Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Too bad the NFL doesn't also allow the double zero. With Pistons Duran and Holland, Detroit teams could have two double doubles in town.
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2025 Detroit Lions: 0-0 Getting ready for camp. (17 Viewers)
- Thread starter Da Guru
- Start date
Damn I'm going to be confused early in the year.
After a disappointing but understandable end to last season, I am super excited about the coming year. We just need to get healthy and not suffer 20 injuries in key contributors. Our core is obviously good enough to compete for championships. Can't wait to see who we get in the draft.
And Jamo in his #1 jersey will be cool.
Love Brad. Love Dan. Love Sheila.
Best thing to happen to Detroit Football.
And Jamo in his #1 jersey will be cool.
Love Brad. Love Dan. Love Sheila.
Best thing to happen to Detroit Football.
Maybe Martin can sell it back to him again if we wind up resigning smith
eighsse2
Footballguy
I actually love that. Love 0 and 1.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
seems kind of binary
eighsse2
Footballguy
Exactly.
My dynasty team now has
QB 1
RB 0 (1 on bench)
WR 11, 11 (1, 1 on bench)
And Swift so I wish he were still 0.
Oh and Bijan who pretty much looks like 1 in Falcons font.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
I just don’t really like the number 0 in general in sports and I tend to not like players changing who are being successful. I feel bad for alllllll those people who got 26 Gibbs jerseys. It’s not ruined but it’s kind of weird now. I was gonna get my kid something with Gibbs because it’s her favorite player. I’m glad I waited now.
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Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
In a way having the old number is like a badge of honor. Shows you were a fan right from the start.
eighsse2
Footballguy
That's fair!
Ilov80s
Footballguy
That’s true and sometimes those later become rare or more valuable but that’s not always easily explained to a kid who just wants to have what their favorite player has.
Jamo should have been 1 from the beginning.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions' roster 'heavy' on defensive tackles, but long-term need persists heading into 2025 NFL Draft
When considering how an NFL team will approach the upcoming draft, you have to look beyond the immediate roster needs. A selection should be viewed as a four-year investment. Therefore, we must consider the bigger picture with each possible choice.
Heading into the 2025 NFL draft, we’re going to take a position-by-position look at Detroit’s roster, focusing on areas where the team might add talent in the event. We’re kicking off the series with defensive tackles.
Current roster: Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, DJ Reader, Roy Lopez, Brodric Martin, Mekhi Wingo, Pat O’Connor, Myles Adams, Chris Smith
Short-term need: 3/10
Long-term need: 9/10
Top prospects: Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Walter Nolen, Derrick Harmon
Day 2 options: Tyleik Williams, Darius Alexander, Alfred Collins, T.J. Sanders, Omarr Norman-Lott
Late-round considerations: Jared Harrison-Hunte, JJ Pegues, Rylie Mills
Analysis: At the league meetings earlier this week, general manager Brad Holmes noted the team was “getting kind of heavy” along the defensive line following the initial wave of free agency. He’s not wrong, particularly when you consider the interior.
To illustrate the point, let’s go back to the team’s initial 53-man roster a year ago. Entering the 2024 campaign, the team carried just four defensive tackles after cutdowns — McNeill, Onwuzurike, Reader and Wingo.
Of course, the situation was more fluid than it appeared. Martin was on injured reserve, and because Reader wasn’t quite ready to go after rehabbing a torn quad throughout the offseason program, the team soon signed Smith to the active roster and elevated veteran Kyle Peko from the practice squad, eventually signing him to the active roster, as well.
Most weeks, the Lions had five defensive tackles on the active roster, with O’Connor and Adams entering the mix later in the year.
Looking ahead, five is the starting point for the conversation. That’s not including McNeill, who is expected to miss the start of the season while working his way back from a torn ACL.
Assuming they’re healthy at the end of training camp, the locks are Reader, Onwuzurike and Lopez, the free-agent addition. That presumably leaves two jobs to be earned through competition between Martin, O’Connor, Wingo, and a possible draft pick.
Let’s briefly touch on those younger pieces the team has drafted in recent years, Martin and Wingo.
Martin is firmly on the roster bubble following the signing of Lopez. Holmes said at the league meetings that it’s time for the former third-round pick to become a more consistent performer after two years of development.
As for Wingo, he’ll be returning from a knee injury that cut his rookie season short. Given his six-foot, 290-pound frame, he’s unlikely to ever be more than a rotational player. He tallied nine tackles (one solo) and five QB pressures in 176 snaps in his debut campaign.
All things considered, if the Lions came out of the draft without adding an interior lineman, they’d be fine. However, perceptions shift when you consider the long-term outlook of the position. Those three locks we mentioned are all set to play on deals that expire at the end of the year. Plus, there’s an added benefit to having a young player in an NFL strength program for a year instead of trying to plug a potential hole with a rookie next season.
So, yeah, the position is absolutely in play, even with the cupboards presently stocked.
The Lions wouldn’t be limited to a specific type of defensive tackle. They could target a space-eating, run-stuffing nose to displace Martin as the heir to Reader’s spot. Alternatively, a 3-tech would have a more immediate path to playing time, splitting reps with Onwuzurike while McNeill is on the mend, and taking some of the load off the starter’s shoulders in 2026 and beyond, so he doesn’t have to be on the field 80-plus% of the defensive snaps.
Frankly, the Lions need to target a prospect in the earlier rounds if they’re going to alter the makeup of the current depth chart.
When it comes to nose tackles, Michigan’s Kenneth Grant would be the Day 1 option. He’s got the size, power and athleticism to stuff the run and occasionally disrupt the pocket, a la Reader.
On the second day, Collins, out of Texas, doesn’t offer much as a pass-rusher. Still, he’s as polished as they come at absorbing double teams and running backs who dare venture into his gaps.
In terms of pocket disruptors, Nolan and Harmon merit consideration if they’re still on the board when the Lions are on the clock in the first round. Nolan had 6.5 sacks and 35 pressures for Ole Miss last season. Harmon, the Detroit native, brings a bigger frame and impressive length to go with 5.0 sacks and 55 pressures for the Ducks in 2024.
Looking to Day 2, South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders (8.5 sacks the past two seasons) offers rare athleticism, while Tennessee’s Norman-Lott has tantalizing upside, highlighted by his 27 pressures in just 139 pass-rush reps for the Vols last season.
When considering how an NFL team will approach the upcoming draft, you have to look beyond the immediate roster needs. A selection should be viewed as a four-year investment. Therefore, we must consider the bigger picture with each possible choice.
Heading into the 2025 NFL draft, we’re going to take a position-by-position look at Detroit’s roster, focusing on areas where the team might add talent in the event. We’re kicking off the series with defensive tackles.
Current roster: Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, DJ Reader, Roy Lopez, Brodric Martin, Mekhi Wingo, Pat O’Connor, Myles Adams, Chris Smith
Short-term need: 3/10
Long-term need: 9/10
Top prospects: Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Walter Nolen, Derrick Harmon
Day 2 options: Tyleik Williams, Darius Alexander, Alfred Collins, T.J. Sanders, Omarr Norman-Lott
Late-round considerations: Jared Harrison-Hunte, JJ Pegues, Rylie Mills
Analysis: At the league meetings earlier this week, general manager Brad Holmes noted the team was “getting kind of heavy” along the defensive line following the initial wave of free agency. He’s not wrong, particularly when you consider the interior.
To illustrate the point, let’s go back to the team’s initial 53-man roster a year ago. Entering the 2024 campaign, the team carried just four defensive tackles after cutdowns — McNeill, Onwuzurike, Reader and Wingo.
Of course, the situation was more fluid than it appeared. Martin was on injured reserve, and because Reader wasn’t quite ready to go after rehabbing a torn quad throughout the offseason program, the team soon signed Smith to the active roster and elevated veteran Kyle Peko from the practice squad, eventually signing him to the active roster, as well.
Most weeks, the Lions had five defensive tackles on the active roster, with O’Connor and Adams entering the mix later in the year.
Looking ahead, five is the starting point for the conversation. That’s not including McNeill, who is expected to miss the start of the season while working his way back from a torn ACL.
Assuming they’re healthy at the end of training camp, the locks are Reader, Onwuzurike and Lopez, the free-agent addition. That presumably leaves two jobs to be earned through competition between Martin, O’Connor, Wingo, and a possible draft pick.
Let’s briefly touch on those younger pieces the team has drafted in recent years, Martin and Wingo.
Martin is firmly on the roster bubble following the signing of Lopez. Holmes said at the league meetings that it’s time for the former third-round pick to become a more consistent performer after two years of development.
As for Wingo, he’ll be returning from a knee injury that cut his rookie season short. Given his six-foot, 290-pound frame, he’s unlikely to ever be more than a rotational player. He tallied nine tackles (one solo) and five QB pressures in 176 snaps in his debut campaign.
All things considered, if the Lions came out of the draft without adding an interior lineman, they’d be fine. However, perceptions shift when you consider the long-term outlook of the position. Those three locks we mentioned are all set to play on deals that expire at the end of the year. Plus, there’s an added benefit to having a young player in an NFL strength program for a year instead of trying to plug a potential hole with a rookie next season.
So, yeah, the position is absolutely in play, even with the cupboards presently stocked.
The Lions wouldn’t be limited to a specific type of defensive tackle. They could target a space-eating, run-stuffing nose to displace Martin as the heir to Reader’s spot. Alternatively, a 3-tech would have a more immediate path to playing time, splitting reps with Onwuzurike while McNeill is on the mend, and taking some of the load off the starter’s shoulders in 2026 and beyond, so he doesn’t have to be on the field 80-plus% of the defensive snaps.
Frankly, the Lions need to target a prospect in the earlier rounds if they’re going to alter the makeup of the current depth chart.
When it comes to nose tackles, Michigan’s Kenneth Grant would be the Day 1 option. He’s got the size, power and athleticism to stuff the run and occasionally disrupt the pocket, a la Reader.
On the second day, Collins, out of Texas, doesn’t offer much as a pass-rusher. Still, he’s as polished as they come at absorbing double teams and running backs who dare venture into his gaps.
In terms of pocket disruptors, Nolan and Harmon merit consideration if they’re still on the board when the Lions are on the clock in the first round. Nolan had 6.5 sacks and 35 pressures for Ole Miss last season. Harmon, the Detroit native, brings a bigger frame and impressive length to go with 5.0 sacks and 55 pressures for the Ducks in 2024.
Looking to Day 2, South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders (8.5 sacks the past two seasons) offers rare athleticism, while Tennessee’s Norman-Lott has tantalizing upside, highlighted by his 27 pressures in just 139 pass-rush reps for the Vols last season.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Interesting piece (behind the pay wall) by Lions beat writer Dave Birkett regarding the Lions past and upcoming extensions, which is below:
Last year, they signed 2021 draft picks Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Alim McNeill to extensions, and after Hutchinson and Joseph get done, the Lions will turn their attention to 2023 draft picks Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, Jack Campbell and Sam LaPorta, with potential deals for Jameson Williams and Frank Ragnow also in the mix.
This is the first time I've heard Ragnow mentioned.
Last year, they signed 2021 draft picks Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Alim McNeill to extensions, and after Hutchinson and Joseph get done, the Lions will turn their attention to 2023 draft picks Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, Jack Campbell and Sam LaPorta, with potential deals for Jameson Williams and Frank Ragnow also in the mix.
This is the first time I've heard Ragnow mentioned.
Was debating between ez and scourton here, so I think this is an easy scourton pick here unless someone objects. I think he fits the scheme better than the other des available, and doesn’t have any character flags.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Makes sense player and position wise. The OG from Bama and DT Walter Nolen were other guys I thought could be possibilities.
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swabs
Footballguy
I would have gone Booker, and don't love Scournton in the 1st. Could be worse though.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Looks so much better and smoother than the last video I saw him trying to run!! Bone has to be 100% by now.
Also think that Z will be returning soon.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
well he's still around Detroit so I'm thinking he likes it there
someone speculated (& that's all it is no one knows) he just wants to skip OTAs / minicamp
also, the rest of his career is likely to mirror Jadeveon Clowney or similar age Edge defenders - series of one-year mercenary from contender to contender trying to chase a ring
might get a few shekels somewhere else but I would think the Lions are the best situation for that
(presuming they want him....he's not as good at setting the Edge as Davenport....and if it's just about the money, his agent can likely get more elsewhere so not counting on it...def possible though)
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Higgins was probably the last WR I would want there, he's off the board - the rest of the WRs who will be there are small water bugs (Savion Williams TCU is an interesting X who might be there in the 3rd)
the A&M DI (think the name is Shemar Turner) or Norman-Lott (TEN) should be there
might be a little early for the Rutledge (Georgia) who I think is a good fit at G, can play either side - or his teammate the C (Wilson?), also looks like a late 3rd projection
but Decker's replacement could be a thought as well - he's out of GTD after 2025 and a possible cap casualty next year, would free up like $17-18m
(sorry blanking on who might be around at pick 60)
they're extending Joseph and still have BB for two more so if they take a S then *I think* day 3 makes more sense but you know Brad - no depth chart in the war room, take the BPA
probably not on your radar but LB Demetrius Knight (South Carolina) is a consideration to keep that group strong (Alex ain't playing forever eh)
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
yeah I think you have a good understanding of the type of Edge they like - bigger pocket crushers
we constantly see sub-250 lb EDGE players being projected to Detroit; it's a not quite correct, because it ignores their emphasis on stopping the run/setting the edge
(not to mention that those bendy speed rushers are a better fit as rush specialist LB in a 3-4)
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Heading into draft, Lions on the hunt for needed injection of youth at wide receiver
When considering how an NFL team will approach the upcoming draft, you have to look beyond the immediate roster needs. A selection should be viewed as a four-year investment. Therefore, we must consider the bigger picture with each possible choice.
Continuing our position-by-position look at Detroit’s roster heading into the 2025 draft, let’s shift our attention to the wide receivers.
Current roster: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond, Antoine Green, Tom Kennedy, Ronnie Bell
Short-term need: 2 out of 10
Long-term need: 8.5 out of 10
Top prospects: Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, Luther Burden III
Day 2 options: Elic Ayomanor, Jayden Higgins, Jack Bech, Jaylin Noel
Late-round considerations: Pat Bryant, Dont'e Thornton Jr., Nick Nash, Isaac TeSlaa, Tory Horton
Analysis: Returning their top-four options from a year ago, Detroit's receiver room is in good shape heading into the 2025 season. Regardless, we should recognize there's work to do to strengthen the long-term outlook of the corps.
That was driven home by coach Dan Campbell at last week's league meetings.
"We would love to bring in more competition, particularly some youth," Campbell said. "That would help."
The good news is the Lions aren't on the hunt for a No. 1 receiver. St. Brown, an All-Pro each of the past two seasons, is locked up for years to come after signing an extension last offseason. However, Patrick and Raymond have contracts that expire after the upcoming season, and they've both celebrated their 30th birthday.
Then there's Williams. A still-ascending talent coming off his first 1,000-yard season, his future with the franchise beyond this season is uncertain. The Lions hold his rights for this year and next, thanks to the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, yet general manager Brad Holmes splashed cold water on the idea of a long-term extension for the speedster.
"It's looking likely that we'll just pick that (fifth-year extension) up," Holmes said. "But in terms of an extension, again, there are a lot of extensions that are hopefully coming. But it's just one that you just don't know what's going to happen from a financial standpoint, because a wide receiver, it's expensive. It's very expensive."
That's some ambiguity there, and it would be irresponsible to suggest any decision is set in stone, but, at the very least, Holmes is hinting that re-signing Williams might not be in the cards. If that's the case, trading the receiver next offseason offers an opportunity to bring back a decent draft asset. That's something that will need to be considered if an extension continues to not fit into Detroit's cap approach.
Weighing the above factors, a receiver is reasonably in play from Detroit's first pick to its last in the draft.
While a Patrick replacement remains more pressing, we can't rule out a burner who gives Detroit options with Williams. For example, if Golden were still on the board at No. 28, he would offer Holmes intriguing long-term flexibility even if there’s some immediate redundancy.
Some big-bodied options in the Patrick mold are more realistic in the second round. Higgins, out of Iowa State, is 6-foot-4, 214 pounds and possesses an impressive catch radius and outstanding hands. Ayomanor is slightly smaller and lacks Higgins' sure hands. Still, the Stanford product brings clear physicality on tape, is an exceptional athlete, and is a threat at all levels of the field.
The 6-foot-1, 214-pound Bech has the feel of a Lion. For one, he thrived running in-breaking routes, which mesh well with quarterback Jared Goff's strengths. On top of that, Bech is a ferocious competitor, both at the catch point and as a blocker. He’s got that grit factor.
In the later rounds, there's an opportunity to target upside or a pass-catcher capable of contributing in the return game.
The 6-foot-5 Thornton, who impressively ran the 40 in 4.3 seconds, was one of college football's premier vertical threats at Tennessee, averaging 25.4 yards per reception. And TeSlaa, the Michigan native who started his college career at Hillsdale and finished at Arkansas, is a physical, big-framed vertical threat with most of his reps coming out of the slot. He also adds value as a multi-phase special teamer.
Noel and Horton bring kick return as part of their resumes. Noel, a potential Day 2 pick, caught 80 passes last season for Iowa State and has high-level experience returning kickoffs and punts. As for Horton, he averaged 16.3 yards on punts during his college career between Nevada and Colorado State, scoring three touchdowns.
rockaction
Footballguy
Very interesting about Williams and what Holmes said about a new contract or an extension. I wonder if that will be a problem next year or the year preceding the fifth-year option. Guys don't like to play their option year without an extension; it's the norm for wide receivers to hold-in if they don't get one.
It's tough because Detroit hasn't seen a full year out of Jamo where he hasn't been suspended or missed games by his own doing and not because of injury. With receivers going for gobsmacking and bank-breaking amounts, one has to be sure that the WR is checking all the boxes before extending him. Jameson Williams doesn't check that intangibles box yet nor can you have one hundred percent faith in him to not be in trouble in some form or fashion.
Love the game, but I'm not sure he's an extension candidate at this point.
It's tough because Detroit hasn't seen a full year out of Jamo where he hasn't been suspended or missed games by his own doing and not because of injury. With receivers going for gobsmacking and bank-breaking amounts, one has to be sure that the WR is checking all the boxes before extending him. Jameson Williams doesn't check that intangibles box yet nor can you have one hundred percent faith in him to not be in trouble in some form or fashion.
Love the game, but I'm not sure he's an extension candidate at this point.
Moonlight
Footballguy
I would focus on other positions than WR in the first round. Also don’t like Golden too much.
BPA in the first round is very likely not to be a WR. Hope they continue to build both the O and D lines. Will need an Anzalone replacement soon as well.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
He is clearly in a year-to-year situation. They have already publicly said the 5th year option is likely to be exercised. I forget the exact verbiage but Holmes basically said they need more consistency (which I interpreted as availability & no more screwups) before he gets moved into extension talks.
Personally, I think they will be drawing the the line after Hutchinson and Joseph get their bag. We'll probably be around $40m over the cap for 2026 (presently they are $42.36m under for 2025 and $5ish-m under for 2026, pending the next two big extensions.) They should be OK, Sheila Hamp has shown she'll pony up for restructures; this isn't like you have a owner whose wealth is so interconnected it restricts what you can realistically do (think Michael Bidwell, Mike Brown, Mark Davis, et al.)
They have a plethora of options because Mike Disner has helped Brad design the contracts to offer flexibility. Simple restructures across their 6 biggest contracts would potentially free up over $113m, with Goff ($40.28m) and ARSB ($21.1M) accounting for the bulk of that, and the other four ranging between $10.1m and $17.1m. Not exactly up against it yet, but they might be more judicious with the next wave of extensions.
Players with 2026 expiring contracts: Jamo, LaPorta, Branch. I think they view BB as a generational talent that will be hard to replace. It would not shock me to see Williams or Sam traded or let them play it out. It's also easy to find justification for retaining either or both, but it's definitely on the table IMO.
Old guard players with no remaining GTD money in 2026: Decker, Ragnow, Monty, Glasgow, Anzalone. Roughly $32.6m in pre-June 1 cap cuts available, $42.7m post-June 1. Other than GG not really the decision you want to make but it's an option if needed.
Players with 2027 expiring contracts: Jah, Campbell - at this juncture it seems like both should be no-brainer extensions but you know how this league operates, with the undervalued positions, it is always tempting to let them walk.
Walking backwards, the only player signed through 2029 is Penei Sewell. Goff, St Brown, McNeil (+ Hutch soon) are locked up through 2028, plus Arnold will be on his 5th year. The 2027 expirations include Decker, Monty, DJ Reed, Barnes, probably Joseph, plus Rakestraw & cohorts.
But any veteran with no GTD left is fair game, seems like hardly anyone ever sees the last year of extensions - almost always either cut or resigned before then.
Love Jamo, he is so much fun to watch and I think his goofy personality is awesome. But he's not exactly the beau ideal in terms of "oh yeah, that guy has earned his bag."
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rockaction
Footballguy
Thanks for the breakdown. I often read the thread so some of the calculations I’ve seen before, but I hadn’t read about the non-premium positions and the potential to let go of Jahmyr and Campbell.
I guess that’s why they call it a cap, but it seems like it’d be awfully hard to draft them in 2023 and let them walk in 2027, especially as good as both look right now. But we know how RBs go in the league and ILBs (did you check this offseason?) just don’t get paid anymore for the most part.
The main takeaway from this is once again to win it now b/c that damn window is hovering in the air and waiting to shut.
Win it. Now.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
It would be great if they could find a way to keep him but if someone has to go it might have to be him vs some of the others.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
I’m not even [sure] at this juncture it’s more likely than not, just laying out what is an option. Love this team and what they have built, want to keep as many as we can.
Realistically that won’t happen, so the Q is what seem like pressure points?
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rockaction
Footballguy
Oh no, I was hip to your tone and feelings about it. You’re just laying it out clinically without necessarily endorsing a plan. I think I caught that you’d love to keep those guys, but looking at it coldly and dispassionately the pressure points, as you call them, are identifiable.
I guess my commiserating effort would be to say that in the NFL sometimes these things take care of themselves and decisions are ultimately made for the GM due to injury or positive circumstance. It can be just as bad that way (or serendipitous) but it’s different than a conscious choice to part ways with a beloved and well-performing player.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Given Willams history he is going to have to have a clean season, maybe 2 to get the big payday. Even then not sure how many teams will take that risk with him. Holmes seems to like keeping the good players he drafted but still seems unsure about Williams and rightly so.
rockaction
Footballguy
Agreed. I'm not a Lions fan but I can feel Bobby Layne's passion at times so I follow it a bit and it seems exactly that way. I think the Lions try and get it right as best as they can. They try to build the right culture with the right people through the right personnel decisions. The rewards they hand out for performance and character are really well-considered and those who are their top performers get their just desserts. So that said, one would hope that a first-round pick has his head about him right away, but that wasn't the case and continued to not be the case as late as this season. That's too bad because I've come around on the kid. I think most of his stuff is fairly innocent and that it's a product of inattention and goofiness (except the gun, which I understand is cultural, but still . . . ) rather than malice.
I mean, I even tried really hard to acquire him before the year in dynasty and threw some top-flight talent at the other GM in trade deals but he wouldn't budge. It was funny. It was partially because I was so hot on Jamo that the other GM figured he should hold. It's funny how that works. Anyway, cool story bro, but that's really a long way of saying that Jamo is okay, but can you let that goofiness or inattentiveness cost your team four games (and imagine this is after you sign a mega-extension with all the cap ramifications that contract would have) because you're violating league rules? I mean, the team can't afford that regardless of the reason behind the violation and regardless of how well-intentioned the young man is.
Just a rock and a hardplace for Holmes when it comes to an extension for Jamo, and it's all due to Jamo's lack of maturity.
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Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
I'd have no problem with either at #28, especially if they could bring back someone like Z to help fill the edge. Not all the pressure needs to come from the outside.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
PFF IOL rankings: https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2025-nfl-draft-rankings-interior-offensive-line
I do find it interesting that none are being given a first round grade, all would be second or third day selections in their eye.
I do find it interesting that none are being given a first round grade, all would be second or third day selections in their eye.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Thing is, there are so many good WRs in the league now & it’s kind of crazy how every year there are new ones being added. It honestly shouldn’t be that hard to replace Williams functionally with a cheaper option, even if it takes a couple WRs.
That said, it’s really special having that level of talent on tap. We saw it so much last year, the offense would struggle for 1-2 series, then they’d dial up Jah & Jamo - boom
the rout is on. Gonna be a lot of fun for at least two more years.As long as they ever don’t run that stupid reverse pass option again.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
I believe the Lions will let Ben take that play with him as a going away present.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Not an immediate need but probably will be in 2026 or 2027.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
I think it's pretty easy to say the 2021 and 2023 classes truly set the Lions up for long term success. From Sewell to Branch it was hit after hit.
But how about 2022, when they landed their best defender and fastest playmaker?
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes strapped a rocket to the franchise's rebuild with his first draft class in 2021, selecting two future All-Pros and four other starters, including three who remain with the team on second contracts.
That set a high bar for Holmes' acumen as an evaluator and lofty expectations for his encore in 2022, with the team holding the No. 2 overall pick and a second first-rounder, coming from the Rams as part of the Matthew Stafford/Jared Goff swap a year earlier.
I've long eschewed the performative exercise of immediately grading a draft, preferring to evaluate the class three years after the fact, when abilities and roles are established.
As we near the 2025 draft, let's assess how well Holmes was able to follow up on his foundation-laying performance as a rookie GM.
As a rookie, Hutchinson's production was heavily fueled by his hustle. Following the debut campaign, he's continued to take clear steps forward each year, legitimately looking like one of the NFL's elite pass rushers prior to breaking his leg last season.
It's admittedly easy to become infatuated with the hometown product because of familiarity, yet Hutchinson is everything a team could want in a building block. He's athletic, productive, and doesn't have issues with complacency. He is driven to be better than he was the previous day, week and season.
Alternative option: Cornerback Sauce Gardner
Hutchinson was the right choice, but the team wouldn't be dealing with buyer's remorse had they taken Gardner, the Detroit native who was a shutdown corner coming out of Cincinnati. He's limited opposing quarterbacks to completing 50.9% of their passes when targeting him through three years, resulting in two first-team All-Pro selections.
Grade: A+
While working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in the national championship game, Williams was predictably a non-factor as a rookie. He finished his first season catching just one of nine targets — a 41-yard touchdown — and added another 40-yard score after taking a handoff.
Williams' sophomore season was marred by issues on and off the field. It started poorly, with a six-game suspension — later reduced to four — for violating the league's gambling policy. After that was served, his hands and chemistry with Goff were both shaky, resulting in overall inefficiency.
And it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows in 2024. Still, Williams unquestionably turned a corner and delivered results closer to what the Lions anticipated when drafting him. Despite a second suspension — two games for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy — he found a needed level of consistency to go with his propensity for big plays, finishing with 58 catches for 1,001 yards and eight touchdowns.
Williams' future with Detroit is cloudy. Holmes has said the team intends to pick up the speedster's fifth-year option. However, a long-term extension is not immediately being considered.
Alternative option: Safety Kyle Hamilton
The Lions went into the draft needing a safety to pair with Tracy Walker. We didn't know it at the time of the Williams' selection, but the team would find their guy a couple of rounds later.
Hamilton, who might as well have been designed in a lab to play the position, came off the board two picks later. He's been a stud from the jump, getting named to a pair of Pro Bowls and earning All-Pro honors twice.
Grade: C+
Paschal’s career started slowly and has never really taken off. As a rookie, he missed most of the offseason program and all of training camp with a sports hernia, debuting five weeks into the regular season. In 10 games, he tallied 16 tackles and 2.0 sacks.
In 2023, he missed five more contests with a knee injury, posting a similar stat line with 25 tackles and 1.0 sack.
Last season, Paschal made an effort to tap more into his physicality. It led to an increase in pass-rush pressure and some improvements as a run defender, but still only a modest dent on the stat sheet. He finished with 21 tackles and 2.0 sacks despite appearing in a career-high 14 games and logging 549 defensive snaps.
Alternative option: Wide receiver Alec Pierce
Wide receiver George Pickens, selected six picks after Paschal, is arguably the best talent drafted in that range, but his personality would have been a poor fit for Detroit’s culture. Pierce, who came off the board one spot after Pickens, could have filled the need for the field-stretching threat the Lions were looking for when they snagged Williams in the first round.
Pierce isn’t a star, but he has delivered on his big-play potential. He racked up 824 yards and seven touchdowns last season, leading the NFL with 22.3 yards per reception.
Grade: D+
While the team hoped to have a little more time to develop Joseph behind the scenes, a season-ending injury to Walker required an early-season insertion into the starting lineup. Joseph has never looked back.
He's tallied at least four interceptions each of his first three seasons, leading the league with nine in 2024 to earn first-team All-Pro honors. Additionally, he's sharply reduced his risk-taking while significantly improving his tackling.
The pick has been a home run.
Alternative option: None.
Grade: A+
Mitchell was coming off a serious knee injury, so the Lions thought they might be getting a bargain in the middle of Day 3. But it never worked out.
Mitchell's best season was his rookie year. He appeared in 14 games, seeing 183 offensive snaps and another 136 on special teams. He was targeted 11 times and caught all of them for 113 yards and score.
However, following the selection of Sam LaPorta in the following year's draft, in addition to Brock Wright locking down the TE2 role, Mitchell faded into the background. He caught two passes in 15 games in his second season and didn't make the roster out of camp in 2024, spending the year on the team's practice squad.
He signed a futures contract with the Carolina Panthers in January.
Alternative option: Cornerback Christian Benford
No one could have reasonably predicted Benford would become a high-level starter out of Villanova. Sure, he offered good size, impressive college ball production, and showcased NFL-caliber speed during the pre-draft process. Still, there was a considerable level of projection coming out of the FCS level.
Now a two-year starter for the Bills, Benford has developed into a Pro Bowl-caliber corner, recently earning a four-year, $69 million extension.
Grade: D-
As it turned out, the instincts played. Rodriguez earned a starting job as a rookie and racked up 87 tackles in 15 starts. He moved into a reserve role after the team drafted Jack Campbell in 2023, allowing Rodriguez to transform into a key special teams performer.
In 2024, he again proved his value, first as a package-based contributor on defense, then as an injury replacement, before he was lost to an ACL tear.
Alternative option: Tight end Andrew Ogletree
The Lions got it right with Rodriguez, but in a world where they didn’t draft Mitchell a round earlier, Ogletree would have been a solid pickup to round out the tight end room. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder was never going to post big receiving numbers. Still, he’s proven to be an excellent blocker, both in the ground game and in pass protection.
Grade: A
But how about 2022, when they landed their best defender and fastest playmaker?
Grading the Detroit Lions' 2022 draft class, three years later
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes strapped a rocket to the franchise's rebuild with his first draft class in 2021, selecting two future All-Pros and four other starters, including three who remain with the team on second contracts.
That set a high bar for Holmes' acumen as an evaluator and lofty expectations for his encore in 2022, with the team holding the No. 2 overall pick and a second first-rounder, coming from the Rams as part of the Matthew Stafford/Jared Goff swap a year earlier.
I've long eschewed the performative exercise of immediately grading a draft, preferring to evaluate the class three years after the fact, when abilities and roles are established.
As we near the 2025 draft, let's assess how well Holmes was able to follow up on his foundation-laying performance as a rookie GM.
Round 1, Pick No. 2 - Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson
This is as uncomplicated as things get. Regardless of some questions about Hutchinson's arm length throughout the pre-draft process, he proved to have an answer to the physical limitation by posting elite agility numbers at the combine.As a rookie, Hutchinson's production was heavily fueled by his hustle. Following the debut campaign, he's continued to take clear steps forward each year, legitimately looking like one of the NFL's elite pass rushers prior to breaking his leg last season.
It's admittedly easy to become infatuated with the hometown product because of familiarity, yet Hutchinson is everything a team could want in a building block. He's athletic, productive, and doesn't have issues with complacency. He is driven to be better than he was the previous day, week and season.
Alternative option: Cornerback Sauce Gardner
Hutchinson was the right choice, but the team wouldn't be dealing with buyer's remorse had they taken Gardner, the Detroit native who was a shutdown corner coming out of Cincinnati. He's limited opposing quarterbacks to completing 50.9% of their passes when targeting him through three years, resulting in two first-team All-Pro selections.
Grade: A+
Round 1, Pick No. 12 - Wide receiver Jameson Williams
The decision to trade up 20 spots to snag Williams remains one of Holmes' boldest moves as Detroit's GM.While working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in the national championship game, Williams was predictably a non-factor as a rookie. He finished his first season catching just one of nine targets — a 41-yard touchdown — and added another 40-yard score after taking a handoff.
Williams' sophomore season was marred by issues on and off the field. It started poorly, with a six-game suspension — later reduced to four — for violating the league's gambling policy. After that was served, his hands and chemistry with Goff were both shaky, resulting in overall inefficiency.
And it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows in 2024. Still, Williams unquestionably turned a corner and delivered results closer to what the Lions anticipated when drafting him. Despite a second suspension — two games for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy — he found a needed level of consistency to go with his propensity for big plays, finishing with 58 catches for 1,001 yards and eight touchdowns.
Williams' future with Detroit is cloudy. Holmes has said the team intends to pick up the speedster's fifth-year option. However, a long-term extension is not immediately being considered.
Alternative option: Safety Kyle Hamilton
The Lions went into the draft needing a safety to pair with Tracy Walker. We didn't know it at the time of the Williams' selection, but the team would find their guy a couple of rounds later.
Hamilton, who might as well have been designed in a lab to play the position, came off the board two picks later. He's been a stud from the jump, getting named to a pair of Pro Bowls and earning All-Pro honors twice.
Grade: C+
Round 2, Pick No. 46 - Defensive end Josh Paschal
Holmes double-dipped at defensive end, taking Paschal out of Kentucky. The immediate selling points were the defender’s versatility, particularly his ability to disrupt the pocket from inside alignments on passing downs, and his leadership. He had been a three-time captain for the Wildcats.Paschal’s career started slowly and has never really taken off. As a rookie, he missed most of the offseason program and all of training camp with a sports hernia, debuting five weeks into the regular season. In 10 games, he tallied 16 tackles and 2.0 sacks.
In 2023, he missed five more contests with a knee injury, posting a similar stat line with 25 tackles and 1.0 sack.
Last season, Paschal made an effort to tap more into his physicality. It led to an increase in pass-rush pressure and some improvements as a run defender, but still only a modest dent on the stat sheet. He finished with 21 tackles and 2.0 sacks despite appearing in a career-high 14 games and logging 549 defensive snaps.
Alternative option: Wide receiver Alec Pierce
Wide receiver George Pickens, selected six picks after Paschal, is arguably the best talent drafted in that range, but his personality would have been a poor fit for Detroit’s culture. Pierce, who came off the board one spot after Pickens, could have filled the need for the field-stretching threat the Lions were looking for when they snagged Williams in the first round.
Pierce isn’t a star, but he has delivered on his big-play potential. He racked up 824 yards and seven touchdowns last season, leading the NFL with 22.3 yards per reception.
Grade: D+
Round 3, Pick No. 97 - Safety Kerby Joseph
A converted wide receiver with limited starting experience at the University of Illinois, the Lions banked on Joseph's raw playmaking abilities translating to the next level.While the team hoped to have a little more time to develop Joseph behind the scenes, a season-ending injury to Walker required an early-season insertion into the starting lineup. Joseph has never looked back.
He's tallied at least four interceptions each of his first three seasons, leading the league with nine in 2024 to earn first-team All-Pro honors. Additionally, he's sharply reduced his risk-taking while significantly improving his tackling.
The pick has been a home run.
Alternative option: None.
Grade: A+
Round 5, Pick No. 177 - Tight end James Mitchell
Maybe it wasn't an obvious need at the time, but the Lions had little certainty at tight end beyond T.J. Hockenson. Plus, Holmes likely already had an inkling he would shop the Pro Bowler rather than sign him to a market-resetting extension. Hockenson was shipped to the Vikings at the trade deadline a few months later.Mitchell was coming off a serious knee injury, so the Lions thought they might be getting a bargain in the middle of Day 3. But it never worked out.
Mitchell's best season was his rookie year. He appeared in 14 games, seeing 183 offensive snaps and another 136 on special teams. He was targeted 11 times and caught all of them for 113 yards and score.
However, following the selection of Sam LaPorta in the following year's draft, in addition to Brock Wright locking down the TE2 role, Mitchell faded into the background. He caught two passes in 15 games in his second season and didn't make the roster out of camp in 2024, spending the year on the team's practice squad.
He signed a futures contract with the Carolina Panthers in January.
Alternative option: Cornerback Christian Benford
No one could have reasonably predicted Benford would become a high-level starter out of Villanova. Sure, he offered good size, impressive college ball production, and showcased NFL-caliber speed during the pre-draft process. Still, there was a considerable level of projection coming out of the FCS level.
Now a two-year starter for the Bills, Benford has developed into a Pro Bowl-caliber corner, recently earning a four-year, $69 million extension.
Grade: D-
Round 6, Pick No. 188 - Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez
NFL teams didn’t know what to do with Rodriguez. His instincts and effort were readily apparent, but the former safety’s size felt prohibitive. Additionally, the way he was utilized in Oklahoma State’s scheme made it difficult to assess how his abilities would translate to the next level.As it turned out, the instincts played. Rodriguez earned a starting job as a rookie and racked up 87 tackles in 15 starts. He moved into a reserve role after the team drafted Jack Campbell in 2023, allowing Rodriguez to transform into a key special teams performer.
In 2024, he again proved his value, first as a package-based contributor on defense, then as an injury replacement, before he was lost to an ACL tear.
Alternative option: Tight end Andrew Ogletree
The Lions got it right with Rodriguez, but in a world where they didn’t draft Mitchell a round earlier, Ogletree would have been a solid pickup to round out the tight end room. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder was never going to post big receiving numbers. Still, he’s proven to be an excellent blocker, both in the ground game and in pass protection.
Grade: A
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Round 6, Pick No. 217 - Defensive end James Houston
There was a brief period where it looked like Houston would be one of the biggest steals of the draft. After failing to make the roster out of training camp as a rookie, he took the league by storm following a midseason call-up, racking up 8.0 sacks across the final seven games.Nevertheless, Houston's momentum was lost the next offseason when the Lions tried to expand his role. He spent camp near the bottom of the depth chart, then suffered a broken ankle covering a kickoff in Week 2, which essentially shelved him for the remainder of the season.
He continued to struggle with off-ball assignments last offseason, eventually leading to his mid-season release.
Alternative option: Offensive tackle Rasheed Walker
Like most NFL teams, the Lions lacked quality depth along the offensive line, especially at tackle. Refreshing your memory, they went into the 2022 season with Matt Nelson as the swing tackle behind starters Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell.
Walker was a three-year starter as the blindside blocker for Penn State. The 6-foot-6, 313-pounder had some struggles against top opponents, causing him to slide to the end of the draft. Regardless, the seventh-round pick has turned into a serviceable starter for the Packers.
Grade: C
Round 7, Pick No. 237 - Cornerback Chase Lucas
Lucas was an older prospect who appeared in 53 games and made 49 starts during his college career. He spent two years with the Lions, only seeing six defensive snaps. His primary contributions were on special teams, where he developed into a quality contributor, seeing action with multiple groups, including as a gunner on punt coverage.Alternative option: Quarterback Brock Purdy
This is obviously a hindsight exercise because if the league had a do-over, Purdy would easily be a first-round draft pick. The Lions, meanwhile, temporarily remained in purgatory with their backup situation behind Goff.
As a rookie, Purdy ended up making the 49ers’ roster as a third-stringer, eventually taking over the starting job after injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. Purdy would earn Pro Bowl recognition in 2023 while leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl.
Grade: C
Overall
Not quite as reliable, top to bottom, as the team’s ‘21 class, it’s still difficult to complain about the overall returns Holmes has pulled from his second draft. The general manager scored an elite pass rusher, an All-Pro safety, and a big-play receiver, even if that selection has required a little more patience than most. The GM even found another Day 3 gem in Rodriguez.On the other hand, Paschal hasn’t done much through three seasons, Mitchell was a whiff, at least as much as one can be on Day 3, and Houston proved one-dimensional.
Regardless, three starters, each a star or possessing star potential, and a high-end depth piece capable of starting is a damn good haul.
Grade: B+
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions' cornerback room in good shape after two-year remodel, but there's always room for more talent
When considering how an NFL team will approach the upcoming draft, you have to look beyond the immediate roster needs. A selection should be viewed as a four-year investment. Therefore, we must consider the bigger picture with each possible choice.
Continuing our position-by-position look at Detroit’s roster heading into the 2025 draft, let’s turn our attention to the cornerbacks.
Current roster: Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, Amik Robertson, Ennis Rakestraw, Khalil Dorsey, Avonte Maddox, Rock Ya-Sin, Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Short-term need: 1 out of 10
Long-term need: 4 out of 10
Top prospects: Travis Hunter, Will Johnson, Jahdae Barron
Day 2 options: Shavon Revel, Maxwell Hairston, Benjamin Morrison
Late-round considerations: Cobee Bryant, Nohl Williams, BJ Adams
Analysis: In two years, general manager Brad Holmes has rebuilt and revamped Detroit’s cornerback position, assembling a unit that’s at its best playing man-to-man coverage.
The project actually started an offseason earlier, but the initial efforts to bolster the roster deficiency fell flat. After letting Amani Oruwariye walk in free agency and trading away former No. 3 pick Jeff Okudah for a fifth-round selection, the Lions reloaded by signing veterans Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley in free agency.
There was nothing inherently wrong with those moves on paper, but both backfired spectacularly. Sutton, who spent six years with the Steelers and had showcased productive versatility the previous two seasons, wasn’t cut out to be a No. 1 cornerback. He allowed a horrendous 122.0 passer rating when targeted during his first and only season in Detroit.
Then came the off-field issues, evading a warrant for his arrest in Florida stemming from a domestic violence allegation. That left the Lions no choice but to sever ties one year into a three-year, $33 million contract.
As for Moseley, the Lions rolled the dice on a player recovering from a torn ACL. The gamble didn’t pay off as hoped, with a setback in his rehab followed by a second torn ACL two snaps into his first game back.
Those disappointments sent Holmes back to the drawing board last offseason. A second spin proved more fruitful, starting with a trade for Carlton Davis III, followed by the signing of Robertson in free agency, and using the team’s first two draft picks on corners, including a move up the board in the first round to land Arnold.
Last season's improvements were significant and laid the foundation going forward.
The long-term outlook centers around Arnold. An immediate starter, he battled predictable penalty woes in the early stages of his debut season. However, he made steady progress with his technique to limit those as the campaign progressed. Most critical to his development were the more than 1,000 snaps he banked between the regular season and playoffs.
As a first-round pick, Arnold’s four-year rookie contract carries a fifth-year option in 2028, assuming an extension isn’t worked out sooner.
Opposite Arnold, the Davis addition was what the doctor ordered despite a season-ending jaw injury. A free agent at the end of the season, the Lions couldn’t afford to retain him, but the team was able to land an equal replacement in Reed. The newcomer doesn’t possess Davis’ size. Still, Reed has been one of the league’s premier cover corners the past three seasons, pairing that with a welcomed aggression in run support.
Reed’s three-year, $48 million contract is essentially a two-year pact with a team option. If things are going well, the Lions can keep the relationship intact for the 2027 season by exercising a $13.4 million bonus. Alternatively, they can cut ties after 2026 and eat a $9.1 million dead money cap hit.
Even knowing the numbers, there’s little reason to attempt forecasting that future before seeing Reed suit up in Honolulu blue for the first time.
The future is less stable beyond those two. Robertson, who performed better than expected in his first season with the Lions, returns in 2025 to finish out the two-year deal he signed as a free agent. Given how well he fits the culture, we shouldn't rule out an extension, depending on the price tag.
The other factor is Rakestraw’s development and durability. He had been on the cusp of taking over the nickel job in the early stages of last season before a nagging hamstring injury derailed his momentum. He’ll enter his sophomore campaign as a top backup, offering the versatility to play outside or in the slot.
The rest of the depth is mostly short-term solutions. The incoming Maddox and Ya-Sin are on one-year deals, effectively replacing Kindle Vildor and Moseley from last season’s roster. Dorsey, the longest-tenured man in the room, returns on a new, two-year contract after breaking his leg last season. His primary contributions should continue to come on special teams.
The Lions could take this group into the upcoming season and be in decent shape. Any opportunity to bolster the group through the draft would be a best-player-available scenario and could result in minimal immediate contributions on defense, particularly if the cornerbacks enjoy relatively good health in 2025.
Based on most projections, there won’t be a cornerback on the board worth considering if the Lions don’t move off the 28th spot in the opening round. Hunter will almost certainly be a top-five pick. Michigan’s Johnson should be a top-15 selection. And Brown is probably getting snapped up somewhere between picks 15-25.
On Day 2, there are a couple of defensive backs coming off injury who might be viewed as too good of a bargain to pass up if they linger long enough for the Lions to have a shot.
Morrison is an excellent schematic fit with his ability to press and mirror routes in man coverage. That’s assuming you feel good about the medical report coming off shoulder and hip surgeries the past two years.
As for the 6-foot-2 Revel, he suffered a torn ACL last season, but the long and lean corner defends the run with a ferocity that the Lions undoubtedly love.
Both Morrison and Revel should be selected at some point in the second round. The same goes for Hairston after posting exceptional numbers during his pre-draft testing. He’s on the smaller side, and played more zone than man coverage, but he’s a springy and competitive outside corner who has playmaking potential at the next level.
On Day 3, I liked Bryant’s physicality as a tackler more than I anticipated, given his lean, 180-pound frame. As for Nohl Williams, he’s an above-average athlete, had tremendous playmaking production (14 career interceptions), and brings added value as a kick returner who averaged 27.5 yards during his two seasons at Cal.
With someone like Adams, it’s about size, competitiveness, and special teams experience as a developmental piece.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Rakestraw is one the low key most important Lion players for 2025. We have no idea what he is. Another Brad Holmes hit who got hampered with an injury? A guy who is going to always struggle with health? A bust? Back-up quality player? He's just a total wildcard. Given where we took him and what Holmes thought of him, we could have a secret stud on roster. Maybe?
msudaisy26
Footballguy
I would put him way down the list. I think the entire defensive line is more important with so many guys coming off injuries on that side of the ball. I would also put most of the of the offense ahead of him. There are at least 6 starters that can't afford to get hurt or take major steps back.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
I think we know what most of those offensive players are. Not much mystery there. Obviously health for our star plays is paramount. But we know what they are. A Rakestraw bust sets us back and the secondary isn’t fixed like we hoped. A Rakestraw hits and the whole backend of the defense is setup for several years and gives our defense a special identity.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
He is what the 4th cb right now ? If he busts it won't hurt that much. If Hutch or Alim never return to form that is a killer. Plus with today's rules having a dominant secondary is really difficult without of very good to extraordinary defensive line.
