The first five weeks have given the Detroit Lions a decent read on their 2026 draft class, and the picture is already taking shape. A few rookies have found real footing, a couple are still fighting for more snaps, and one has already had his season wiped out before it started.
At right tackle, Miller has been one of the more encouraging first-year pieces. He has made four starts there, missing the Week 2 game against Buffalo because of an injury, and Detroit’s decision to trust him from the start has looked justified.
Larry Borom struggled badly in the lone start Miller missed, which only sharpened the contrast. Miller has been steady in the run game and serviceable in pass protection, and his 79.3 pass-blocking grade leads all rookie offensive tackles.
He has also allowed nine pressures, which puts him fourth in that category, but even there he has outperformed Spencer Fano, who went eight picks earlier in the top 10. There’s still work to do, but the first impression has been a strong one.
Gill-Howard has been another early win for Detroit. He flashed in the preseason, and that carryover has shown up once the games counted.
He has played at least 24 snaps in every contest, posted eight tackles and a sack, and already ranks 16th among all interior defenders with 13 pressures. Among rookie interior linemen, that pressure total is first.
It hasn’t always been flashy, but it has been productive, and that has helped him carve out a real role.
Abney has also flashed enough to deserve a longer look. He has appeared defensively in two games so far, opening the year with snaps at nickel before working at safety against Arizona in Week 5.
In between, he was inactive in Week 2 and limited to special teams in Weeks 3 and 4. Injuries in the secondary opened the door against Arizona, and he made the most of it with six tackles and his first-career interception, picking off a Hail Mary at the end of the first half.
Even with Brian Branch potentially back after the bye, Abney has made a case for more chances.
O'Neill has taken a different path, but he has still found a way to stick. He has been active in every game and has become a regular on special teams coverage units. His defensive workload is tiny - just eight snaps - but he has still managed seven tackles while being around the ball on kicks and punts.
The picture is less settled for Moore. His preseason debut was a good one, with a sack in his only exhibition appearance, but the regular season has been slower going.
He has played in all five games and just recorded his first two tackles on Sunday. Moore has four pressures and no sacks, and his snap count has topped double digits only once in the last three games.
Part of the issue is the rise of D.J. Wonnum, who leads the defense with five sacks.
Moore will need more production soon if he wants to keep from sliding further down the rotation.
Rolder has barely had a chance to get going. He was inactive for the first two games and has played on defense in only one so far.
Detroit’s linebacker room is crowded with veterans, but that group just took a hit with Devin White suffering a forearm injury that is expected to require surgery. Rolder does have a tackle for loss against Carolina, and White’s injury could create a larger opening for him.
Law’s year never really got started. He tore an ACL in offseason workouts and is on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
West’s path has been even shorter. The seventh-round pick was waived on cut day, returned to Detroit on the practice squad, and then was released from that practice squad on September 11 after the team brought back Levi Onwuzurike following his own cut from the active roster.
Overall, Detroit’s rookie class has already produced a little bit of everything: immediate contributors, developmental projects, special teams regulars, and one season-ending injury.
In Other News...
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The picture has been uneven enough to feel personal for a team that invested in some of those pieces and then watched them move on. Some of the reviews have centered on production and health, and one former Lions path has already taken a sharp turn, leaving Detroit followers with a reminder that offseason movement can change quickly once the games begin to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Gave Lions Fans A Needed Laugh Amid Bigger Concerns
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Amid that backdrop, a viral moment from a fan named Marianne gave the fan base something lighter to smile about. Her post caught the attention of Dan Campbell's wife, Holly, who noticed the video and shared it, a small social-media ripple that landed at a time when the Lions could use any bit of levity as they try to sort through bigger concerns on that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Could Face A Deadline Debate Fans Did Not Expect
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What makes the chatter more interesting is how quickly it can move from a simple fit to a bigger roster reshuffle. Any serious run at Baker would force Detroit to weigh how aggressive it wants to be, and once bigger names are added to the board, the price can climb fast. For the Lions, that means the conversation is not just about whether Baker could help, but how far they would be willing to go to make him part of the mix. [Read more 🡒]