Detroit Lions 2026 Draft Needs: OFFENSE Positional Rankings + Injury Impact
Positional analysis including contract status and medical concern level
With the 2026 NFL draft nearing, let’s examine the needs of the Detroit Lions offense along with the injury concerns to help predict what positions the team will target. Last year, defensive tackle got the biggest combined need score, and the Lions indeed filled that position in the 1st round with Tyleik Williams.
The combined need score is the summation of positional need (0-5) plus medical concern level (0-5). The higher the score, the greater the need. I’m reserving the focus to the starters and key backups here, with health of the starters weighted more heavily.
For the full team injury rundown with injury videos, read my Detroit Lions Returning Players Injury Analysis.
Quick summary of offensive need scores
(In parentheses are player age at the start of the 2026 season, signed-through year, and medical concern level.) *Projected starters.
Offensive tackle
*Penei Sewell (25, 2029, 1/10) - Inconceivably, this 4x Pro Bowler is the same age as many incoming rookies. His ankle and shoulder were banged up last season but there are no signs of significant concern.
Larry Borom (27, 2026, 3/10) - Multiple ankle injuries could be bad luck or signs of a trend. If the Lions don’t get a 1st-round OT (or reconcile with Taylor Decker) , Borom is probably the starter.
Giovanni Manu (25, 2027, 5/10) - A 3+ month recovery from an unspecified knee injury is worrisome. There hasn't been optimism from the Lions this offseason that he is starting material.
Positional need 5/5
The loss of Taylor Decker leaves an extinction-level meteor hole at OT entering the draft. Expect a 1st-round OT to start in 2026.
Medical concern 2/5
Behind Sewell, there are some moderate health concerns. The Lions would be wise to select an OT with low medical risk in the draft.
TOTAL 7/10
Tight End
*Sam LaPorta (25, 2026, 9/10) - The herniated disc surgery creates uncertainty on multiple levels with recovery, reliability, blocking performance… and a potential contract extension which would have been a sure thing pre-injury.
Brock Wright (27, 2026, 2/10) - His season-ending trachea injury shouldn’t be a problem for 2026.
Tyler Conklin (31, 2026, 2/10) - Older, but very reliable.
Thomas Gordon (26, 2026, 0/10) - Young, with low mileage.
Positional need 2/5
The Lions have a nicely-rounded room of TE’s with an elite star in LaPorta. The backups should be solid for 2026. However, all the current TE’s are in the final year of their deal which makes this position a long-term need.
Medical concern 4/5
LaPorta’s spine uncertainty weighs very heavily here, as the backups have low concerns.
TOTAL 6/10
Running Back
*Jahmyr Gibbs (24, 2026, 0/10) - Only missing 2 games for a hamstring in his 3-year career is incredibly good for a RB.
Isiah Pacheco (27, 2026, 6/10) - His age is good, but he’s been banged-up a lot.
Sione Vaki (25, 2027, 4/10) - Many injuries last season limited him. He's still young.
Jacob Saylors (26, 2026, 1/10) - Missed just 1 game last season with a back.
Positional need 2/5
While the Lions have a star at the top, there are productivity concerns with the depth. Pacheco has been on a downward trend and is just on a 1-year deal. Beyond him, there is nothing proven. Looking long-term, the Lions may want to add a young player in this draft.
Medical concern 2/5
Gibbs has been remarkably healthy. The backups are young but have lengthy injury histories.
TOTAL 4/10
Interior offensive line
*Cade Mays (27, 2028, 1/10) - The Lions’ new starting center has a low medical concern.
*Tate Ratledge (25, 2028, 3/10 ) - Did not miss a game in his rookie season, but exhibited signs of a possible neck issue.
*Christian Mahogany (25, 2027, 1/10 ) - Suffered a fibula fracture last season and has a history of a right ACL tear, but has a low concern overall.
Miles Frazier (25, 2028, 4/10) - Missed multiple months with an unspecified knee injury last season, but looked healthy in limited action over the final five games.
Juice Scruggs (26, 2026, 5/10) - History of a foot and a fractured L3 vertebrae, but was healthy in 2025.
Seth McLaughlin (25, 2026, 6/10) - No game action since Achilles tear in November 2024.
Ben Bartch (28, 2026, 9/10) - Lisfranc ended last season for him.
Positional need 2/5
The crown jewel free-agent signing of Mays at center alleviates a lot of the concerns… as long as he doesn’t show up to camp with a grade 3 hamstring. Ratledge is looking like he should be solid at RG. Mahogany is the projected starting LG, but it’s not certain how the Lions feel about him as a long-term starter. Drafting a starting-caliber OG within the first three rounds is a decent possibility.
Medical concern 2/5
The backups all have moderate-to-severe concerns, but the projected starters are looking pretty healthy for 2026.
TOTAL 4/10
Quarterback
*Jared Goff (31, 2028, 0/10) - Not the most nimble, but extremely durable.
Teddy Bridgewater (33, 2026, 1/10) - Still relatively young for a QB.
Positional need 1/5
The top-2 QB’s are set. With Bridgewater in-and-out of retirement, a long-term, developmental, backup QB might be a good idea in the mid-late rounds.
Medical concern 0/5
Gradually getting older, but no concerns for 2026.
TOTAL 1/10
Wide Receiver
*Amon-Ra St. Brown (26, 2028, 2/10) - There were hand or wrist issues that may have led to uncharacteristic drops. Knee surgery last offseason was a concern, but he put together a really reliable season.
*Jameson Williams (25, 2029, 0/10) - Since his college ACL, he’s been as reliable as they come.
Isaac TeSlaa (24, 2028, 0/10) - Young, with no concerns.
Greg Dortch (28, 2026, 2/10) - A season-ending chest injury last year is a concern, but the Lions think he’s healthy now. The intestinal perforation in his past isn’t an issue.
Tom Kennedy (30, 2026, 1/10) - A bit older, but still very reliable.
Dominic Lovett (23, 2028, 0/10) - Healthy, entering his 2nd season.
Positional need 0/5
The top two WR’s are stars and are still very young. TeSlaa is looking like a future star given his rookie-season highlight reel. Those top three are all signed long-term. The backups include a solid, reliable mix of youth and veterans.
Medical concern 0/5
Minimal to no health concerns for the top three WR’s. Even the backups have hardly any concerns.