With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching quickly, supporters of the Detroit Lions are eager to see what general manager Brad Holmes has planned. In a recent seven-round mock draft by Chad Reuter, Detroit is predicted to select former Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar after losing backup Kyle Allen earlier this offseason.

Allen departed Detroit to sign a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. His exit leaves the Lions with only two quarterbacks on the roster behind starter Jared Goff—veteran Teddy Bridgewater, who recently returned to the team.

Mock draft suggests Detroit may prioritize offense

Because the Lions currently have just two active quarterbacks available, it wouldn’t be shocking if the front office targets a passer in the later rounds of the draft. In Reuter’s projection, Detroit selects Allar with the No. 128 overall pick in the fourth round.

The mock draft also predicts the Lions strengthening protection for Goff by choosing Spencer Fano, an offensive lineman from Utah Utes football, with the No. 13 overall selection in the first round.

Additional projected picks include Derrick Moore from the Michigan Wolverines football at No. 50 overall in the second round and Brian Parker II from the Duke Blue Devils football at No. 118 overall in the fourth round.

Allar experienced ups and downs during his time at Penn State

Allar’s tenure with Penn State featured a mix of impressive performances and difficult moments. One of the highlights came when he helped lead the Nittany Lions to the semifinal of the Orange Bowl during the College Football Playoff. In that game, Penn State narrowly lost 27–24 to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football after Allar threw a late interception that set up the decisive field goal.

Heading into his final season, Allar was even viewed as an early contender for the Heisman Trophy. However, his campaign was cut short by a serious left ankle injury that required surgery. Across four seasons at Penn State, he accumulated 7,402 passing yards along with 61 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions.

Despite the injury setback, Allar still possesses the ability to develop into a reliable NFL backup, and earlier in his career some scouts believed he had the tools to eventually become a starter. With only Bridgewater available behind Goff, selecting a developmental quarterback such as Allar could be a sensible move for Detroit as it looks to strengthen the depth of its quarterback room.