Draft month, finally, has arrived.
Continuing our recurring series which began earlier this month and will run until the 2026 NFL Draft begins April 23, The Detroit News will spotlight one prospect a day who could be a first-round fit for the Detroit Lions, who own the 17th overall pick. Assuming the Lions don’t trade out, it’ll be their highest selection since running back Jahmyr Gibbs went No. 12 in 2023.
Today’s focus will be on Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.
By the numbers
15 appearances in 2025
21 pressures allowed (15 hurries, four quarterback hits, two sacks)
963 offensive snaps (611 pass blocking, 369 run blocking, five miscellaneous)
0 special teams snaps
Career overview
Proctor, rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 9 player in the Class of 2023, was one of the nation’s most sought-after recruits coming out of Iowa’s Southeast Polk High School, where he also played basketball and threw shot put for the track and field team. Proctor initially committed to Iowa in June 2022 but flipped his pledge to Nick Saban’s Alabama six months later on the eve of the early signing period.
Following a freshman campaign in which Proctor allowed 36 pressures and 12 sacks across 14 starts at left tackle, and a week after Saban’s retirement in January 2024, Proctor entered the portal and transferred to Iowa. His time with the Hawkeyes was short-lived. In April 2024, Proctor hopped back into the portal and returned to the Crimson Tide.
The next two seasons were much improved for Proctor, who allowed a combined 36 pressures and five sacks over 26 starts from 2024-25. Among the 100 FBS tackles who were used as blockers on more than 800 snaps in 2025, Proctor’s pass blocking efficiency (a stat that measures pressure allowed on a per-snap basis, with weighting toward sacks allowed) of 98.0 was tied with three others for 21st, according to Pro Football Focus. Proctor’s grade from PFF as a run blocker in 2025 (81.1) ranked seventh among that same group.
Analysis
It’s impossible to evaluate Proctor without first highlighting his rare blend of size and athleticism. He measured in at 6-foot-7 and 352 pounds at the combine in February, but he weighed more than that over the course of his career at Alabama, once admitting he reached 400 pounds as a freshman. Of course, Proctor’s current weight (he was about 356 pounds during the 2025 season) is much more sustainable, and it’s something he’s worked to get under control.
Once he became lighter on his feet, Alabama started to run the “Krispy” package, named after Proctor’s love for Krispy Kreme. The package featured getting the ball into Proctor’s hands. He recorded five rushing attempts for 16 yards last season, including an 11-yard backward pass he caught for a first down in the red zone against Georgia. His agility was on full display, breaking a couple tackles before getting pushed out of bounds at the 2-yard line.
As an offensive tackle, Proctor has shown the ability to stifle opposing rushers who attempt to use power against him. If he can square up an opponent and get his hands on him, Proctor is adept at anchoring and slowing the rush, and often neutralizing it completely. Proctor had a number of knockdowns in 2025, sometimes putting the defender on the ground while finishing through the whistle.
Proctor hasn’t been as successful when defenders use speed to force him off his spot, which is why some have penciled him in as a guard at the next level. On the interior, he’d have the opportunity to operate more in a phone booth, and he’d likely be a menace on duo blocks, whether he sticks with the defensive lineman or climbs to the second level. At the combine, Proctor said he feels most comfortable at left tackle, but he’d have “no problem” getting moved inside.
If he were to be selected by the Lions, Proctor would instantly be in contention to start at one of Detroit’s tackle spots, opposite of Penei Sewell. Because he played on the left side in college, he could be a one-to-one replacement for Taylor Decker, allowing Sewell to remain at right tackle, where he’s been among the NFL’s best at the position. If tackle doesn’t work, or if Larry Borom proves more reliable than Proctor in Year 1, Proctor could compete with Christian Mahogany at left guard.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: How Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor could fit with the Detroit Lions
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
