Detroit Lions Eye Draft Position as Season Ends Against Bears

The Detroit Lions are set to conclude their season in Week 18 against the Chicago Bears, with the outcome significantly impacting their position in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Currently, the Lions hold the No. 15 pick, as they stand at an 8-8 record and have been eliminated from playoff contention. Their draft position is influenced by their strength of schedule, which ranks as the weakest among the other teams with the same record that are not advancing to the postseason.

If the Lions lose to the Bears, they could potentially improve their draft position to as high as No. 12. Achieving this would require specific outcomes from other games, including a victory by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons defeating the New Orleans Saints. Additionally, a win by the Dallas Cowboys against the New York Giants could also help the Lions.

The Miami Dolphins are another team that could finish with an 8-9 record, which would further complicate the Lions’ situation. As of now, the Dolphins have a strength of schedule of .485, slightly better than Detroit’s .491. Nonetheless, the final week of games will adjust these figures, and if circumstances favor the Lions, they could even secure the 11th pick.

Should the Lions win against the Bears, they would finish with a record of 9-8. This would mark a significant turnaround, avoiding a losing season for the first time since their 3-13-1 finish in 2021 under head coach Dan Campbell. However, the Lions could end up with a draft pick as low as No. 18, depending on the results of other matchups.

Current Draft Order and Implications

As it stands, the first-round order for picks 11-18 ahead of Week 18 is as follows, according to Tankathon.com, which uses strength of schedule as a tiebreaker:

– No. 11: Miami Dolphins (7-9, .485) – at New England
– No. 12: Atlanta Falcons (to LA Rams) (7-9, .496) – vs. New Orleans
– No. 13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9, .533) – vs. Carolina
– No. 14: Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1, .436) – at New York Giants
– No. 15: Detroit Lions (8-8, .491) – at Chicago
– No. 16: Baltimore Ravens (8-8, .502) – at Pittsburgh
– No. 17: Minnesota Vikings (8-8, .517) – vs. Green Bay
– No. 18: Indianapolis Colts (to New York Jets) (8-8, .537) – at Houston

Additionally, the Carolina Panthers, also at 8-8, currently hold the 19th pick as the NFC South leader, with a strength of schedule of .522.

A loss for the Lions could have long-term benefits, including a guaranteed fourth-place schedule for their cross-conference matchups in the 2026 season. Presently, this would mean facing the New York Giants instead of the Washington Commanders, the Arizona Cardinals instead of the Los Angeles Rams, and the Tennessee Titans instead of the Indianapolis Colts.

The Lions are expected to have at least seven draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled to take place from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. Notably, they do not possess a third-round pick, having traded both of their third-round selections to draft Isaac TeSlaa in 2025. However, they are projected to receive at least one compensatory choice—a fifth-round pick—due to player losses in free agency during 2025.

As the Lions prepare for their final game of the season, the implications of their performance will resonate well beyond the field, shaping their strategy for the upcoming draft and future seasons.