Gill-Howard is small and short-armed for his position at 6'0, 280 pounds, but scouts say he makes up for it with quick feet, fast hands and a high motor. His frame limits him as a run defender, but Gill-Howard has NFL potential with his ability to get off the ball and get into the backfield. He played the bulk of his snaps last season as a pass-rusher.
In Detroit, Gill-Howard will join a group of defensive tackles headlined by Alim McNeill and last year's first-round pick Tyleik Williams. He's built like Mekhi Wingo, a sixth-round pick in 2024 who could face competition from Gill-Howard for a roster spot this year. Wingo had a hard time getting on the field last season, appearing in just two games.
Call it grit 😤
Skyler Gill-Howard NFL Draft Tape 🎞️#Big12FB | @TexasTechFB pic.twitter.com/lC79EfIUaw
— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) April 21, 2026
Gill-Howard has lots of room to grow as a defensive tackle. He's still relatively new to the position, having played linebacker through high school. He put on 50 pounds with the help of a trainer back home before enrolling at Northern Illinois and moving to the trenches in 2023. He broke out as a sophomore in 2024, racking up 51 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks in 12 games.
That led to his transfer to Texas Tech.Gill-Howard wasn't as productive against stiffer competition, produing 13 tackles, 2.5 for loss and a half-sack in six games last year before an ankle injury ended his season.
Gill-Howard plays with a relentlessness that would appeal to the Lions, described by NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein as a defender who "gives blockers no reps off. ... He needs to major in disruption and chaos to find a long-term home as a rotational, upfield tackle."
Per ESPN, Gill-Howard's "closing speed to hurry the throw or make a tackle in the backfield is one of his better attributes ... Overall, his biggest concern is his lack of size and ability to disengage from blocks. He will have to play with quickness and good hands to be successful at the next level."
