Safety is going to be the biggest hole for the Detroit Lions headed into the 2026 season after Brian Branch went down with a torn Achilles in Week 14 against the Dallas Cowboys. The injury timeline for that injury could find him missing some team next year, and the team is already managing the sudden knee issues cropping up with Kerby Joseph.
Their secondary, as a whole, needs major work this offseason. One path the team could take to address these holes is through the 2026 NFL draft, where the team has a first round pick. Three NFL writers compiled a mock draft for The Pewter Plank, FanSided's Tampa Bay Buccaneers site, and the near-consensus Lions pick from that group is cornerback Avieon Terrell.