The Lions filled some important needs in the draft, starting with offensive tackle Blake Miller and edge rusher Derrick Moore. They also might have found one of the steals of Day 3 in cornerback Keith Abney II.
And don't sleep on sixth-round defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard.
In his annual ranking of his five favorite picks from each round, "factoring in player, value and scheme fit," ESPN's Field Yates highlighted Gill-Howard No. 205 overall to the Lions:
Gill-Howard was overlooked on Texas Tech's defense, as four other players from that unit were picked ahead of him. But he was such a fun study in this predraft process. He had a 55-yard pick-six last season, which was one of the best plays I saw all year in college football. Gill-Howard is undersized and missed part of last season with an injury. However, he has the traits to be a pest as a pass rusher for the Lions.
Gill-Howard is definitely small for his position at 6'0, 280 pounds, but he has some juice as a pass-rusher. And he's only been playing defensive tackle for a few years, having made the switch from linebacker when he transferred from D-II Upper Iowa to Northern Illinois in 2023.
He shined for NIU in 2024 and transferred last season to Texas Tech, where he played well on a loaded defensive line before his season was cut short by any ankle injury after six games. Brad Holmes said after the draft that both Gill-Howard and seventh-round defensive lineman Tyre West stand out for "their ability to apply pressure as sub-rushers." Holmes pointed to Gill-Howard's motor in particular.
"He’s 100 miles per hour," said Holmes. "He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s quick, he’s relentless, he’s instinctive, and he can win quick. That was intriguing about him."
Holmes also pointed out that in Gill-Howard's final season at NIU, he "showed up" in non-conference games against Notre Dame and NC State.
"And then you see him at Texas Tech and the games that he played, he was very productive, so that was better than the '24 (tape)," said Holmes. "He’s another one where I think the upside is there."
Detroit Lions NEW DT Skyler Gill-Howard PICK SIX at Texas Tech 👀 pic.twitter.com/Z0bkRYSniz
— Crunch Time Sports (@officialctpod) April 25, 2026
Gill-Howard's highlight last year was his 55-yard touchdown on an interception return in Texas Tech's rout of Kent State.
"I mean, you guys have seen the wheels," he said after he was drafted. "But it was just a surreal moment, a moment that every D-lineman dreams of. And when the ball got in my hands – I used to play running back, I played it all throughout high school -- so those instincts kicked back in and I was moving. It was awesome.”
