Kadyn Proctor has long been one of the most polarizing players in the 2026 NFL Draft class. With his ridiculous combination of size and athleticism at the tackle position, he was once viewed as the potential No. 1 overall pick. Then concerns about his playing weight, down-to-down motor, and even his ability to stick at left tackle, had some prognosticators sliding out of the first round altogether.
Now, with the NFL Draft just a day away in Pittsburgh, Proctor’s stock seems to be on the rise again, so much so that ESPN’s Peter Schrager is predicting a trade-up for the Detroit Lions to land him at No. 13 in his final mock draft.
Kadyn Proctor seems to be No. 17 to the Detroit Lions
It’s not just Schrager. Seemingly every plugged-in draft expert has tied the Lions to an offensive tackle in the first round, and just as many have Proctor as a first-round lock. With the retirement of their long-time left tackle, Taylor Decker, it’s an understandable move, but they’re far from the only team interested in addressing that position in Round 1.
As is typically the case, there’s a steep drop-off after the top group of offensive tackles in this year’s class. Even if the first-rounders aren’t a sure thing, many of them are viewed as potential future guards due to size or arm length concerns. Still, teams want to get ahead of the tier break, and that means an early run on offensive tackles, and Proctor is bound to be in the mix.
Even at No. 13, Proctor was still the third offensive tackle off the board in Schrager’s mock, sliding in behind Spencer Fano, who went to the Browns at No. 6 overall, and Francis Mauigoa, who went to the Miami Dolphins at No. 11.
Because of his size and potential as a road-grader in the run-game, it’s not a mystery why Detroit’s brass, general manager Brad Holmes, and head coach Dan Campbell would be interested in Proctor. Not to mention his experience at left tackle would allow Penei Sewell to stay on the right side. It appears to be a perfect fit, but waiting for him to fall to No. 17 may not be an option.
Proctor is an undeniably risky prospect. While his size could be an advantage, he can also be susceptible to quicker pass-rushers off the edge, and carrying that much weight introduces durability concerns. To find his way into the first half of the first round, though, Proctor just needs one team to believe in the upside, and on the eve of draft night, that feels like a much safer bet to make.
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