The Lions proposed a trade to move from the 17th overall pick to Baltimore's 14th, offering pick No. 118 and a 2027 third-round pick to move up three spots in the first round.
Baltimore had interest.
Then the Miami Dolphins selected Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor at 12th overall, and the Lions pulled the offer entirely.
There was a theory that came out after the draft’s first round that the Lions targeted Kadyn Proctor.
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) May 19, 2026
You really have no proof that these rumors are real or fake because teams don’t tell you when they miss. But this behind the scenes moment from the Ravens reveals the Lions… https://t.co/MzU8Y8Nvud
Ravens VP of Football Administration Nick Matteo can be heard in the war room footage calling Detroit as the clock ran down.
"Would you do your original offer? Pick 14 for 17, 118 and next year's three?" Matteo asked. "We're getting close because we're at three minutes. You're out, okay, thanks buddy."
The Lions declined.
The Ravens then took Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane at 14th overall. Detroit stayed at 17 and selected Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller.
What Was Actually Happening
The sequence of events in the moments leading up to the offer explains why Proctor was the target.
When the Cleveland Browns took Utah tackle Spencer Fano at nine, then the Cowboys traded up for Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at 11, Detroit saw the offensive line run accelerating and made the call to try to jump ahead of it.
The Giants took Francis Mauigoa at 10, and with Proctor still available heading toward 12, the offer went to Baltimore.
Then Miami took Proctor at 12 and removed the player Holmes wanted from the equation. Holmes pulled the offer before Baltimore could accept it.
Maybe the Detroit Lions were never THAT interested in Kadyn Proctor 👀 via @AtoZ_Payton pic.twitter.com/GQxRniPz2V
— A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) May 20, 2026
Interestingly, per Pride of Detroit's reporting, Holmes maintained in his post-draft press conference that the trade attempt had nothing to do with Proctor and that Blake Miller was actually atop his board.
His stated reasoning was concern that San Francisco would take Lemon, Tampa would take Sadiq, and the Jets would take Miller, and that once San Francisco took Simpson the path to Miller at 17 became clear enough that moving up was no longer necessary.
Regardless, the Lions ended the evening with Miller at 17 and edge rusher Derrick Moore after trading up from 50 to 44 in the second round by swapping picks with the Jets.
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