The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine will kick off next Monday (February 23) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell will have a chance to interview and evaluate key players next week.
Following the merger, the new league year and NFL free agency will begin on March 11. This means the Lions’ 2026 NFL Draft decision isn’t far away either.
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Detroit will take a closer look at some of its top options next week. One of them is Miami defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor, whom NFL Network’s Charles Davis projects as the Lions’ 17th overall pick.
Mesidor is a force that pushes the boundaries. Lions Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson certainly approves of this option, although Detroit may choose to address its offensive line issues here. Could this be the spot for Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor or Clemson’s Blake Miller? – Charles Davis, NFL.com
While Davis mentioned offensive tackles Proctor and Miller, he did choose Detroit to select Mesido. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah also went to Detroit in late January to mock Messido.
The Lions are looking to add a pass rusher to complement All-Pro Aidan Hutchinson. Messi can definitely do this.
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound edge rusher had his most productive season with Miami last year, totaling 63 tackles, 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Messido is also at his best when the game matters most.
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The Ottawa, Ont., product has 5.5 sacks in the Hurricanes’ four College Football Playoff games. Messi will be 25 when next season starts, so that could be a drawback for some. But for a team like the Lions who are winning right now, the opportunity to bolster the pass rush opposite Hutchinson with a player like Mesido makes a lot of sense.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: NFL mock draft pairs Aidan Hutchinson to Detroit Lions
