein getting his overdue moment. Then they pivoted hard to the Detroit Lions and the NFL calendar. The tone was steady. The message was clear. Detroit is in good shape. Baumgartner said the front office did what it needed to do. The approach was careful. The only gripe raised was not giving Frank Regnal bonus money. Everything else from Brad Holmes and Dan tracked with the plan. The roster now lets Detroit enter the first round with freedom. Best player available is back on the table. That likely points to the trenches. An offensive lineman sits high on the board. It does not have to be a pure tackle. Guard or tackle both fit the current path. Free Agency Adds Reshape the Board The Detroit Lions Podcast highlighted several additions that tighten depth and raise the floor. Cade Maze drew praise as a value signing. Pacheco did too. Corrao landed as a swing tackle who can cover short term needs. He can start in a pinch if a rookie needs time. Those moves matter when the NFL Draft starts to slide. They buy patience. They keep the board honest. Detroit can wait for its guy instead of forcing a reach. With those pieces in place, the Lions can let the draft come to them. If a tackle falls, they can pounce. If the board tilts to an interior mauler, they can plug that in and roll. Either way, the goal stays the same. Protect the quarterback. Keep the run game on schedule. Own the line of scrimmage. Secondary Competition Tightens Inside Risdon pushed a point he thinks the fan base has overlooked. Roger McCreary and Tyler Conklin were called out as signings who will play and help right away. They were framed as upgrades over the players they replace. The slot comparison was direct. McCreary was labeled a better cover guy than Amiek Robertson on the inside. The versatility note followed. McCreary can do more. That flexibility changes matchups and pressures route timing. Chris Isiom came up as another under-the-radar pickup. The theme continued. Holmes keeps finding defensive backs off the scrap Wheat and making them fit. More bodies. More traits. More competition. It all stacks to a cleaner picture on draft night. Detroit can target the best player instead of scrambling to fill a hole. That is the difference between chasing and controlling. The NFL rewards control. The Detroit Lions Podcast made that point plain. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #jeffrisdon #nickbaumgartner #nfldraft #offensivelineman #swingtackle #guardortackle #bradholmes #frankregnal #cademaze #pacheco #corrao #rogermccreary #tylerconklin #amiekrobertson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 1,200-Player Lens on the NFL Draft Jeff Risdon welcomed Emery Hunt to the Detroit Lions Podcast for a focused draft conversation. Hunt outlined how his process starts in January after a season spent covering the NFL and college football. He hits nine to ten all star games, including the combine, to form first looks on prospects. Then he stacks twelve hour film days from February until the guide publishes. His draft guide includes over 1,200 individual scouting reports, one page per player he has actually watched. Buyers since 2020 would now hold more than 6,600 reports. It is built for draft weekend, camp cuts, and the regular season when rosters churn. The guide lists a clear grade for everyone he studied and costs $25. What Fits at Pick 17 for Detroit The discussion turned to the Detroit Lions at pick 17. Detroit added help on the edge in free agency. Inside, McNeil anchors a sturdy interior with capable help next to him. Hutchinson gives them a proven outside presence. That context points to two prime pathways. One is getting younger at edge if the board cooperates. Hunt said he would feel comfortable taking Reed Mesa in that range. He stressed a modern expectation for first rounders. Three productive years is success in a league where even top picks move quickly. The other path is the offensive line. If early action at the top reshapes the tackle market, Detroit could find a true left tackle on the board. The Browns’ choices at six and twenty four could influence that flow. In that scenario, Monroe Fraley fits as a clean left tackle projection. He offers the flexibility to keep him on the left side or cross train him on the right, depending on how Detroit wants to arrange the room. Interior offensive line was also mentioned as a viable consideration. Secondary Swing and a First-Round Wild Card Cornerback remains a live option if the medicals break right. If Manu McCoy checks out and slides, that would be a strong pickup at value. The show also floated a first round wild card. Anzalone Ponds of Indiana profiles as an outside corner who matches the physical, competitive edge the Lions prioritize. That type of player fits the team’s identity and adds matchup flexibility on the perimeter. However the board falls, Detroit has leverage. Free agency work on the defensive line gives room to target value. The roster’s core pieces create options rather than needs. At seventeen, the Lions can credibly choose edge, tackle, interior offensive line, or corner. With multiple workable lanes and a deep pool of scouted prospects, they can trust the grades and take the cleanest fit. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #jeffrisdon #emeryhunt #draftguide #pick17 #edgerusher #interiordefensiveline #mcneil #hutchinson #monroefraley #reedmesa #manumccoy #anzaloneponds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tackle Takes the Lead at 17 The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on the NFL Draft board. Episode 607 asked the question that matters: what should the Detroit Lions do at 17? The table leaned offensive tackle. A fresh sweep of recent mocks all pointed to a tackle at that spot. Names floated included Procter, Manu, Holmes, Fraley, and Venga. The reasoning was simple. At 17, need meets value. If the Lions stick at that pick, a tackle fits the board and the workload in front of them. The draft room math favors it. Edge Help and the 50 Pick Edge at 17 did not land the same conviction. The group questioned whether an edge would be worth that selection. The hope is that a pass rusher slides to 50. If not, trade flexibility stays on the table. Up for a target. Back for a pocket of value. The expectation laid out was clear: across picks 17 and 50, come away with an offensive tackle and a pass rusher. There was also talk that the front office is weighing defensive end as strongly as tackle. Either way, the path was set. Protect the quarterback. Hit the quarterback. Do both by the end of Day 2. Tight End Talk and a Big-Board Curveball First-round tight end? No. That was the blunt answer. The crew would be stunned if the Detroit Lions opened with a tight end. A twist came from the show’s consensus big board. The 17th-ranked player there is a tight end. But that is a ranking, not a Lions projection. The board explains talent tiers. It does not predict Detroit’s card. The Podcast kept circling back to need and value. In this NFL, tackle at 17 tracks with both. Roster Notes, Anzalone Chatter, and What’s Next There was a sidebar on Alex Anzalone’s recent comments. He discussed returning, with the head coach wanting that outcome, while ownership and the front office reportedly felt otherwise. Quarterback talk surfaced too. A first-round quarterback did not feel imminent. That room is heavy, and health for the young pieces matters before any verdicts. Late in the segment, a pair of names came up as unlikely options at 17, with the belief that one of them might be gone anyway. The show closed with a programming note. A bigger draft roundtable is planned for early next week, with a full mock on deck. The Detroit Lions Podcast will line up the scenarios and run them, pick by pick. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #offensivetackle #passrusher #pick17 #pick50 #tightendfirstround #alexanzalone #dancampbell #mockdraftroundtable #consensusbigboard #mattmiller #procter #manu #venga Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russell Brown and Scott Bischoff returned to the Detroit Lions Podcast after a week off and put the focus squarely on pick 17. Fifteen days out from the 2026 NFL Draft, the Lions’ board and one Alabama offensive tackle dominated the run-up: Proctor. National chatter says he will not get past Detroit at 17. That includes a high-profile voice saying, "there's no way Proctor gets past the Lions." The room wrestled with whether that is smoke or a signal. Proctor at 17: Plan or Smokescreen? The Lions need clarity on value at 17. Proctor brings size and traits. He played left tackle at Alabama and could be asked to move inside. Brown graded him as a late second-round player on film. He did not love three of four games studied, pointing to Wisconsin, Georgia, and Oklahoma as uneven outings. The size is undeniable at roughly 6-foot-7 and 352, with reports he played closer to 370 last season. He can reach. He can pull. He transfers weight from his post foot to his set foot with ease. The issues show up in balance. Oversets. The game speeds him up and knocks him off course. He needs to find a comfortable playing weight. Detroit’s decision at 17 might hinge on whether the front office sees a guard conversion, a future left tackle, or a developmental swing who buys time. There is also top-10 buzz for Proctor. Cleveland at six, Kansas City at nine, and Cincinnati at ten were floated as tackle-needy spots. If even one of them prefers him inside, his market shifts. If they see a long-term tackle, he may never reach 17. Arizona’s Leverage Over the First Round The conversation kept circling back to Arizona at three. The Cardinals, in their view, want out. If a team jumps Tennessee at four, the ripple could blow up every mock draft. A move down to the mid-first would let Arizona collect capital and still target another tackle later. That single trade could push a run at offensive line and change Detroit’s choices. If tackles come off early, the Lions may face a decision on a player they like less than the number on the board. If the run stalls, options expand. What It Means for Detroit If Proctor reaches 17, the Lions must weigh traits against tape. They can bet on a rare frame, movement skills, and coaching up balance. They can pass and pivot to another position. Or they can trade the pick. The NFL is about fit and timing. On this week’s Detroit Lions Podcast, the debate was simple and sharp: if Proctor is there, is he the right kind of bet for Detroit at 17? #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #pick17 #danieljeremiah #alabamaoffensivetackle #proctor #lefttackle #moveinsidetoguard #balanceissues #oversetting #reachandpull #arizonaatthree #clevelandatsix #kansascityatnine #cincinnatiatten Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One Year Ago, the Mocks Missed Two weeks from the 2026 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions Podcast rewinds to last spring. The mock draft pulse around Detroit told one story. The actual first round told another. The board buzzed with edge rushers and tackles. Derek Horton from Oregon surfaced. Kelvin Banks and Grey Campbell showed up. Donovan Esaraku led the projections to pick 28. Jihad Campbell appeared in multiple runs. Nick Skorton and Michael Williams stayed popular among the edge crowd. The problem was fit. Linebacker was not the urgent need some insisted it was. Jack Campbell was rising into an all‑pro level performer. Alex Anzalone held the room and covered space. Depth existed until Malcolm Rodriguez’s injury later in the year. The frenzy still pushed front‑seven names, mostly edges, into the Lions slot because it felt safe. The Pick Few Saw Coming The Detroit Lions took Tylek Williams, defensive tackle from Ohio State, in the first round. Almost no mock two weeks out had that connection. One social post on March 10, 2025, put Williams as a first‑round expectation after the combine. Then the projection shifted. Confidence wavered. Two days before the draft, a strong league voice said Williams would be the pick. That tip got ignored. The card in Detroit matched the early combine read, not the late‑cycle noise. The lesson is clear. Information gathered at the NFL combine tends to hold up. Pro days, public trackers, and the mock churn can blur the picture. The 2025 cycle did exactly that. It pushed a wave of edges and a linebacker into focus while the Detroit Lions quietly lined up a disruptive defensive tackle. The 2026 Takeaway As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, remember what actually aligned with the pick a year ago. Combine intel mattered. Need still mattered. The perception that Brad Holmes refuses to draft for need gets overstated. The stronger takeaway is more precise. He does not force edge early if the board and role do not match value. Expect heavy speculation again. You will see more edges mocked to Detroit. You will see another linebacker or two. That happened last year with Donovan Esaraku, Jihad Campbell, Nick Skorton, and Michael Williams cycling through the slot. The room, the roles, and the Lions priorities will decide, not the volume of projections. Last spring offered a blunt reminder. The earliest accurate breadcrumb came out of Indianapolis. It pointed to Tylek Williams and interior disruption. The late noise washed it out. Detroit still made the right call. Keep that framework close as the clock ticks toward the 2026 first round. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #tylekwilliams #nfldraft #mockdrafts #defensivetackle #combineintel #donovanesaraku #jihadcampbell #jackcampbell #alexanzalone #malcolmrodriguez #edgerusher #nickskorton #michaelwilliams #bradholmes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What No. 17 Is Really Worth Two weeks from the NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions Podcast put real numbers and real names on pick No. 17. Trade charts help, but they are not law. The team that moves up usually pays around a 10 percent premium. Sometimes the mover wins. Often the mover does not. It comes down to the player. That was the headline takeaway. The Detroit Lions can trade up, trade back, or flip 17 for a player. History says the return swings with the evaluation, not the math. The NFL market at 17 has receipts to prove it. Receipts from Recent No. 17 Deals The last time the 17th pick moved, it cost real capital. Seventeen went for No. 23, No. 67, plus a third and a fourth in 2025. Minnesota moved up with Jacksonville to take Dallas Turner. The edge from Alabama has not matched that price. Jacksonville stayed at 23 and took Brian Thomas, a potential Pro Bowler. One of those future picks turned into safety Caleb Branch. The Lions were even tangentially involved in the chain before it moved again. In 2023, 17 and 120 were packaged to climb to 14. The 14th pick became Braxton Jones at tackle. Solid, but not elite. Staying at 17 yielded Christian Gonzales at corner. The 120th pick spun out and landed as Carter Warren. The side that moved back came out ahead on player value. In 2019, 17 became the centerpiece in a blockbuster. Picks 17 and 95, plus Kevin Zeitler and Jabrill Peppers, went from Cleveland to New York for Odell Beckham Jr. and Olivier Vernon. No. 17 turned into Dexter Lawrence. No. 95 became O'Shane Niese, a pass rusher with a brief cup of coffee. Beckham sparked a short window, but the bigger lesson sits up front: Lawrence is a cornerstone. Vernon offered a template for balancing a star rusher with a different stylistic bookend. What It Means for Detroit at 17 The math says expect a surcharge to go up. The tape says only pay it for a difference maker. Trading back from 17 can win if the board lines up and the player at 23 is better than the one at 14. The episode also hit fit. The Christian Gonzales discussion in Detroit underlined how passion and habits matter. If a prospect does not love football, he is off the board. That applies at corner, edge, and everywhere. On defense, the model opposite Aidan Hutchinson looks like Olivier Vernon next to Myles Garrett. A complementary rusher with power, variety, and enough standalone juice to punish single blocks. Detroit’s safety room is solid, so a veteran like Jabrill Peppers is not a priority. Use No. 17 to secure the right player, or use it as currency. The NFL has shown the price. The Detroit Lions must decide if the player is worth it. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #17thpick #10%moveuptax #dallasturner #brianthomas #braxtonjones #christiangonzales #carterwarren #odellbeckhamjr. #oliviervernon #dexterlawrence #jabrillpeppers #mylesgarrett #aidanhutchinson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Right Tackle Becomes the Mock Draft Bulls‑Eye The Detroit Lions keep showing up at No. 17 with an offensive tackle in new mock drafts. The trend is specific now. Right tackle is the target. In a sample of more than 20 mocks, two names dominate over half the projections: Monroe Fraley of Georgia and Blake Miller of Thompson. The NFL board is shifting, and the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on why. The calculus starts with Detroit’s line configuration. The Lions appear open to moving Penei Sewell to left tackle. That elevates right tackle to a priority. The board dynamics matter too. Colon Proctor is rising. He even appeared in a few mocks to Detroit at 17, but the expectation here is a top‑10 landing because size and movement like that rarely linger. Monroe Fraley: High-Ceiling Athlete, Light on Reps Fraley plays left tackle. He moves well. He flashes the traits teams covet in the middle of Round 1. But inexperience shows up. The tape has technique drift. The footwork gets loose. There is some leaning. The start count tells the story. Sixteen starts leaves a gap to bridge at NFL speed. That is the push and pull with Fraley in the 10-to-20 range. If he lands in Detroit, the upside is obvious. The concern is the learning curve. Daily work against Aidan Hutchinson would speed development, but that is a two-edged sword. There is a real example of how constant domination in practice can dent a young player’s confidence. Cam Wimbley splashed as a rookie, then ran into Joe Thomas and hit a wall. That caution applies broadly. Jeff Okuda felt some of that pressure in Detroit practices too. Fraley can improve, and his athletic profile suggests he will, but the on-ramp needs managing. Blake Miller: Experienced Power, Plug-and-Play Path Miller is a right tackle by trade. He is athletic, though not as fluid as Fraley in space. He wins more with power. The experience stands out: 47 starts. The growth from 2024 to 2025 jumps off the film. He sealed the outside more consistently. He found and finished targets at the second level instead of just arriving late. That matters on Sundays. Because the Lions may slide Sewell to the left side, Miller’s profile fits the immediate need. He can line up at right tackle and start. The floor feels higher, the timeline cleaner. Fraley could be gone before 17. He could also be there. Miller offers a steadier answer if the board breaks that way. Either would address the Detroit Lions’ top offensive priority. The question at 17 is simple: chase Fraley’s ceiling or bank Miller’s readiness while the NFL board churns around Colon Proctor’s rise. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #monroefraley #blakemiller #righttackle #lefttackle #detroitlionspick17 #nflmockdrafts #colonproctor #top10projection #peneisewell #aidanhutchinsonpractice #secondlevelblocking #sealingtheedge #footworkandtechnique #experiencegap16vs47starts #jeffokuda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Receivers Slide, Tackles Rise Three weeks out from the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Lions Podcast unloaded bold calls that reshuffle needs and tiers across the NFL. The headline is blunt. No wide receivers will be selected in the top 10. Arnold Tate profiles as a strong number two, but without J Jr. speed or Amon-Ra Saint Brown’s middle-field wins. Jordan Tyson’s talent pops, but a crucial workout and injuries cloud his range. The trench market takes the lift. Hatten Proctor is pegged for the top 10 and could be the first or second offensive tackle taken. He is a specimen with workable tape. If he is gone early, the Detroit Lions avoid that decision at 17. At the top, the show framed Ryan Mendoza to the Raiders as the early chalk, then flipped with a bolder claim: Las Vegas will not take Ford Mendoza after signing Kirk Cousins today. Quarterback Chess at 32 The quarterback twist comes at the back of round one, but in the 2026 draft. The call: Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson goes 32 overall. Not to Seattle. That slot gets traded. The logic is twofold. A team jumps to 32 to lock the fifth-year option and to shut down overnight bidding from clubs holding picks 33 and 34. Simpson needs work and starts, but the projection has the NFL making the move and Simpson becoming the second quarterback off that board. Safety Run Shapes Lions at 17 The secondary drives the night between 10 and 20. Three safeties go in that window: Caleb Downs from Ohio State, Dylan Spielman from Oregon by way of Purdue, and Emmanuel McNeill Warren from Toledo. Consensus boards slot McNeill Warren around 26, but the tape and the body in person say upside. Vikings chatter points hard to Spielman at 18, echoing past Minnesota tells. If Caleb Downs is on the board at 17 and the Detroit Lions pass, the fallback must be special. One First-Round Fall Utah offensive tackle Campbell Holmes is forecast outside round one. It is a contrarian call, and it lands with weight in a class where tackles crowd the top half. If Holmes slips, the board compresses for teams chasing linemen in the 20s. That could push another safety or corner toward 17 and test the Detroit Lions’ resolve if the run hits earlier than expected. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #pick17 #nowidereceiversintop10 #arnoldtate #jordantysonworkout #hattenproctortop10 #offensivetackleboard #tysimpsonat32 #fifth-yearoption #safetyrun10-20 #calebdowns #dylanspielman #emmanuelmcneillwarren #vikingspick18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tackle Tops Detroit’s To-Do List Draft month opened with a narrow focus. The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on offensive tackle as the biggest hole on a strong roster. Jeff Risdon and Chris agreed the priority is clear. Detroit would love more bendy edge Rodgers, but history says that is not a typical target. The path to improvement runs through the offensive line. Manu Freeling at No. 2: Movement and Power Chris has Manu Freeling as the number two overall player on his board. The traits drive the grade. Rare size to NFL caliber power. Nimble in space. Explosive off the ball. On screens and climbs to the second level, the movement pops. He does not wander and miss second-level targets. The issues are not physical. They are reps and time. Jeff summed it up. What is wrong is inexperience, not ability. In a class light on blue chip talent, Freeling’s package at left tackle stands out. That blend at a premium spot anchors the ranking. Hatten Proctor’s Profile and the 17 Question Chris stacked Hatten Proctor eighth overall. The sell is simple. He is a very large man around 350 pounds with supreme length. He is ready from a strength perspective. The anchor holds. He generates torque in the run game. He will not match Freeling or Maui Noah in speed to the second level, but his movement at that size is impressive. He is only 20 years old. The upside window is wide. Rushers need time to run the arc around him because the frame is so big. Three and a half seconds can pass before contact lands on the quarterback. That matters. Jeff asked if Proctor will last to 17. The answer may come fast on draft night. The panel agreed the range is tight for a tackle with that profile. Inside the Draft Gradebook Tool Chris also previewed his Draft Gradebook project. It is an archive of over 1,500 independent scouting reports from the 2021 class through 2026. It features an AI search and archetype searches. Type in “bendy edge Rodgers” and pull every match. He has around 170 prospects logged for 2026 and aims for about 250 by draft time. A free preview is live this week. Draft day mode adds best available, a draft tracker, biggest deals, and team hubs so fans can follow every pick in one place. For Detroit Lions fans, that means clearer context when the board starts moving at offensive tackle. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #2026nfldraft #monroefreeling #kadynproctor #scoutingreports #blakemiller #lionsdraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ragnow Bonus Dispute Hits the Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions asked Frank Ragnow to repay part of his signing bonus after he stopped playing last season. He is no longer with the team. He tried to return around Thanksgiving but was not physically able to do it. The amount sought is not public. The move ignited a firestorm around the NFL and inside the fan base. The team’s position is clear. A contract was signed. The terms were not fulfilled. The franchise believes in setting precedent. The Lions have followed this policy before, including with Calvin Johnson and Barry Sanders. Deterrence is part of the logic. If a player leaves early, the team can ask for money back. That is the business case the Detroit Lions are leaning on. Optics, Player Reactions, and Free Agency Fallout The optics are ugly. Even if the policy stands, it looks petty and cheap to many. That perception matters. Players see it. Agents see it. In a tight market, one bad vibe can send a free agent to another city. Alex Anzalone bristled at it. Quandre Diggs spoke up too. Diggs has always said he loved Detroit. His tenure ended when Matt Patricia shipped him out, and he flourished after. He called this move a bad look. That sentiment travels around the NFL, and it sticks. The Detroit Lions do not want to be viewed as doing their own guys dirty. The calculation is cold. Save some money now and risk losing goodwill later. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it squarely: perception could be the difference when a prominent free agent chooses between Detroit and Team X. Leverage, Policy, and What Players Can Do TJ Lang cut to the core. If you want to protect your money, make the team release you. You lose leverage when you retire. That is the hard line of NFL contracts. Once you retire, the club can pursue bonus payback under its policy. If the team releases you, it cannot. Rod Wood made it known the Lions are seeking repayment. Dave Burkett reported it. The policy predates this regime. It ties back to the same stance used with Sanders and Johnson. The Lions see consistency. Many see a needless wound. Frank Ragnow’s situation is complicated. He gave what he could. He tried to come back at Thanksgiving. He could not. Now the team wants money back, and the blowback is real. The Detroit Lions want to enforce standards. The rest of the NFL is judging the standard they chose. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #frankragnow #signingbonusrepayment #chuckclark #dametriouscrownover #nflfreeagencyperception #lionsfanreaction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Campbell’s stance on Sewell and the line Dan Campbell used the NFL owners meetings in Arizona to make one thing clear. He is open, even preferential, to moving Penei Sewell from right tackle to left tackle. That headline changes how the Detroit Lions approach the spring. Sewell will excel wherever he lines up. There are zero worries about his performance. The context matters. The Lions might have a new left guard this year. They do have a new center in Bates Mays. That is a lot of change in the middle of an elite unit. Continuity counts. Fewer moving pieces usually help. Campbell’s view suggests the staff is comfortable reshaping the front to fit the bigger plan. Right tackle reality and draft ripple Brad Holmes, in last week’s sit-down, essentially anointed Larry Borom as the starting right tackle without using the exact phrase. As of today, it is hard to see anyone else opening Week 1 on the right side. His contract is for one year, so the long term is still open. But the near term points to Borom. That alters draft calculus. Detroit does not have to take a tackle at 17. They can wait. The second round now looks more viable for a tackle. Trading around to target a value pocket makes sense. It also cools interest in left-tackle-only prospects. Caleb Holmes fits that bucket. Caleb Lomu was an early favorite there if 17 had been earmarked for offense. With Sewell at left tackle and Borom on the right, profiles shift. Blake Miller, a natural right tackle who looks ready to start, fits the current board better, whether at 17 or later. Edge talk at 17 and board shaping Holmes also discussed the edge group, with DJ Oneum in the mix. That points the first-round lens back to defense. The instincts about Kendrick Small at 17 feel firmer after this week. If it is not Falk, there is still a clean case for TJ Parker. Akeem Mesa remains in the conversation. The picture is not final, but the tiers are clearer. Yesterday’s mock draft on the Detroit Lions Podcast explored trade paths and explained the logic through each move. Today’s update tightens that logic. Sewell to left tackle. Borom trending at right tackle. A deeper tackle board available after the first round. Edge rising at 17. That is how the Lions can attack April. It is a plan that fits Campbell’s comments and the current roster structure. Short term clarity. Long term flexibility. The kind of balance good teams use to stay good. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #dancampbell #peneisewellatlefttackle #larryborom #bradholmes #nflownersmeetings #levionwuzurike #djwonnum #josiahtrotter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mock Draft 3.0 on the Detroit Lions Podcast put trades on the table. Jeff Risdon charted plausible moves and a first round that ends with Clemson edge TJ Parker in Detroit. The approach targeted value, added picks, and stayed aligned with how the Detroit Lions build their defense in the NFL. Trade Down with Houston Reshapes Round 1 At No. 17, a deal with the Houston Texans set the tone. Houston offered No. 28, No. 69, and a 2027 sixth-round pick. Detroit sent back No. 17, No. 157, and a 2027 seventh. The trade-value math favored Detroit. The aggressive team usually pays about a 10 percent tax to move up, and this one fit that pattern. Houston used the move to grab Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods. Detroit slid to 28 and took TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson. The board cooperated. The drop secured extra capital without losing the preferred profile at edge defender. Why TJ Parker Fits Detroit's Front Parker matches what Detroit wants across from Hutchinson. He plays power to speed and can flip it to speed to power. He is a little smaller than the typical prototype, but his style answers that. He had a down year in 2025. Even so, last August and early September mock drafts often projected him as the first defensive player off the board. At the combine, he explained the dip with poise. He did not bury Clemson’s coaching. He handled it diplomatically. That maturity reads well in Allen Park. Value matters here. Risdon liked Parker at 17, but he liked him more at 28. He likes almost any player more at 28 than at 17. Landing the same target at a lower slot while pocketing No. 69 and a future asset checks boxes for roster building. How the Board and Process Shaped the Pick Reider Falk was gone at 21 to the Steelers. On the clock at 28, options included Vaki Reader, Max, and Blake Miller. Those names fit areas Detroit could weigh. This mock projects what the Lions would do, not a personal wish list. The "what I would do" edition comes closer to draft weekend. The process mattered. Player availability was cross-checked on multiple simulators without using their trade engines. The exercise aimed for plausible outcomes. Houston’s current needs made their jump for defensive line make sense. They have upgraded three starting offensive line spots and still need one more, but defensive line looms larger. Detroit capitalized on that urgency, then found a clean schematic fit in Parker at 28. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #mockdraft3.0 #t.j.parker #clemsonfootball #blakemiller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Decker’s endgame in Detroit: where the blame sits On today’s Detroit Lions Podcast, Jeff Risdon drilled into the Taylor Decker situation and why it unraveled. After sleeping on it, he called a recently retired player he trusts. The player walked through how this works in the NFL. Agents handle the hard talks. Pay cuts. Buyouts. Even filing retirement paperwork. That is the standard flow. Decker didn’t follow that path. By his own account, he contacted the Lions himself. He spoke with Dan and tried to reach Brad while Brad was at the combine. The host’s takeaway was clear. Either Decker’s agent dropped the ball by not running point or Decker chose to supersede his agent. If the agent failed to warn him that staying on the same contract was unrealistic given his health, that is negligence. If Decker ignored that advice, that is on him. Could the Lions have called sooner? Probably. After Decker’s Instagram post hit minutes before Brad took the stage in Indianapolis, a same-day call would have helped. But Decker asked for his release. He wanted out. The Lions owe him nothing at that point. Based on how a subsequent interview was framed, a reunion does not sound imminent. The timeline around Indy The combine setting mattered. Decker’s post landed about twenty minutes before Brad’s media time in Indianapolis. That complicated immediate outreach. Communication should have been tighter early, but the core breakdown appears to be on the player-agent side. The version of Decker from last season did not match the money he expected this year. That reality hurts. It also explains why talks stalled and why responsibility shifts toward Decker and his representation. Roster notes: Tyler Conklin and the Dortch-for-Raymond swap A radio hit earlier in the week surfaced two notable items. First, the group walked through players the Detroit Lions have added, including Tyler Conklin. One guest who coached him at Central Michigan admitted he didn’t realize the signing had happened and was pleasantly surprised. Second, Greg Dortch came up as a near one-for-one replacement for Raymond. The host emphasized that Lions fans may not fully grasp how directly Dortch can mirror Raymond’s role. He did some quick, bare-bones research to compare them and saw the logic in the move. The fit looks clean for how Detroit structures its receiver usage. A Thanksgiving rule memory That radio spot also detoured into a 2012 Thanksgiving memory. Former NFL kicker Shane Graham recalled being on the Texans side of the infamous Jim Schwartz rule moment, when a challenge on an unchallengeable play drew a penalty. He also noted he kicked a field goal in that game. The story framed how thin game margins can be, and why process matters, whether on challenges or contract talks. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #taylordecker #agentnegotiations #paycuttalk #buyoutdiscussion #retirementpaperwork #bradatthecombine #danconversation #instagrampostinindianapolis #releaserequest #communicationtimeline #shanegraham #texansthanksgiving2012 #jimschwartzrule #tylerconklinsigning #gregdortchforraymond Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 606: Taking Stock of a Thin Secondary The Detroit Lions sit a month from the draft with a fresh headache. Episode 606 of the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroes in on cornerback Terrion Arnold’s name surfacing around an incident. He has not been charged by prosecutors. His name appears in text messages tied to people he knows. The team is quiet while facts get sorted. The NFL does not need a conviction to act. That is the real risk. The conversation stays on the field. The Lions are already stretched in the secondary with Branch and Joseph out. One more hit would strain a room that carried them late last season. The NFL can move quickly. The timing may not help Detroit. Arnold’s Cloud and the NFL Risk The situation is murky. The discussion made clear there is no direct allegation of Arnold participating in the acts. He is mentioned in messages. That alone can trigger league interest. Protecting the shield matters in the NFL. The league acts on its own standard. It does not need investigations to finish. It does not need a courtroom to set discipline. If a four to six game suspension landed in 2026, the Lions would feel it immediately. Cornerback depth would thin to the bone. Safety help would already be compromised. That is how a headline becomes a roster problem. It also becomes a draft problem. If a Suspension Hits, the Draft Board Shifts The panel walked through the calculus. Detroit is a month out from the draft. If the league decides after April, the board they build today could get flipped in June. That uncertainty forces contingency plans. Cornerback jumps higher. Safety help stays in play. The room cannot afford a slow start in September if games are missed. The Lions have lived the bad timing before. A player kept a decision under wraps until after the draft. The team expected a different outcome based on internal talks. That left the front office exposed. The same trap exists here. Will Detroit know Arnold’s fate before they are on the clock? No one can say. Timing Questions That Keep Detroit on Edge This is a roster management problem framed by the league’s timeline. The best outcome is clarity before the draft. The most likely outcome is limbo. Detroit must act like the suspension could happen and build a board that survives it. That means early cornerback consideration. It means secondary depth as a priority, not a luxury. Nothing in the discussion convicted Arnold. It did spotlight risk. The NFL moves on its own calendar. The Lions must be ready if that calendar collides with theirs. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfl #terrionarnold #branchandjoseph #secondarydepth #cornerbackneed #fourtosixgamesuspension #protectingtheshield #draftcalculus #textmessages #prosecutorsdecision #secondarycrisis #monthoutfromthedraft #2026season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Draft Week Recon and a New Name Up Front The Detroit Lions Podcast checks in from Pittsburgh, where the NFL Draft setup is coming together four weeks out. The walk-through comes with roster news that hits the trenches. Detroit added guard Ben Barch to an already crowded interior offensive line. He is a big body with real NFL snaps. He also carries real medical flags. Barch climbed from a D-III program to Jacksonville and showed promise after a strong Senior Bowl in 2020. A dislocated knee derailed that progress. That is a bone issue, not a tendon tear. He later landed with the San Francisco 49ers and opened last season tracking as their starting left guard. An ankle injury in Week 2 sent him to injured reserve. He lost the job to Spencer Buford. The tape before the injuries said NFL starter. The health record says proceed with care. Sorting the Interior: Starters, Jobs, and Budget Reality The Lions have numbers on the interior now. That affects draft plans and daily reps. Tate Rallidge is set to start at right guard. Cade Mays is set to start at center. He is the only free agent on a deal longer than one year, and that signals trust. Left guard is open. Christian Mahogany is in that mix. So is Barch. Josse Scruggs joins the competition after arriving in the David Montgomery trade. Mills Frasier is another name to watch. There are four players fighting for two game-day jobs behind the starters: the backup center Colon and the swing guard role. May the best man win. Cap space matters here. Detroit has room, but not enough to burn minimum deals on sign-and-cut churn. Adding Barch only works if he pushes the room. If he is healthy, he has shown he can. Awosika Moves On; Mahogany’s Challenge Coyote Awosika signed with the Los Angeles Chargers after four years in Detroit. He was a dependable reserve and even started in a big spot in San Francisco. He topped out as a primary backup. A fresh look makes sense for both sides. The staff wants upside in those depth chairs. Scruggs may be the best pure talent of the challengers because he can also play center. That flexibility is gold on game days. Mahogany controls his own case at left guard. He was very good early last year. In the opening loss to Green Bay, he was arguably Detroit’s best lineman. Later, lateral resets in pass protection failed him. Clean that up, and he can lock the job. If not, Barch and Scruggs will press him every rep. Prospect Debates Will Rage, and That’s Fine The show also nods to recent prospect debates. Disagreement is part of the process. Watch the film. Make the case. NFL teams see players differently too. Detroit’s interior battle will showcase that truth all summer. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #benbarch #leftguardbattle #christianmahogany #jossescruggs #taterallidge #cademays #backupcentercolon #swingguardrole #capspace #coyoteawosika Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holmes' one-year plan and a fresh O-line move Weeks out from the 2026 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions Podcast opened with roster building. The focus landed squarely on Brad Holmes and a revealing sit-down he did on The Lions Collective. The headline takeaway according to the hosts: the Lions leaned into affordable one-year deals in free agency. That approach manages short-term cash while keeping a ready-made contender intact. Holmes also said they are not done in free agency. That point felt validated when an offensive line signing hit the wire the next morning. The move fit the broader plan the hosts heard throughout the interview. Improve the interior, especially center. Maintain flexibility so the team can sign cornerstone pieces like Gibbs, Campbell, Branch, and Laporta when their time comes. The conversation acknowledged the scrutiny on the general manager. Pressure follows a roster built to chase a title. One-year deals invite debate, but they also buy options. That was the tone: a disciplined, cap-savvy march rather than a splashy sprint. Draft board lean: defensive end vs. tackle The hosts circled back to the NFL Draft. They see the Detroit Lions sitting at 17 and 50 with a likely path toggling between defensive end and offensive tackle. Vice versa works too. Nothing from the Holmes interview screamed a locked-in direction. Still, clues surfaced. The discussion touched on a run-stout edge already added to the room in Wanam. He profiles as a strong run defender who can give some pass rush. If you are looking for tea leaves, that kind of player type points to a complementary long-term piece at defensive end. Keldrick Falk came up as the sort who mirrors that run-first style in a bigger, younger package. The door remains open to tackle at 17 or 50 depending on how the board falls. Reading between the lines on roles and re-signings Holmes did not offer many specifics, but the messaging lined up with existing expectations. The free agency function was to stabilize center, fortify the offensive line, and protect the ability to keep the core together. That means future deals for Gibbs, Campbell, Branch, and Laporta stay front of mind. Player evaluation questions remain. Kirby Joseph drew different reads from the room, and the interview did not change those priors. That felt like the theme: confirmation rather than revelation. The calendar matters now. A mock draft is on deck next week. The show expects to go live for the draft on Thursday. The last pieces are moving into place. The plan feels steady, not splashy. For the Detroit Lions, that might be the point. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #bradholmesinterview #nflfreeagency #one-yeardeals #offensivelinesigning #improveatcenter #defensiveendtarget #offensivetackletarget #pick17 #pick50 #kirbyjoseph #wanamrundefense #keldrickfalk #gibbscampbellbranchlaporta #thelionscollective Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luke Easterling joined the Detroit Lions Podcast to sort the NFL draft through a Detroit lens. He stressed needs, fit, and reality. The thread was constant. Fortify the offensive line. Add an edge who punishes single blocks. Be ready when the board throws a curve. Edge Help to Unlock Hutch The edge spot opposite Hutch drove the talk. Offenses slide help to Hutch. They chip him. They send protection his way. That leaves one-on-ones on the other side. Detroit needs a player who cashes those chances every series. The goal is simple. Force a choice. Either Hutch gets more true one-on-ones, or the other edge wins fast and often. That is how this front takes the next step. Rebuilding the Left Side of the Line The offensive line sits at the top of the needs list. The right side looks set with Ratledge and Sewell. Everything to the left is uncertain. Age, attrition, and injuries have piled up. Easterling’s recent mock locked in a left tackle at 17 and a guard at 50. That is a double dip in the trenches. The idea is to remove doubt. Secure the blind side. Add power and reliability inside. Keep the pocket clean and the run game on schedule. Pick 17 vs. Pick 50: Board and Value The edge class is deep. That gives Detroit real options at 50. Passing on an edge at 17 to secure a tackle could make sense. Taking a guard at 50 aligns with depth and value. But nothing is linear on draft weekend. Sometimes the best player on the board forces a change. If a talent is too good to pass, you take him. Need and value can meet. They also collide. Detroit must be ready for both outcomes. How Fit Shapes the Lions’ Draft This process is about more than a depth chart. It is scheme, body types, history, and past misses. That is why outside voices check with team-aware eyes before finalizing mocks. For Detroit, that means knowing what works for this staff and this room. It means understanding why certain prototypes have hit or failed. It also means keeping contingency plans. A single injury in the secondary can flip priorities. The same is true for the interior of the defensive front. The takeaway is clear. Build the line. Add an edge who wins. Stay agile when the board moves. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #nfldraft #offensiveline #aidanhutchinson #2026nfldraft #caleblomu #blakemiller #keldricfaulk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices