Winning in the NFL brings expectations. Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has shared a similar sentiment time and again over the last few years.
On Saturday, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport argued the Lions will be under a lot of pressure to deliver on the expectations they now have with the Campbell era.
A year after a rather disappointing 8-9 Lions record, Davenport included Detroit on his list of eight teams facing the most pressure entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
“With success comes expectations, and last year the Lions failed to meet them—a 15-win season two years ago turned into an 8-9 campaign in 2205 in which Detroit missed the playoffs altogether,” wrote Davenport.
“To be clear, the Lions are replete with offensive firepower. When healthy, Aidan Hutchinson is one of the NFL’s best edge-rusher. And the silver lining of that disappointing season is a decently high pick in Round 1—No. 17 overall.
“But Detroit also has just two picks inside the top 100. A major need at left tackle after Taylor Decker’s release. And a pass defense that has been below average (at best) the past two years.
“If the Lions don’t rebound in 2026, the grumbling in Motown is going to grow louder.”
The Lions were just one of two NFC teams on Davenport’s list. The Dallas Cowboys were the other.
The other six squads under the most pressure in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to Davenport, reside in the AFC.
Dan Campbell, Lions Under Pressure Before 2026 NFL Draft?
GettyBleacher Report’s Gary Davenport argued the Detroit Lions are one of the NFL teams under the most pressure entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
It might be safe to say every team is under pressure in the 2026 NFL Draft. Non-playoff teams such as the Cowboys and Cleveland Browns have pressure to finally turn things around with multiple first-round picks.
Contenders such as the Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills are under pressure to find that final piece that’s going to finally push them over the top to the Super Bowl. The same can even be said for the New England Patriots, who finished just short last year with young quarterback Drake Maye.
The Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks are on near opposite sides of the spectrum in the NFC. But both don’t have a lot of 2026 draft capital, which, in turn, places pressure on the picks they do make.
Everyone has pressure.
To Davenport’s point, the Lions disappointed last season. They didn’t win consecutive games in 2025 after the first week of October.
The season spiraled in December with a 3-game losing streak.
The Lions have the pieces to get back on track. The question is whether the team can finally take its pass rush and pass defense to another level.
Things would also be a lot better if Campbell’s 2026 offensive coordinator hire went better than last year’s did. The Lions replaced John Morton with Drew Petzing this offseason.
Lions Face Pressure in the NFC North
GettyCan quarterback Jared Goff lead the Detroit Lions back to the NFL playoffs next season?
If the Lions nail the 2026 NFL Draft, they should be right back in contention next season. The difficult thing the team will still face, though, is the NFC North.
All four teams in the NFC North have been to the postseason the past two years. The Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers were all playoff teams in 2024. The team that wasn’t, the Chicago Bears, won the division last season.
In 2025, the Lions were 2-4 against division opponents. That must improve if they are going to get back to the top of the NFC North.
Davenport didn’t suggest Campbell could be gone if that doesn’t happen. But the Bleacher Report analyst seemed to imply Campbell will be on the hot seat in 2027 if this fall doesn’t go much better in Detroit.
Lions Put on Notice Before the 2026 NFL Draft