Taking a closer look at the prospects from the 2025 NFL Draft that have been projected to the Detroit Lions over the past week.
We’re back for the third installment in our 2025 Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup series of articles. So far, most mock drafts have been heavily populated with defensive players, and this installment is no different. This week, we examined 28 mock drafts, and they paired the Lions with 14 different players, including 13 defenders and just one offensive player.
Let’s take a look.
Offensive skill players
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Source: Lou Scataglia (NFL Spin Zone)
“The Detroit Lions getting Emeka Egbuka does seem kind of unfair, but here we are. Detroit will load up on offense here in this NFL mock draft. I would expect the team to address both sides of the ball, but they can really go in a number of different directions here given how talented the roster is.” — Scataglia
Erik’s Thoughts:
Egbuka is a top-four wide receiver regardless of which Draftnik’s draft board you follow, and the senior has earned that ranking with a college career full of consistency and reliability. As far as fit with the Lions, he’s more of a WR-Z (Jameson Williams position) than a WR-X (free agent Tim Patrick’s role) but a creative offensive coordinator can make it work when the talent on the roster is this good. Adding a first-round receiver is not a pressing priority, but it would definitely be a rich-get-richer scenario that would be a lot of fun.
Defensive tackle
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Source: Daniel Belton (Cat Scratch Reader)
“The Lions lost Aidan Hutchinson to injury earlier this year and he still led the team in sacks. Since they were so successful the last time they drafted a defensive lineman from Michigan, they decide to try it again, this time working on the interior.” — Belton
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Source: Matt Miller (ESPN), Reese Decker (Pro Football Network)
“The Lions will have hard decisions to make in free agency with guard Kevin Zeitler and defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike both on expiring contracts. But general manager Brad Holmes should beef up the interior defensive line whether Onwuzurike returns or not.
“Harmon would be a perfect replacement or even work well in tandem. The Michigan State transfer had six sacks and 35 pressures for the Ducks, with the right build at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds to play in a 3-technique or shade the center. His power to handle double-teams in the run game — plus his ability to command attention away from Aidan Hutchinson — would make this a slam-dunk pick.” — Miller
Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
Source: Nick Suss (The Tennessean), Lou Scataglia (NFL Spin Zone)
“Williams isn’t the biggest name or the most overwhelming talent from Ohio State. But he comes with a baseline level of consistency and production that the Lions tend to covet.” — Suss
Erik’s Thoughts:
I’m still sorting and ranking my preliminary Lions-based draft board but all three of the players listed here are situated in my Tier 2 defensive tackle group. Michigan’s Mason Graham stands alone in Tier 1, while Walter Nolen (Mississippi) also joins Grant, Harmon, and Williams. Traditionally, having four or five defensive tackles as first-round options is excessive, so this group will likely further separate as the offseason progresses. But this is a good year to consider adding an interior defensive player.
Edge rusher
Mike Green, EDGE, Tulane
Source: Eric Edholm (NFL.com), Cam Mellor (College Football Network), Paul Guillemette (Draft Countdown), Ian Valentino (AtoZ Sports)
“I was both pleased and irritated that DJ (Daniel Jeremiah) and Bucky (Brooks) each mocked Green to the Lions, because it just feels perfect right now. He has a Lions-y intensity and can be worked into the rotation early.” — Edholm
Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
Source: Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports), Jacob Infante (Pro Football Network), Steve Serby (New York Post)
“Shemar Stewart is essentially a supersized defensive end, possessing prototypical length and a powerful frame that carries nearly 290 pounds very well. That frame, combined with his athleticism and tenacious playing style, should see him selected in Round 1 come April.” — Infante
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Source: Luke Easterling (Anthon Sports), Joe Schad (Palm Beach Coast)
“Even with a healthy Aidan Hutchinson back next season, the Lions need another well-rounded edge defender who can stay on the field for all three downs and make an impact against both the run and pass. Scourton wasn’t as productive as you’d expect from someone with his physical profile, but all of the tools are there for him to be a high-quality pro, and an ideal fit for what Detroit needs.” — Easterling
Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
Source: Cynthia Frelund (NFL.com), Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports), Tom Fornelli (CBS Sports)
“Sawyer is listed at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds and is coming off a five-sack 2024 season that includes 28 hurries. Used almost exclusively off the edge for the Buckeyes, he flashes the speed-to-power of a first-round pass rusher who is also stout setting the edge in the run game.” — Wilson
Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Source: Curt Popejoy (The Draft Wire), Christian D’Andrea (For the Win)
“Jackson would be a massive addition, both physically and on the stat sheet. The 6-foot-7 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 Hutchinson sends him — and create a few of his own.” — D’Andrea
Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Florida
“A lack of depth at the pass-rushing positions hurt the Lions following injuries to Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill. Enter Princely Umanmielen, a big-time winner at the Senior Bowl’s weigh-in process, clocking in at 264 pounds with arms longer than 34 inches. Umanmielen is explosive when rushing the passer.” — Melo
Jared Ivey, EDGE, Mississippi
Source: Brett Whitefield (Fantasy Points)
“The Lions need a cheap, long-term solution opposite Aidan Hutchinson on the EDGE. Ivey fits their mold as an extremely heavy-handed, technically sound, big-bodied edge defender who is also of great length. He might be the most ready-to-play edge in the class and could contribute to the team immediately.” — Whitefield
Erik’s Thoughts:
As usual, the bulk of the Lions’ options continue to be at defensive end, and with an apparent need, it makes sense for this section to be loaded with options. Like at defensive tackle, we are seeing loads of different names being mocked to the back end of the first round. The fact that two new names were added to consideration this week also speaks to how potentially deep this class could be.
Defensive backs
Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina
Source: Erik Beaston (Bleacher Report)
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Source: Mason Cameron (PFF), Josh Edwards (CBS Sports), Mario Enriquez (Pro Football Network)
“With Detroit promoting Kelvin Sheppard to replace Aaron Glenn as defensive coordinator, the Lions are expected to continue deploying one of the heaviest Cover 1 rates in the NFL. That makes Benjamin Morrison an ideal fit. The Notre Dame cornerback is at home in man coverage, having played a high volume of Cover 1 while ranking above the 87th percentile in both single-coverage grade and coverage grade when no pressure is generated.” — Cameron
Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Source: Lance Zierlein (NFL.com), Richard Janvrin (Fantasy Pros)
“With plenty of cap space available, the Lions will attack some of their needs in free agency. That said, Thomas could give Detroit a big press corner to bookend the field with last year’s first-round pick, Terrion Arnold.” — Zierlein
Erik’s Thoughts:
Outside of Travis Hunter (Colorado) and Will Johnson (Michigan), there aren’t any surefire corners, but you could argue that there are another five or so corners who are contenders to work their way up into the first round. Revel, Morrison, and Thomas all fit in that group of contenders and fit what the Lions do. Morrison and Thomas are press-man corners that are clean fits in the Lions’ presumed scheme, while Revel is more productive in zone but has cover-man skills.
