Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
Taking a closer look at the prospects from the 2025 NFL Draft that have been projected to the Detroit Lions over the past week.
With NFL free agency slowing down and rosters filling up, mock drafts are shifting gears to provide a more informed look at where teams stand heading into the 2025
NFL Draft.
While this certainly narrows the focus for several teams, that's not the case for the
Detroit Lions. With the Lions' roster in such good shape and a general manager who drafts for value over need, draft analysts' projections continue to be all over the map. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that, of the 43 mock drafts we viewed, there were 17 different prospects connected to Detroit.
Let’s take a look at the latest players we’re seeing mocked to Detroit.
Offensive skill players
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Source: Chris Trapasso (
CBS Sports)
“Don’t let Burden’s 2024 stats fool you — he’s a premier receiver prospect with upside galore.” — Trapasso
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Source: Marcus Mosher (
33rd Team)
“
Emeka Egbuka might be a little too similar to Amon-Ra St. Brown, but he is just a good football player who the Lions can’t afford to pass up. He can play several different positions and blocks incredibly well, which Dan Campbell will surely love. If Egbuka falls this far, expect several teams from the top of Round 2 to consider moving up for him.” — Mosher
Erik’s Thoughts:
Both Burden and Egbuka are probably best suited as WR-Z/slot receivers, but they certainly have the talent to be considered in the first round. Burden could work on the outside in the NFL and would give the Lions a young high-upside option for the future. While Egbuka is probably primarily a slot receiver, but may end up with the highest Grit Index score amongst the receivers group—making him an absolute culture fit.
In the end, while a skill player would be fun, most signs point toward the Lions targeting a trench player, which is why the majority of the projections are on the offensive and defensive line.
Offensive line
Kelvin Banks, OL, Texas
Source: Nate Tice and Charles McDonald (
Yahoo Sports), Brian Lamb (
Draft Countdown)
“When you don’t have many needs, take a lineman. Banks could immediately compete for a starting spot at right guard and eventually kick out to left tackle later in his career. This offense is built on elite line play, might as well keep the pipeline going.” — McDonald
Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
Source: Kyle Crabbs (
33rd Team), Mike Band (
NFL.com), Diante Lee (
The Ringer)
“The Lions get some of their punch back in the middle of the offensive line with this addition. Graham Glasgow regressed and Kevin Zeitler is off to his next home, leaving some open spots for the taking. Booker fits the mold of the kind of players the Lions have gravitated toward.” — Crabbs
Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
Source: Colton Pouncy (
The Athletic, Staff)
“A versatile, high-end interior offensive lineman who could compete for a starting job immediately at guard and potentially be the long-term replacement for Frank Ragnow at center. There should be some quality edge rushers available on Day 2, and a trade-up into the second round could help guarantee our pick of the bunch.” — Pouncy
Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
Source: Reese Decker (
Pro Football Network), Alyssa Barberi (
Touchdown Wire)
“Jackson is a perfect fit for Detroit’s identity. He was arguably the toughest player on the national champion
Ohio State Buckeyes. A multi-year starter with positional flexibility, he opened the season at guard but moved to tackle after Josh Simmons’ injury. Though he struggled early, he adjusted quickly and held his own. Jackson’s strong base, quick feet, and naturally low pad level make him an ideal plug-and-play guard at the next level.” — Decker
Erik’s Thoughts:
The Booker, Zabel, and Jackson trio have consistently been mocked to the Lions for weeks now, with all making a lot of sense seeing as the Lions have yet to replace Kevin Zeitler. Booker remains the most intriguing to me, as the more I dig into my Grit Index research, the more I realize that he may end up blowing the doors off our scoring system.
Banks is a new addition to our mock draft tracker but he certainly belongs. I included him in our “
IOL NFL Combine winners” article where I wrote this:
Kelvin Banks Jr, T/G, Texas (6-foot-5, 315) has the frame of an offensive tackle but showed terrific movement—especially on pulls and screens—that point to guard potential. He’s a load when he gets moving, showing good balance and comfortable movements in tight spaces. His pass pro was smooth and fluid, and he was quick to get set.
The only question I have about Banks is if he’ll even be available when the Lions are on the clock.
Defensive tackle
Walter Nolen, 3T, Mississippi
Source: Mike Renner (
CBS Sports), Oliver Hodgkinson (
College Football Network)
“Walter Nolen is a butt-kicker in the run game at the three-tech position. That’s the missing link on what is a terrifying Lions defensive line when healthy.” — Renner
Derrick Harmon, 3T, Oregon
Source: Alfredo Brown (
Football Guys), Sayre Bedinger (
NFL Spin Zone), Scott Smith (
4 For 4)
“Once Aidan Hutchinson went down with an injury last season, all the dominoes started to fall for the Lions. The defensive front seven, specifically on the pass-rushing front, has become a liability for Detroit. Harmon is a very disruptive force on the interior defensive line that can win with quickness or strength.” — Brown
Erik’s Thoughts:
With the Lions retaining Levi Onwuzurike and signing Roy Lopez, the amount of people projecting the Lions to take a defensive tackle has dwindled and there are no nose tackles to be found (Kenneth Grant and Tyliek Williams had been regulars).
Nolen and Harmon would certainly be quality options for Detroit to add, especially considering Alim McNeill’s health is an unknown at this time and Onwuzurike plays considerable snaps on the outside—so there’s room for an interior pass rusher now and in the future.
Edge rusher
Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Source: Daniel Jeremiah (
NFL.com), Brent Sobleski (
Bleacher Report), Mike Mulhern (
NBC Sports)
“Williams is another player with a wide range of potential destinations. The production has trailed the athleticism, but there’s a ton of upside here.” — Jeremiah
Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Source: Michael Peterson (
SB Nation), Rob Rang (
Fox Sports), Andrew Erickson (
Fantasy Pros), Seth Quinn (
Newsweek)
“The nation’s top sack artist with 17 in 2024, Green has been one of the biggest risers of the entire draft season thus far. His 22.5 tackles for loss were also good for second in the nation, as well. The former member of the Thundering Herd has really impressive bend and he showed that at this year’s
Senior Bowl through two practices before bowing out for the week to start back on training ahead of the draft.” — Peterson
Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
Source: Josh Edwards (
CBS Sports), Brad Biggs (
Chicago Tribune), Cody Williams (
Fansided)
“Shemar Stewart has incredible athletic potential for a human being of his size, but the production has just not been there to this point in his career. He goes to Detroit where he does not have to be the team’s most productive pass rusher immediately since it already has Aidan Hutchinson.” — Edwards
Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
Source: Brendan Donahue (
Sharp Football Analysis), Kurt Blakeway (
Fantasy Pros), Pat Fitzmaurice (
Fantasy Pros), Andrew Buller-Russ (
Sportsnaut), Gene Clemons (
Fantasy Life)
“NFL fans were dreaming of the chance to pair Aidan Hutchinson with Myles Garrett. With Garrett returning to the
Browns, the Lions turn their attention to the draft and take the best pass-rusher left on the board.” — Blakeway
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Source: Ryan Fowler (
The Draft Network), John Kosko (
PFF), Ayrton Ostly (
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), Lou Scataglia (
NFL Spin Zone)
“As previously mentioned with Shemar Stewart up top, Nic Scourton was asked to be a run-stopping edge this fall, not a pin-your-ears-back-and-pursue type of pass rusher. If you want to see that, go back to his Purdue tape where he amassed eight sacks in 2023, double the amount he had in College Station this fall. Teams love to see production, sure, but scheme fit and projectability also matter, and his 265-pound frame inside Dan Campbell’s defense could be a match made in heaven. He and Aidan Hutchinson would be a nightmare to counter for a long time in the NFC North.” — Fowler
James Pearce, EDGE, Tennessee
Source: Mel Kiper (
ESPN), Joel Klatt (
Fox Sports), Max Dorsey (
College Football Network), Nick Suss (
The Tennessean)
““Pearce had just 7.5 sacks in 2024, but his 19% pressure rate was second in the FBS. He keeps offensive tackles guessing with his burst and strength.” — Kiper
Erik’s Thoughts:
Mykel Williams was projected three times to Detroit this week, something I wouldn’t have expected a month ago, but a slow 40-yard dash time (4.75 seconds) at Georgia’s Pro Day has soured his stock a bit. I love the fit and believe he would be a tremendous option opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
Green, Stewart, and Ezeiruaku would also be quality options if they were within the Lions' range, while Scourton could be a player that the Lions choose earlier than most anticipate because he’s such a good fit. Pearce is going to appeal to fans looking for a pure pass rusher, but his run defense is a problem, which will probably knock his stock down on the Lions' board.
Linebacker
Jihaad Campbell, WILL/SAM, Alabama
Source: Dave Birkett (
Free Press), Anthony Pasciolla (
Pro Football Network)
“Linebacker is about the least of the Lions’ needs, but Campbell is a top 20 or so prospect with good athletic traits and better production. He has rush ability, he can play in the middle of the defense, and even though the Lions return Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone – and spent a first-round pick on a linebacker two years ago – he fits Holmes’ best player available philosophy.” — Birkett
Erik’s Thoughts:
I love Campbell’s game, and he’d fit the Lions' scheme—at SAM and WILL—with certainty, but I also think he’ll be off the board before he gets into range of the Lions.
Defensive backs
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Source: Curt Popejoy (
Draft Wire), Marco Enriquez (
Pro Football Network)
“Revel missed all of the 2024 season with a torn ACL but he’s healthy now and an easy first-round corner.” — Popejoy
Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi
Source: Tom Fornelli (
CBS Sports)
“Trey Amos’ name has come up more often as a possible first-rounder these days, and while I don’t have him that high on my board, I get what teams would be intrigued by. He’s long and fast, which are two traits oft appreciated at the corner position.” — Fornelli
Erik’s Thoughts:
Revel (6-foot-2, 195) is a fun prospect who has seen his stock fall because of his ACL injury preventing him from working out this offseason—basically, out of sight, out of mind—but he’s still a bit of a work-in-progress player. Amos is a new name to the Roundup, and while he’s a solid fit, I’m not sold on him going in the first round. That being said, if the Lions want him, he may not be there when the Lions are on the clock in the second round.
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