Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft (April 23-25 in Pittsburgh), we’ll be taking a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions’ roster and how the team’s needs can be met on draft weekend. Today: Defensive tackles.
Previously: Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, interior offensive linemen, offensive tackles
Current roster outlook
The Lions have been interestingly quiet at defensive tackle this offseason, signing an external free agent at every position group except the interior of their defensive line. They’ve suffered one loss (Roy Lopez returned to the Arizona Cardinals on a lucrative two-year deal) and have one player from last season still without a home, in veteran DJ Reader, who took a visit with the Baltimore Ravens in March and the New York Giants on Monday. Lopez (425) and Reader (583) combined to play more than 1,000 defensive snaps in 2025.
On track to return to Detroit’s lineup in 2026 is Levi Onwuzurike, a second-round selection in 2021 who missed all of last season with an ACL injury, resulting in his one-year contract tolling (meaning that it rolled over into next season). Onwuzurike is a versatile piece who plays multiple positions on the defensive line for Detroit. He was solid for a battered Lions defense in 2024, totaling 28 tackles and a team-high 45 pressures. Onwuzurike has been a helpful player when on the field, but he’s made more than 10 appearances only twice since entering the league.
Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams top the depth chart at defensive tackle. McNeill, who played in 10 contests last season in his return from the torn ACL he suffered in December 2024, hopes to get back to his previous form. He flashed in moments in 2025, disruptive versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 7) and Green Bay Packers (Week 13), but lacked week-to-week consistency. Williams, meanwhile, was solid against both the run and pass as a rookie. Still only 23 years old, Williams could improve Detroit’s defense immensely by taking a step forward.
Also on the roster are Myles Adams, Chris Smith and Mekhi Wingo. Adams and Smith did not appear in a game last season. Wingo was a healthy scratch for most of the season, making his only appearances in wins over the Chicago Bears in Weeks 2 and 18. Wingo, promising as a sixth-round rookie in 2024, has intriguing potential as a big defensive end in Detroit’s system, playing inside of strong-side linebacker Derrick Barnes in base alignments.
Level of need: Medium. Defensive tackle certainly isn’t a pressing need with McNeill and Williams present, but there isn’t much proven depth behind them, especially considering Onwuzurike’s inconsistent availability. A reunion with Reader or the acquisition of another veteran could provide some stability. The team seems to have some interest in making an addition; Jay Tufele, a 2021 draft pick who’s spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets, visited the Lions on April 7.
At the top
There are about five defensive tackles in this year’s class who are expected to be chosen either late in the first round or early on Day 2, currently slotted between Nos. 30-50 on NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus board, an aggregated collection of opinions from analysts who cover the draft. It’s a group that includes Peter Woods (Clemson, No. 30), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State, No. 31), Caleb Banks (Florida, No. 38), Christen Miller (Georgia, No. 46) and Lee Hunter (Texas Tech, No. 49).
Banks, considering his size (6-foot-6¼, 327 pounds) and athleticism, might have the highest upside. But he played in only three games last season while dealing with an injury to his left foot, and he fractured the fourth metatarsal in that same foot at the combine in February, according to The Athletic. The second injury reportedly occurred before his on-field testing, and Banks, who attended Southfield A&T, didn’t realize until later. He still ran the 40-yard dash in 5.04 seconds.
As with most of Clemson’s prospects in the draft, the 2025 season fell short of expectations for Woods, who was tied for 82nd in win rate as a pass rusher among 295 qualified interior defenders (minimum 175 snaps), at 8.0%. Woods ranked in the top seven in 2024 (14.0%) and 2023 (15.9%), according to Pro Football Focus. He recorded 54 pressures and 54 run stops over his three seasons with the Tigers.
McDonald (30 run stops in 2025), Miller (14) and Hunter (23) are nose tackles who specialize first against the run. Hunter was a force in his lone year at Texas Tech, playing between pass rushers David Bailey and Romello Height. McDonald drew a comparison to Reader in NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein’s write-up.
Teams who could be after DT in Round 1: Bengals (No. 10), Dolphins (11), Cowboys (12, 20), Lions (17), Vikings (18), Chargers (22), Bears (25), Bills (26), Texans (28)
Down the board
Domonique Orange (Iowa State, No. 67), Gracen Halton (Oklahoma, No. 74) and Darrell Jackson Jr. (Florida State, No. 83) make up the next tier of defensive tackles, which the Lions could have trouble getting into range for, considering they don’t own a third-round selection.
Orange, nicknamed “Big Citrus,” is better against the run than he is against the pass, using his stature (6-2⅜, 322 pounds) and leverage to make himself difficult to move off the line. Halton (6-2⅝, 293 pounds) is the opposite, putting his quick-twitch abilities to work to catch edges against opposing offensive linemen. He had 30 pressures in 2025, and his win rate as a pass rusher (10.4%) was third among qualified defensive tackles in the top 200 on the consensus board, behind Miller (11.3%) and Hunter (10.6%).
Kaleb Proctor (Southeastern Louisiana), an FCS standout, is a moldable piece who could be around in the fourth round. Like Halton, Proctor is quick off the line, making him effective as a pass rusher. He had 43 tackles (13 for loss), nine sacks and 39 pressures during his senior season, as well as 11 run stops. Two of those sacks came in a loss at LSU last September.
A number of run stuffers are expected to be on the board on Day 3. Rayshaun Benny (Michigan, No. 127), Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati, No. 136) and Tim Keenan III (Alabama, No. 146) all thrived against the run in 2025. Corleone, in particular, is powerful, checking in at 6-0½ and 340 pounds. He might not ever stuff the stat sheet (9½ sacks over four collegiate seasons, including zero as a senior), but Corleone could find a role as a nose tackle, even if it’s simply spelling the starter for limited reps.
Best time for Lions to target DT: It wouldn’t be incredibly shocking for the Lions to use an early-round selection on a defensive tackle the second straight year, but it certainly doesn’t appear likely, given the team’s needs elsewhere and the caliber of the prospects available at the position. McNeill and Williams are a formidable duo, and there are plenty of mid- and late-round options who can play specialized roles behind them, whether that’s Halton and Proctor (projected three-techniques who do well against the pass) or Corleone and Keenan (projected nose tackles who do well against the run).
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Lions 2026 draft preview: Multiple styles of DT available on Days 1-3
Reporting by Richard Silva, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
