Bish & Brown: the Math Behind Lions Pick 17 - Detroit Lions Podcast

Edge remains a top Detroit need

Scott Bischoff and Russell Brown returned to the Detroit Lions Podcast after a week away and went straight back into draft talk. The focus: edge defenders for the 2026 NFL Draft. They have hit offensive tackles two weeks ago and plan to zigzag position groups in the coming weeks. Edge help stays high on the Detroit Lions list. The hosts have grumbled about it since the trade deadline and do not expect that to stop.

There is no promise the Lions attack the position at pick 17. They could wait and address it later. But the top of the class offers real juice, and the conversation centered on one name.

Ruben Bane scouting report: power, fit, and limits

Ruben Bane, the edge out of Miami, landed as the favorite fit between the two hosts. If he is on the board at 17, they are sprinting to the podium. They doubt he lasts that long. The tape points to a down defensive end in a four three who can set the edge versus the run and live in the backfield. The style is attack. He gets up the field, hunts the ball, and harasses quarterbacks.

Length shows up on the sheet. The hosts do not see shorter arms as a problem for Bane. He plays with power. He is good with his hands. He wins by shortening the path, leaning with his inside shoulder, and reducing the surface an offensive tackle can touch. Foot quickness and pop in his lower half help him close. He is strong enough to park a block, then rip free and finish.

There is a knock to note. Ankle mobility and bend are not elite. At full speed he can run past the spot, then has to gear down to finish a tackle. Flattening to tight angles is not always there. Even so, the overall disruption and physicality fit what Detroit wants at defensive end.

Pick 17 realities

The hosts framed Bane as a top target for Detroit, but they expect him to be gone before pick 17. If he makes it to that slot, something strange likely pushed him down. In that unlikely case, the card should be easy. If he is off the board, the Lions may pivot and take edge later, depending on how the first round falls.

What’s next on the board

Expect more position swings each week. Tight ends may be next. One early note slipped in: Oscar Delp from Georgia sits as a possible No. 2 tight end on their personal board. The Detroit Lions Podcast will keep rolling through the NFL draft cycle with that plan.

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