Detroit Lions Podcast: Free Agency & the Lions Draft - Detroit Lions Podcast

A backfield pivot reshapes Detroit’s plan

Scott Bischoff and Russell Brown returned to the Detroit Lions Podcast after a chaotic week of 80 mile per hour winds and the first surge of NFL free agency. Their focus was Detroit’s backfield. The Lions signed Isaiah Pacheco on a one year deal after agreeing to trade David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. Early last week, outside of Cade Mays and Pacheco, the board felt quiet. That pause raised the question of a defense heavy draft with nine or ten picks. By midweek, the tone changed. Detroit looked younger, healthier, and more intentional on both sides of the ball.

How Isaiah Pacheco fits Detroit’s run game

Pacheco’s usage in Kansas City lived inside a unique ecosystem. The offense followed Patrick Mahomes, often playing out of shotgun with inside zone and outside zone as staples. Timing was quick. Reads could get muddy. The result was a frenetic style. At times he pressed so hard he ran into his own linemen. Vision looked limited on that tape.

Detroit projects something different. With Jared Goff under center, the back has clearer landmarks and defined intent. The hosts expect better angles, more counter, and the pin and pull concepts that Drew Petzing loves. That structure could slow Pacheco’s clock and clean up his decisions. He still brings size and a physical edge. The price is light, roughly one to one and a half million dollars, all guaranteed for one season. It is a classic change of pace add that does not block a draft pick in April.

Montgomery’s exit and the draft signal

Moving Montgomery and renting Pacheco for a year points to a draft add. The board from round four through round six makes sense, and the Lions hold multiple picks in that range. Names surfaced as possibilities, including Nicholas Singleton, Cochran Allen, and Jahmari Taylor. Internal options exist too. Jacob Sailors is in the room. Vaki profiles as a special teams piece more than a true back. None of that keeps Detroit from targeting a runner who complements Pacheco now and carries a larger load later.

Clock to the 2026 NFL Draft

As of this Wednesday, the 2026 NFL Draft sits 36 days away. Early inactivity on defense sparked talk of spending most of the capital on that side of the ball. The recent moves eased some of that urgency. The Detroit Lions can pair a tough runner with under center structure, add a mid round back, and let the board dictate the rest. In a week that started slow, the plan sharpened. The NFL hinges on fit and timing. Detroit just gave itself both in the backfield.

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