DETROIT, MI — The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off Monday, and the 2026 Detroit Lions mock draft rumors are heating up fast. General Manager Brad Holmes refuses to rest. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams form a lethal duo, but with veteran Kalif Raymond likely hitting free agency, the Lions need fresh ammunition. This latest projection hands Jared Goff a massive weapon in round one: Washington wideout Denzel Boston.
Building a Monster on the Outside
Ford Field shook every time St. Brown moved the chains last season. Now imagine adding a 6-foot-4, 210-pound outside threat like Boston into the mix. Boston snatched 62 passes for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Huskies in 2025. He dominates jump balls and blocks with the violent aggression head coach Dan Campbell demands. Grabbing Boston at Pick 17 allows the Lions to patiently develop 2025 third-round pick Isaac TeSlaa, who flashed massive upside last season with a jaw-dropping one-handed touchdown grab against Green Bay.
Day Two Gambles and Late-Round Steals
Holmes never fears drafting injured talent. He selected Jameson Williams off a torn ACL, and Louisville’s Chris Bell fits the exact same profile. Bell tore his ACL late in the 2025 season after bullying ACC defenses for 72 catches, 917 yards, and six scores. At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds with 4.40 speed, Bell carries top-20 talent. If he falls to Pick 50, Detroit secures an absolute steal.
The middle and late rounds offer even more firepower. Bryce Lance from North Dakota State—brother of quarterback Trey Lance—brings elite vertical ability after a massive 2025 campaign where he cleared the 1,000-yard mark again. Baylor’s Josh Cameron provides immediate special teams value, ready to replace Raymond as a punt returner after averaging 20.7 yards per return.
I watched Tyren Montgomery run routes at the Senior Bowl in Mobile last month, and the kid possesses a suddenness that you simply cannot teach. Montgomery destroyed Division III defenses at John Carroll in 2025, hauling in 119 catches for 1,528 yards and 15 touchdowns. He erased any doubts about his small-school background and looks like a massive sixth-round upside pick.
“Boston plays like he owns the field. You put him opposite Jamo, and defensive coordinators are going to lose sleep trying to cover all three guys. He fights for every single yard.”
— Anonymous NFC North Scout
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
If Detroit executes a draft class resembling this mock, their offense hits an entirely new gear. St. Brown works the slot, Williams stretches the field, and Boston controls the boundary. The Lions already boast one of the NFL’s highest-scoring units. Adding a physical “X” receiver forces defenses to play honest, opening up massive running lanes for Jahmyr Gibbs. As the Combine unfolds this week in Indianapolis, keep a close eye on Boston’s agility drills and Bell’s medical checks. The Lions are hunting for a Lombardi Trophy, and this draft class provides the final pieces.
