Following the first couple weeks of free agency, the Detroit Lions really only have one glaring need for the 2025 season.
They need to upgrade their second edge rusher spot.
Other than that, they could be in the market for right guard after Kevin Zeitler left in free agency, but they could be ready to give that spot to Christian Mahogany after he had a couple of solid starts pst season.
With so few immediate needs to address in this year’s NFL Draft, the Lions will have the opportunity to proactively address some potential future needs.
With a young core of stars on their roster, they also don’t have a ton of future issues that stand out right now.
However, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine sees one position where the Lions should address their future in this year’s draft.
Ballentine believes the Lions should draft a replacement for linebacker Alex Anzalone.
Anzalone has spent the last four seasons in Detroit and been an important piece for the Lions’ defense.
Over the course of the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he racked up 254 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 12 passes defended, and 27 pressures.
He was also a captain for the team this past season, but missed a big chunk of the season because of injury.
He still played on 91% of possible snaps when he was available and managed to make 63 tackles in 10 games.
However, he will turn 31 in September and his contact expires at the end of the 2025 season.
That could have the Lions looking to make sure they’re prepared for his potential departure next offseason and Ballentine had a couple of names in mind to replace him.
Ballentine named Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman and Clemson’s Barrett Carter as options in this year’s draft.
Stutsman was a consensus All-American in 2024 after his third consecutive season where he was part of more than 100 tackles.
Carter earned First Team All-ACC honors after making 82 tackles with 11 for a loss.
Both players have recently been projected to be selected late on day two or early on day three of this year’s draft.
That range would make either a good fit for the Lions to secure the future of their front seven.
