The dust from the NFL combine has officially settled, and while pro days and free agency are still looming, the Lions draft board is most likely set in stone. While it may be impossible to perfectly guess what Brad Holmes will do in this year’s draft after four seasons, a few trends can help paint a vague picture of what the General Manager for Detroit will be looking for. Here’s my mock Lions draft board.

*Detroit doesn’t currently hold any 5th-round picks.

Round 1

  • Jihaad Campbell – Linebacker
    • With all the injuries to the Lions defense last season, especially Aidan Hutchinson’s, it’s easy to focus on the defensive line as a weakness. While I don’t disagree, I’d argue that Detroit’s lack of depth at linebacker truly hurt the pride. Campbell possesses the ability to play as a Mike, Will, or Sam linebacker while also having the added versatility to line up as an edge rusher.
  • Nic Scourton – Defensive Line/EDGE
    • As I said, I agree that defensive line depth is a significant weakness for the defense. With Scourton, you get a player who would make a great bookend opposite Hutch while also being able to take snaps lined up in the interior of the defensive line.
  • Donovan Ezeiraku – EDGE
    • Many analysts have been high on Mike Green going to the Lions at the end of the first round, but I think Ezeiraku is a much more promising prospect. Just turn on his tape. It’ll jump off the screen at you. He’s productive and has a nose for the ball carrier, whether in the pass or running game. While he may be undersized and lack the strength necessary to power through some NFL tackles, he’s an intriguing edge prospect who you could even line up as an outside linebacker in some packages.

Round 2

  • Demetrius Knight Jr. – Linebacker
    • Failing to land Campbell or hell, even if he does, Holmes could also look to secure another linebacker in the second round. With Knight, you’re getting a more ‘conventional’ linebacker who’s excellent in the run game and has great coverage instincts. With last year’s double dip at corner in the first two rounds, this doesn’t seem too unlikely.
  • Azareye’h Thomas – Cornerback
    • Corner is an interesting position for the Lions. While Carlton Davis III had a great season, he’s a pending free agent. If CD3 isn’t brought back, Thomas could pair well with Terrion Arnold on the boundary while Amik Robertson and Rakestraw Jr. compete for the nickel position.
FSU Cornerback Azareye’h Thomas
  • Josiah Stewart – EDGE
    • While Stewart may be undersized, he has one distinct trait that Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell value over anything else: GRIT. Stewart has an aggressive and relentless motor under the hood, and despite his frame, he can bully tackles who are slow to set their feet. Sure, teams had success double-teaming him in college, but no offensive coordinator would dare leave Hutch one-on-one opposite of Stewart.

Round 3

  • Tate Ratledge – Guard
    • Kevin Zeitler, much like CD3, is a huge question mark for the Lions offensive line. Christian Mahogany earned the starting job if Zeitler isn’t retained, but Graham Glasgow struggled after being moved to left guard. Ratledge would add great depth to the offensive interior and some competition into the mix to potentially steal Glasgow’s job.
  • Jayden Higgins – Wide Reciever
    • While it’s wishful thinking to hope Higgins falls to the third round, crazier things have happened during NFL drafts. While St. Brown and Jameson Williams are for sure locks at WR1-2, if the Lions fail to retain Tim Patrick, Higgins would make for a great replacement. He possesses a large frame, which, most importantly, he knows how to use while also being a savvy route runner. He’d be a home run WR3 for Detroit.
  • Carson Schwesinger – Linebacker
    • Scwesinger is highly productive and instinctual. While he may be a little rough around the edges to most analysts, like Ezeiraku, his film speaks for itself. He’d be a day-one contributor on special teams, which is needed with the release of Jalen Reeves-Maybin while providing third-down versatility until those “rough” edges are smoothed out.

Round 4

  • Denzel Burke – Cornerback
    • Burke could fall into the fourth round due to an inconsistent senior campaign. He was excellent before that, though, and he’d be a great asset to Kelvin Sheppard, who plans to use different personnel schemes instead of being man-coverage-heavy like Aaron Glenn.
  • Chris Paul Jr. – Linebacker
    • Paul Jr., to me, would be a phenomenal Alex Anzalone insurance policy. By no means am I saying Anzalone is bad. I love Thor just as much as every other Lions fan, but the reality is he’s 30 years old and won’t be a Lions forever. Insert Paul Jr., who had an excellent combine performance and has a very similar playstyle to Anzalone.
Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul Jr.
  • Jordan Phillips – Defensive Tackle
    • Phillips is a powerful, athletic defensive tackle who would make a great nose tackle in 3-4 personnel. His pass rush may be weak, but he’s a monster in the run game and would be a great depth piece for the Lions interior D-line.

Round 6

  • Jaylen Reed – Defensive Back
    • The Lions are set to lose Ifeatu Melifonwu, a versatile though injury-prone weapon and Jaylen Reed is the perfect replacement. His excellent ball IQ, coupled with his athleticism, could make him a valuable rotational piece in Detroit. Reed would also make a day-one impact on special teams.
  • CJ West – Defensive Tackle
    • West would be a phenomenal depth pick-up. He may be rough around the edges, but his rush defense looks elite at times. He’s tenacious and plays with a high motor, which would fit how the Lions run things.
  • Dant’e Thornton Jr. – Wide Reciever
    • Thornton Jr. has elite speed for his 6’5 frame. He needs work cleaning up his routes and honing his game, but he’d make a threatening rotational piece in the proper scheme. Pair his speed with Jameson Williams on third and long with St. Brown, LaPorta, and Gibbs working underneath. Someone is bound to be open.

Round 7

  • Jackson Hawes – Tight End
    • The Lions need a consistent option at TE3, and Hawes is an intriguing fit for that position. He’s primarily a run blocker but could be a sneaky threat in the short to intermediate game. I also think he could make for a very intriguing fullback, another position that’s lacked consistency in Detroit. Add Hawes’s quote at the combine, and he screams Dan Campbell material.

  • Carson Bruener – Linebacker
    • Bruener, according to analysts, doesn’t “look” like an NFL linebacker and doesn’t have an imposing figure in uniform, whatever the hell that means. What he does possess is an NFL pedigree, great instincts, and a knack for making plays. He may not be a day-one starter on defense, but he’d be an instant special teams ace and an intriguing developmental piece.
  • Theo Wease Jr. – Wide Reciever
    • Wease Jr. is another big receiver who would be a solid developmental piece. He has excellent hands and tracks the ball well. However, his blocking leaves something to be desired.

End Of My Lions Rant

All in all, I’m excited for the 2025 NFL Draft. This year’s draft class is deep in all the right places for Detroit, and watching Brad Holmes cook on draft night is always a great time. Under Brad Holmes, the Lions have had exceptional draft classes. I expect this year to be no different.

Be sure to keep up with everything in the NFL here at Stadium Rant, and follow along as I continue to cover the Lions throughout this offseason.