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Lions Draft Injured LB Skyler Gill-Howard, 205th Pick

4/26/2026

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Summary

Lions Draft Gill-Howard

Detroit Lions selected Skyler Gill-Howard with the 205th pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Brad Holmes drafted Gill-Howard despite ankle injury that required October 2025 surgery.
Gill-Howard missed the remainder of the 2025 season after playing six games.
He posted 91 tackles, 14.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks and a 55-yard pick-six.
Pro Football Focus gave him a 77 run-defense grade, 78 pass-rush grade and 54 pressures.

Summary

Gill-Howard Honors

Gill-Howard visited his brother Prestin Gill-Pate’s grave in Milwaukee before the draft after the shooting, while awaiting a Northern Illinois scholarship.
He added about 50 pounds in 2022 to shift from linebacker to defensive tackle after the Huskies offered a spot.
In a Zoom interview he wore his grandfather’s Lions hat, saying it proved the team was meant to be, a belief shaped by being one of ten Wisconsin children.

Summary

Tech Sets Record

Texas Tech set a program record with seven players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Edge David Bailey went second overall to the New York Jets, the Red Raiders’ first modern top-two pick.
The other draftees—Jacob Rodriguez, Caleb Douglas, Lee Hunter, Romello Height, Reggie Virgil and Skyler Gill-Howard—were taken by five NFL teams, spanning the first through fifth rounds.

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Lions Draft Gill-Howard

Detroit Lions selected Skyler Gill-Howard with the 205th pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Brad Holmes drafted Gill-Howard despite ankle injury that required October 2025 surgery.
Gill-Howard missed the remainder of the 2025 season after playing six games.
He posted 91 tackles, 14.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks and a 55-yard pick-six.
Pro Football Focus gave him a 77 run-defense grade, 78 pass-rush grade and 54 pressures.

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