2026 NFL Combine Meeting Tracker: Every Player the Lions Spoke With

The Detroit Lions have an opportunity to evaluate key draft prospects this week at the 2026 NFL scouting combine.

This year, the draft class is considered deep at multiple positions, including at defensive end, guard and nickel cornerback.

As ESPN explained, "When it comes to who the best prospect is in the 2026 class regardless of position, that honor based on our polling goes to (Arvell) Reese. The Ohio State linebacker/edge rusher was a multitask player in the Buckeyes' defense, boasting athleticism, physicality and walk-in starter ability as a three-down player. He has enormous potential as an edge rusher to go with his vast array of off-ball abilities.

"(Jeremiah) Love, who had 35 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons combined, received the most votes after Reese. For a league in search of explosive plays, the Notre Dame running back is a player who could emerge in a big way, and the fact he isn't considered a scheme-dependent back will make his list of NFL suitors longer."

More: 7 Scouting Combine Questions That Will Shape Detroit Lions Draft Board

Detroit's three biggest needs heading into the 2026 draft include defensive end, center and safety.

NFL writer Ben Solak indicated there were a couple of prospects who could have immediate impact along the defensive line.

Stay up to date with our latest Detroit Lions insider reports, choose Sports Illustrated as a preferred source on Google.

"In the draft, I think it's fair to have eight-plus-sack projections in mind for David Bailey (Texas Tech) and Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami). Bain is a tricky one. Apparently some teams view him as an undersized 3 tech instead of a big base end, but I've watched him win too many outside rushes too quickly to knock him inside just yet," Solad writes. "The real wild card is Ohio State'sArvell Reese, an on-ball/off-ball linebacker hybrid whom the league reportedly prefers as an edge rusher. He has a chance to be a high-value player as a movement piece, but those guys don't tend to hit in Year 1."

Detroit tends to value players that are deeply invested in the sport, can learn very quickly and have the ability to bounce back from adversity.

Follow along all week for regular updates on which draft prospects the Lions had the opportunity to interview, during their time in Indianapolis at the scouting combine.

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List of Lions' 2025 combine visits

Cincinnati LB -- Jake Golday
Alabama LB -- Deontae Lawson
Iowa LB -- Karson Shaw
UCLA DT -- Gary Smith
Florida DE -- Tyreak Sapp
Texas LB -- Anthony Hill (Formal)
Missouri DE -- Zion Young (Formal)
Auburn DL -- Bobby Jamison-Travis (Formal)
Texas A&M DT -- Tyler Onyedim (Formal)
Michigan LB -- Jaishawn Barham (Formal)
Michigan DE -- Derrick Moore (Formal)
Clemson DE -- T.J. Parker (Formal)
Miami DE -- Akheem Mesidor (Formal)
Pittsburgh LB -- Kyle Louis (Informal)
Buffalo LB -- Red Murdock (Informal)
Duke DE VJ Anthony (Informal)
Minnesota DT -- Deven Eastern (Informal)
NC State DT --- Brandon Cleveland (Informal)
Kentucky DT -- David Gusta (Informal)
Florida DE -- George Gumbs (Informal)
Oklahoma DE -- Marvin Johnson (Informal)
Penn State DE -- Dani Dennis Sutton
Northwestern DL -- Aidan Hubbard
Texas A&M LB -- Taurean York

Oregon CB --- Jadon Canaday (Formal)
LSU CB Mansoor Delane (Formal)
Iowa DB -- TJ Hall- Iowa (Informal)
Cal DB -- Zeek Masses (Informal)
UNC DB -- Marcus Allen (Informal)
Stephen F. Austin -- DB Charles Demmings (Informal)
USC DB -- Bishop Fitzgerald (Informal)
TCU Safety -- Bud Clark (Formal)
Oklahoma Safety -- Robert Spears-Jennings (Informal)
Texas Safety -- Michael Taaffe
Nebraska Safety -- Deshon Singleton
Arizona Safety -- Dalton Johnson
Tennessee DB -- Jermod McCoy
SMU TE -- R.J. Maryland (Informal)
Michigan TE -- Marlin Klein (Formal)
Houston TE -- Tanner Koziol (Formal)
Alabama TE -- Joshua Cuevas (Informal)
Stanford TE -- Sam Roush (Informal)
Cincinnati TE -- Joe Royer (Formal)
North Carolina State TE -- Justin Joly

North Dakota State QB -- Cole Payton (Formal)
Arkansas QB -- Taylen Green (Informal)
Connecticut QB -- Joe Fagnano (Informal)
Georgia Tech QB -- Haynes King (Informal)
Oklahoma WR -- Deion Burks (Informal)
Missouri WR -- Kevin Coleman (Informal)
SMU WR -- Jordan Hudson (Informal)
Penn State RB -- Nick Singleton (Formal)
Penn State RB -- Kaytron Allen (Informal)
Oregon RB -- Noah Whittington (Informal)
Virginia RB -- J'Mari Taylor (Informal)

Arizona State OL Max Iheanachor (Formal)
Kansas OL Enrique Cruz Jr. (Formal)
Oregon OL Emmanuel Pregnon (Formal)
Kentucky IOL Jalen Farmer (Formal)
Washington IOL Carver Willis (Informal)
Miami (Fla.) IOL Anez Cooper (Informal)
Florida OL Austin Barber (Informal)
Boise State OL Kage Casey (Informal)
Texas A&M OL Ar'maj Reed-Adams (Informal)
Alabama OL Kadyn Proctor (Formal)
Florida IOL Jake Slaughter (Informal)
Auburn IOL Connor Lew (Informal)
Indiana IOL Pat Coogan (Informal)
Alabama IOL Jaeden Roberts (Informal)
Kansas State IOL Sam Hecht (Informal)
Mississippi OL Diego Pounds (Informal)