NFL Draft 2026: When will the Detroit Lions pick in the 1st round?

The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night, and the Detroit Lions hold the No. 17 overall pick. To help Lions fans gauge what time the Lions might make their selection, we’ve looked at the last few years of data to estimate the anticipated time frame.

However, our estimations need to be met with some grace this year, as the NFL has reduced the time allotted for teams to make their selections once “on the clock,” from 10 to 8 minutes in the first round. Here’s the full statement from the NFL Football Operations:

“The time between first-round selections has been shortened from 10 minutes to eight minutes. It’s the first timing adjustment since 2008, when the allotment dropped from 15 minutes to 10 minutes. The timing for Rounds 2-7 remains unchanged from last year.”

With these new pick times in place, the Lions should make their pick no later than 10:16 p.m. ET.

That being said, not every team uses their entire time allotment, and on average, teams typically take roughly seven minutes to make their selection. We can see that pattern unfold when we examine when pick No. 17 was made in previous drafts:

2025: Cincinnati Bengals selected Shemar Stewart at 9:59 p.m. ET

2024: Minnesota Vikings selected Dallas Turner at 10:07 p.m. ET

2023: New England Patriots selected Christian Gonzalez at 10:09 p.m. ET

2022: Los Angeles Chargers selected Zion Johnson at 9:59 p.m. ET

Therefore, if this pattern holds—even despite the lowered time allotment—and the Lions stay at pick No. 17, they’ll likely be picking between 9:59 and 10:09 pm ET.

If the Lions indeed stick and pick at No. 17, the folks over at FanDuel Sportsbook have assigned the following betting odds for which prospects will be selected at that spot:

Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama: +290

Spencer Fano, OT, Utah: +380

Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia: +460

Vega Ioane, G, Penn State: +460

Blake Miller, OT, Clemson: +1000

Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn: +1300

But before you rush out to drop your hard-earned cash on one of these picks, remember, these odds are tied to pick No. 17 and NOT the Lions. So, if you think general manager Brad Holmes will be on the move once the draft opens, make sure you bet responsibly.

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