Heading into the final preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Detroit Lions’ left guard spot still has a ways to go before being decided.
It may take far longer than Sunday’s roster cut-down date before the position is settled long term.
In his way too early 2027 mock draft, ESPN’s Jordan Reid has the Lions going offensive line once again, taking Minnesota guard Greg Johnson with the 27th overall pick.
First things first, it’s worth pointing out the Lions’ draft placement wasn’t via any trades, which Reid does project in his mock. So he has the Lions as Super Bowl contenders, losing in the Divisional round this season to either the Seattle Seahawks (picking #29) or the Los Angeles Rams (picking #32, which was sent out in the Myles Garrett trade).
Back to Johnson, Reid says he checks the “tough, rugged and consistent” boxes that the Lions love so well, adding that Johnson is “arguably the top guard in this class.” Johnson has bounced around the O-line in his college career, including spending his entire sophomore season at center. Johnson found a home at LG last season, starting all but two of his games there. Those other two games were starts at each of the tackle positions.
Between his sophomore season at C and his junior season at LG, Johnson saw his Pro Football Focus grade jump from 60.5 to 75.1, per Bring Me the Sports. Johnson gave up just one sack in 2025 en route to All-Big Ten Conference honors. Entering his senior season, Johnson was named preseason AP Second-Team All-American.
Given the Lions’ current need in the interior, landing arguably the nation’s best late in the first round next year would be phenomenal. What would be even more phenomenal than that? If Johnson isn’t needed because the LG of the future is already on the roster.
Who will be the LG of today?
Johnson is shaping up to be a fantastic choice in 2027, but we have to get through 2026 to get there. That’s assuming no one steps up and locks in the LG spot, giving the team confidence to draft another position. Currently, that hasn’t been the case.
As of last week’s depth chart, guard Juice Scruggs is listed as the starter over last year’s starter Christian Mahogany. Scruggs may be starting elsewhere, though, as the Lions are scrambling to fill in the C spot after Cade Mays’ injury will sideline him for a chunk of the regular season.
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Mahogany hasn’t been too impressive so far this preseason, trading penalties with Miles Frazier in the loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. He did slightly rebound in the Lions’ victory over the Washington Commanders, with an 81.0 pass-blocking grade, per LionsRoundtable. That would mark a significant improvement over the horrendous 40.7 pass-blocking grade from last season.
The Lions may have no choice but to initially start Mahogany this season, and he’ll have his chance to prove that 81.0 grade wasn’t a fluke. That he’s actually taken strides in that department because this team can’t afford a repeat of last season’s interior O-line play.
If he falls short again, Lions fans are going to start dreaming about next year’s draft class, where Johnson could be waiting.
