The Detroit Lions are projected to receive two compensatory picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, including a third-rounder and a seventh-rounder.
The third-round pick comes from the departure of former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who became the New York Jets’ head coach. Meanwhile, the seventh-rounder is due to the Lions’ free-agent losses outweighing their gains in terms of value, per OverTheCap.
Detroit lost veterans Carlton Davis and Kevin Zeitler, whose combined contracts totaled 363 compensatory points. Meanwhile, their key free-agent additions—cornerback D.J. Reed and defensive tackle Roy Lopez—didn’t fully offset those departures. Notably, some signings, like Avonte Maddox and Rock Ya-Sin, didn’t qualify under the league’s compensatory formula.
While a seventh-round pick may not seem like much, every draft asset counts. The Lions have had success finding late-round contributors in recent years, and they’ll look to do the same in 2026.
Why the Lions Are Projected to Receive a Seventh-Round Comp Pick
