What was the Lions’ worst pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

We’re all still working through the Detroit Lions’ 2026 NFL Draft class, formulating our opinions on the picks and analyzing their fit with the team. On Sunday we discussed which of Detroit’s seven selections were our favorite, and on Monday, we picked our biggest surprises from this year’s draft.

But no draft is perfect. Even the Lions’ best draft classes have included some pretty big swings and misses from general manager Brad Holmes. In his widely-praised 2023 draft class, he picked Hendon Hooker and Brodric Martin in the third round—two players who busted quite hard before being let go. His first draft landed Penei Sewell, Alim McNeill, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Derrick Barnes—an incredible haul—but he also spent a second-round pick on Levi Onwuzurike, who has battled injuries most of his career.

All of that is to say that even when you have an A+ draft, it’s bound to still have a significant miss somewhere in there.

So even if you think Holmes and company did a great job with this year’s class, chances are high there’s at least one pick who won’t meet their potential. So today’s Question of the Day is:

What was the Lions’ worst pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

My answer: As always, let’s first acknowledge that we know nothing, and we’re obviously hoping for the best for every player. This is just a guessing game, but we can still certainly have our own opinions the players taken—and also the players not taken.

For me, I have some questions about taking Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder in the fourth round. While I recognized that as the highest remaining need for the Lions, I’m having trouble seeing the fit with the player. Detroit seemingly needed a coverage WILL linebacker, but that doesn’t appear to be one of Rolder’s strengths based on the film I’ve watched thus far. Rolders’ best skills include tackling, downhill run defending, and even a little edge setting when playing the SAM role—which he did early in 2025. Those are valuable assets, don’t get me wrong, but the coverage and play recognition still appear very far off to me.

Now, here’s where I need to remind myself and everyone else that Rolder was only a one-year starter at Michigan. He has a foundation of skills and athleticism that can be built upon, and he can certainly grow to become a better defender. And in the meantime, I have little doubt that his tenacious attitude and play style will make him a four-core special teamer right out of the box—fine value for a fourth-round pick.

However, I thought the Lions could have possible landed a someone who could contend for the WILL spot almost immediately in Missouri linebacker Kyle Louis, who was still on the board and ended up going 20 picks later to the Dolphins.

So I like the immediate special teams skills that Rolder brings to the team, but I’m not so sure Detroit’s pressing need at linebacker has truly been filled. Instead, it has me wondering if the Lions will play more nickel defense, because I’m not sure they have three quality starting linebackers on the roster right now.

Which Lions 2026 draft pick was your least favorite choice? Share your answer in the comment section.

Read the full article here