Matt Bowen Mocks Proctor to Lions at 17

On March 31st, ESPN analyst Matt Bowen has a bold mock draft call for the Detroit Lions

in the 2026 NFL Draft.

He wants them to grab Alabama offensive tackle Caden Proctor with the 17th overall pick.

At 6-foot 7, this 20-year-old powerhouse could lock down the right tackle spot and transform

their line.

Reports hint that Penaisoul might slide over to left tackle, replacing Taylor Decker.

That opens the door for Proctor to pair perfectly with Soule, creating a dominant

book end duo of front.

Bowen points out, Proctor's raw strength fits Detroit's gritty run heavy style.

Proctor's already a veteran with 40 college starts, facing tough SEC defenses that sharpen

his skills right from day one.

Fans and scouts see him as a plug-and-play starter who could juice the Lions' offense and

push them back to the playoffs.

His 2025 tape shows some rough spots in past protection against speed, but he crushes

power rushers and moves defenders like.

They're nothing in the run game.

At just 20, he's got tons of upside to iron out those kinks.

It Proctor slides to 17, the Lions' snag a cornerstone who matches their identity and

sets up years of line dominance.

Keep an eye on this one as the draft buzz builds.

That wraps NFL News today.

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