Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty 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. This is a slightly unusual edition of the Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup, as the 2025 free ag ency period kicked off in the middle of the week. As a result, some mock drafts were published ahead of all the action, while others were published with some information on the teams' updated rosters. Surprisingly, there were only minimal changes to the players projected to the Lions this week (a few new additions), which points to analysts projecting the Lions to address obvious needs. However, the wide range of prospects still in play, illustrates the idea that things are still very wide open at this stage of the offseason. With that, let’s take a look at the latest players we’re seeing mocked to Detroit. Offensive line Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama Source: Kyle Crabbs (33rd Team) “Detroit’s bully mentality faltered down the stretch as injuries piled up for the Lions. Now, their coaching staff has been picked over and plundered. The best way to weather the storm? Pick up a few ideal culture fits for your locker room. Booker’s bully mentality certainly fits the bill.” — Crabbs Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State Source: Molly Bauer (Canal Street Chronicles) Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State Source: Hayden Winks (Underdog Fantasy) “Built up front, the Lions are in-need of some new additions after moving on from Kevin Zeitler and Jonah Jackson in back-to-back offseasons. Jackson is a competitor built for Dan Campbell’s culture after stepping up at LT in a pinch for the Natty Champion Buckeyes. He’d be a day one starter.” — Winks Erik’s Thoughts: The Lions lost Kevin Zeitler in free agency and have not replaced him. They may be counting on their younger players to step up, but there’s still a chance they add a veteran off the open market. If the Lions do elect to enter the draft with the idea of drafting an interior offensive lineman in mind, it certainly feels like Booker, Zabel, and Jackson are the players to watch. It’s unlikely all three are selected in the first 27 picks, so when Detroit is on the clock with pick No. 28, they should have options at guard. Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, NT, Michigan Source: Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports), Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today), Kyle Stackpole (CBS Sports), Jacob Infante (Pro Football Network) “The Lions get a serious nose tackle prospect with plus run-stuffing skills and a glimmer of pass-rush ability for the middle of their defense.” — Trapasso Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon Source: Russell Brown (Fantasy Pros), Eric Fronton (NBC Sports), Matthew Freedman (Fantasy Life) “Outside of quarterback, running back and tight end, it feels like the Lions could take just about any position in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Whichever position it is, you could justify the selection. Derrick Harmon has great size at 6-foot-4 and 313 pounds and he’s incredibly versatile. He’s got the desired skillset to play anywhere on a defensive front but seems best suited to play between a 3-tech to a 5-tech in the NFL. Those are the exact players the Lions have shown interest in over the years under Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes.” — Brown Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State Source: Cam Mellor (College Football Network) “Tyleik Williams is a disruptive run defender with raw athleticism and a relentless motor, making him nearly unblockable one-on-one, though his lack of length limits his ability to finish at the quarterback. While he wins with power and effort, refining his hand technique will be key to maximizing his pass-rushing potential.” — Mellor Erik’s Thoughts: Most of the mock drafts pairing the Lions with Grant were before the Roy Lopez signing, but I still believe that if Grant is there when the Lions are on the clock, he’d be considered—especially with DJ Reader and Lopez in the final year of their contracts. Harmon seems like a solid fit regardless of the moves the Lions have made in free agency and would help fill a long-term need. Williams returns to the mix this week, and while I think the Lions would love his run stopping traits, it’s rare for an interior defensive lineman who only stops the run to go in the first round. Edge rusher Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia Source: Brett Whitefield (Fantasy Points), Mason Johnstone (Draft Network) “The Lions have a major need to add a legitimate long-term solution opposite Aidan Hutchinson. We also know they like size and heavy hands in their edge defenders, and Williams will surely bring that to the table. Williams is unrefined, as the production (or lack thereof) highlights. While many will think this is absurdly low for him, he is a strong candidate to see his consensus standing in the community fall a bit after the Combine.” — Whitefield Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall Source: Max Chadwick (PFF) “The Lions will look to add an edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson. Green’s 93.6 PFF overall grade over the past two seasons is the highest of any edge defender in this draft. He could go much higher than Pick No. 28 on draft night, but his projection remains cloudy due to two sexual assault allegations — one while he was in high school and one while he was at Virginia — which he addressed at the NFL Scouting Combine.” — Chadwick Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M Source: Richard Janvrin (Fantasy Pros) “The Lions have a steady presence with Aidan Hutchinson on one end. On the other end, they could have an explosive athlete in Shemar Stewart, who may not have had much production in college but has a profile you cannot pass up on. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him finish in the top 10 or fall out of the first round completely.” — Janvrin Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College Source: David Bearman (Pro Football Network), Josh Edwards (CBS Sports), Scott Smith (Buccaneers.com) “After showing promise on defense last season but needing more consistency in their pass rush, the Detroit Lions drafted Donovan Ezeiruaku as a player who could make an immediate impact and help elevate their defense to the next level. In the postseason loss to the Commanders, Detroit rarely got pressure on Jayden Daniels. Combined with injuries all over the secondary, they allowed 45 points in an early exit. Ezeiruaku’s potential to develop into a top-tier pass rusher, combined with the return of 2022 first-round pick Aidan Hutchinson, will give the Lions the depth they need to repeat the 15-win season from last year.” — Bearman James Pearce, EDGE, Tennessee Source: Garrett Podell (CBS Sports) “The Detroit Lions were absolutely decimated by injuries along their defensive line in 2024, so they grab Pearce, a two-time first-team All-SEC player who led the conference in tackles for loss (28) and quarterback pressures (107) across the last two seasons.” — Podell Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M Source: Ayrton Ostly (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) “Scourton is less athletic than Texas A&M teammate Stewart but he had far more production in college thanks to his arsenal of pass rush moves. The Lions were decimated by injury last year and could use another piece in the pass rush rotation. Scourton’s high motor and energy will be a fit in Detroit.” — Ostly Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State Source: Hal Habib (Palm Beach Post) “Playmaker for Buckeyes (who) relies on power, not speed.” — Habib Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas Source: Christian D’Andrea (For the Win), David Helman (Fox Sports) “I had Jackson at the back end of my first round in my last mock. After running a 4.6-second 40 and posting a 40.5-inch vertical leap, he’s staying there. Jackson has the bulk and twitchiness to be an asset on the front lines of the Lions 4-3. The 6-foot-6 specimen is long and angular but has a solid bend to keep his pad level low enough to keep his leverage. He’s quick and strong and can win inside and out. Now he’d get the chance to clean up the messes Aidan Hutchinson sends him — and create a few of his own.” — D’Andrea J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State Source: Nate Tice and Charles McDonald (Yahoo.com) “There’s something about the pairing of Tuimoloau with Aidan Hutchinson that I like. Tuimoloau is a strong pocket pusher who is effective against the run and pass. He isn’t always the sexiest player, but his strength combined with Hutchinson’s quickness and Alim McNeill on the inside would be a nightmare in the pocket for QBs to navigate.” — Tice and McDonald Bradyn, Swinson, EDGE, LSU Source: James Foster (33rd Team) “Detroit needs a capable edge rusher to play opposite of Aidan Hutchinson and Bradyn Swinson is the best one available. Swinson is a multi-dimensional pass rusher with a potent combination of burst, power, and lateral quickness.” — Foster Erik’s Thoughts: Of the 10 edge rushers paired to the Lions in this section, it’s probably likely that only half get their name called on Day 1. Mykel Williams remains the most intriguing EDGE to me based on his skill set and projected upside. He’s nearly identical in size to Marcus Davenport and the pair would create a fun rotation opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell, WILL/SAM, Alabama Source: Dave Kluge (Football Guys) “Ok, I might have forced this pick just because of the endless nickname possibilities for Jack and Jihaad Campbell. The Lions used a first-round pick on an off-ball linebacker in 2023. And while he, Jack Campbell, would likely remain the defense’s middle linebacker, the expected departure of Derrick Barnes in free agency leaves a perfect hole for Jihaad Campbell. With Malcolm Rodriguez operating as a weakside linebacker, the Lions wouldn’t have a second-level weakness in 4-3 packages.” — Kluge Erik’s Thoughts: Obviously, this mock draft was published before the Lions re-signed Derrick Barnes, but I left it in because this is probably the last time we will see this projection. Campbell earned himself some money this offseason and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was off the board before the Lions are on the clock anyway. Defensive backs Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina Source: Marco Enriquez (Pro Football Network) “Shavon Revel Jr. is dropping this far due to his recovery from a torn ACL last season. While he may be slow to start the season, once fully healthy, Revel should acclimate quickly. He has elite agility and reaction speed in coverage, and his ball skills and athleticism make him an exciting addition to the Lions’ young secondary.” — Enriquez Erik’s Thoughts: While the Lions swapped Carlton Davis for D.J. Reed, there remains a need for depth in the Lions secondary, specifically at corner. Filling that need with a first-round pick may seem excessive—and it probably is—but Revel is a unique player that would certainly have my attention. ...read more read less