The Lions usually pretty much nail the draft, but they are being predicted to possibly overdraft someone simply to fill a need.
Despite not playing after Week 6 this season, Aidan Hutchinson still led the Detroit Lions with 7.5 sacks. He was on a Defensive Player of the Year pace before suffering a broken leg, but his absence was only covered so much by the trade deadline acquisition of ZaDarius Smith, who finished second on the team with four sacks over eight games. An unbelievable numbers of injuries to the defensive line of course did not help things.
So adding an edge rusher has to be on the Lions’ radar in free agency, and probably early in the draft too. Many mock drafts do and will have them taking an edge rusher in the first round at pick 28.
However, general manager Brad Holmes never operates in the draft with a perspective of having to fill needs over all else. But he also is known to not ignore clear-cut needs, as evidenced by taking cornerbacks with the Lions’ first two picks of last year’s draft. And he’s taken multiple players who were immediately seen as a reach by the “experts.”
Lions predicted to reach for a specific player at a position of need
Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report has highlighted six players he thinks are most likely to be taken too early (“overdrafted”) in the 2025 NFL Draft. The specific premise is players B/R has second-round grades on who may sneak into the first round, with a team who may target each.
No. 5 on the list is Ohio State edge rusher JT Tuimoloau.
“Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau is not a complete defensive end. Despite being a 5-star recruit who turned into three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, he lacks the all-around skill set to earn a first-round grade. But those factors, plus continued improvement throughout his collegiate career, could easily push him into the opening frame.”
Tuimoloau had 6.5 sacks during the Buckeyes’ run through the College Football Playoff to a national title, so playing in a total of 16 games has to be noted with his uptick to 12.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss last season.
Sobleski noted how the general knock on Tuimoloau is a lack of athleticism, with all the related buzz words (“twitch”, “bend”), while calling him a “low-ceiling, high-floor prospect.”
Then came the punch line, while suggesting the Lions will be the team that’s most likely to overdraft Tuimoloau.
“For teams in particular need of edge help that won’t be within range of the more athletic and explosive pass-rushers, who typically land early in the first round, they can still acquire a good bookend in Tuimoloau. He is going to play the run well, set the edge, give some push when pass-rushing and always hustle. Those things will likely be good enough for some franchise.”
The Lions value fit and intangibles just as much as someone’s talent. Tuimoloau might not have the sheer upside of some other edge rushers in this year’s draft class, but the Lions are rarely tantalized by it on its own and chasing upside doesn’t always work out.
Maybe the Lions do end up “overdrafting” Tuimoloau late in the first round if they like him enough, but there’s some history that says they’ll be proven right if they do.
