The Detroit Lions traded up in the fifth round on April 25 and drafted Kentucky wide receiver Kendrick Law, moving from Pick 181 to Pick 168 to make the selection. The move left Detroit with just two picks remaining in the draft, at 205 overall in the sixth round and 222 overall in the seventh.
Law, listed at 5-foot-11 and 203 pounds, ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and posted an overall RAS of 9.60. He also brought special teams value that Detroit will likely weigh heavily, after playing 537 special teams snaps in college, returning 31 kickoffs and averaging 22.9 yards per return.
The receiver’s path to the NFL was not linear. After three years at Alabama, Law transferred to Kentucky, where he went from limited production — eight starts, 343 receiving yards and one touchdown with the Crimson Tide — to a much bigger role. In 2025, he led Kentucky with 540 receiving yards and added three touchdowns.
That production, paired with his testing numbers and return experience, gives the Lions a player who can compete for a role beyond offense alone. Detroit did not spend a premium pick, but it did move up to make sure Law did not get away, a sign it saw value in a receiver whose college resume was built as much on versatility as on volume.
The question now is whether that blend translates quickly enough to earn him a place on the roster. With only two selections left, the Lions have used one of their final chances on a player whose best route to the team may come from doing a little of everything.
