{"id":12375,"date":"2025-02-01T14:53:30","date_gmt":"2025-02-01T14:53:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=12375"},"modified":"2025-02-01T14:53:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-01T14:53:30","slug":"2025-detroit-lions-mock-draft-roundup-2-0-defense-dominates-early-projections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=12375","title":{"rendered":"2025 Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup 2.0: Defense dominates early projections"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"2025<\/p>\n

As a reminder, the Detroit Lions hold pick No. 28 and with that slotting comes a lack of consistency in mock drafts. For example, of the 17 mock drafts we examined this week, 12 different players were mocked to the Lions over five different position groups.<\/p>\n

As expected, defense dominated this week’s projections, with just one mock draft pairing the Lions with an offensive player. And while the other 16 mocks produced 11 different players, seven of those players were edge rushers\u2014the only real pattern amongst the early offseason mock drafts.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

Offensive linemen<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tyler Booker, G, Alabama<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Source: Kyle Crabbs (33rd Team)<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe Lions boast a strong reputation for their offensive line but are facing the outlook of potential change at both spots. Kevin Zeitler is an expiring contract and was the better of the team\u2019s two starting guards \u2014 Graham Glasgow signed a 3-year deal last offseason and struggled in 2024. Amid all of the changes in Detroit with coaching upheaval, staying true to the DNA of the team will help ease the transition \u2014 and that makes a mauling guard like Tyler Booker a perfect fit.\u201d \u2014 Crabbs<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Erik\u2019s Thoughts<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Early projections had Booker slotted as a late first round-second round pick, but NFL Network\u2019s Daniel Jeremiah listed him as the No. 14 overall player on his latest top 50 board and then slotted him to the Bears with the No. 10 overall pick in his mock draft. He would go on to Twitter to later explain that \u201cguys at Alabama tell me he\u2019s the Will Anderson of offense- leadership, work ethic and competitiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n

While his stock should rise after Jeremiah\u2019s report (he tends to influence other rankers), guards don\u2019t tend to get drafted high unless they\u2019re true game-changers, and even the best can slide into the 20s of the first round. So there\u2019s certainly a chance the Lions could find themselves in striking range.<\/p>\n

Defensive tackle<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Source: Blake Brockermeyer (CBS Sports)<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDerrick Harmon is a disruptive interior force who fills a position of need for the Lions. With 40 hurries, five sacks, and 8.5 tackles for loss in 2024, Harmon\u2019s quickness and burst make him a valuable addition to Detroit\u2019s defense. His ability to knock back the line of scrimmage and penetrate gaps fits the Lions\u2019 aggressive defensive philosophy.\u201d \u2014 Brockermeyer<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Source: Chris Dodson (Pro Football Network)<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cTyleik Williams has the potential to be a disruptive force in the middle, with his high motor and ability to penetrate. The Lions could have used that against Jayden Daniels in the NFC Divisional Round.\u201d \u2014 Dodson<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Erik\u2019s Thoughts<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

With Alim McNeill coming off injury, DJ Reader in a contract year, and Levi Onwuzurike a pending free agent, Detroit could find themselves in need of interior depth and a potential future starter.<\/p>\n

We talked a bit about Williams last week but this is Harmon\u2019s first time being mocked to the Lions. Harmon, a Detroit native, is a position-versatile interior lineman who can play up and down the line and would be a nice complement to McNeill, as he can push the pocket while also anchoring the line against the run.<\/p>\n

Edge Rusher<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Source: Max Chadwick (PFF)<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOne of the Lions\u2019 top priorities this offseason should be to find a long-term answer at the edge defender spot opposite Aidan Hutchinson. While Williams is still developing as a pass-rusher, he\u2019s a high-ceiling player who earned 80.0-plus PFF run-defense grades in each of the past two seasons.\u201d \u2014 Chadwick<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Source: Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com), Bucky Brooks (NFL.com), Nate Tice and Charles McDonald (Yahoo Sports), Theo Gremminger (Player Profiler)<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt will be huge for the Lions to get Aidan Hutchinson back next season. Green would be a perfect complement with his speed and quickness off the edge. This team values production off the edge and Green had a ton of it during his college career.\u201d \u2014 Jeremiah<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Source: Theo Mackie (Arizona Republic)<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cBeyond [Abdul] Carter, this class is filled with edge rushers who could go anywhere in the first round. That could create nice value for a team such as Detroit, which is in the market for an edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson. Based on this board, Texas A&M\u2019s Nic Scourton and Ohio State\u2019s J.T. Tuimoloau are also options for the Lions.\u201d \u2014 Mackie<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Source: Josh Edwards (CBS Sports)<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cPerhaps this is an instance of being a prisoner in the moment, but Nic Scourton is good value at this stage of the first round and the franchise really struggled with depth as a result of injuries. The Lions will not be in that position next year with Za\u2019Darius Smith, Josh Paschal, Aidan Hutchinson and now Scourton.\u201d \u2014 Edwards<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Source: Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman (The Athletic)<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cTuimoloau (6-5, 270) was a machine during Ohio State\u2019s championship run. In four College Football Playoff games, he had a combined 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss, nearly doubling his season totals (six sacks, 11 TFLs during the regular season).<\/p>\n

\u201cWith oft-injured Marcus Davenport likely hitting free agency and Za\u2019Darius Smith possibly in need of a reworked contract, the Lions could rotate Tuimoloau for a year opposite Aidan Hutchinson, then have him step in as a long-term starter.\u201d \u2014 The Athletic<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Source: Joe DeLeone (Pro Football Network)<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cA running mate to play alongside Aidan Hutchinson needs to be found by the Lions this offseason. Landon Jackson has the motor and power to direct attention away from Hutchinson.\u201d \u2014 DeLeone<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Source: Keith Sanchez (The Draft Network), Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports), Curt Popejoy (The Draft Wire)<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cLast offseason, the Lions addressed their secondary by spending two top-100 picks on corners. This year, I think they\u2019ll be aggressive again, but this time, they\u2019ll focus on the trenches and draft edge rusher Jack Sawyer. Sawyer had a great run through the College Football Playoff and has the mental makeup that the Lions want to continue building their culture around. Sawyer could serve as a strong complementary piece to Aidan Hutchinson when he returns healthy.\u201d \u2014 Sanchez<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Erik\u2019s Thoughts<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

At this moment, there could be as many as 10-12 edge rushers taken in the first 50 selections, which is why we see so many different players mocked to the Lions at the end of the first round.<\/p>\n

While the Lions have historically preferred bigger edge rushers, Mike Green\u2014the only edge rusher projected to the Lions under 265 pounds (he\u2019s 251)\u2014may look like the odd man out. However, of the seven edge defenders paired with the Lions, Green was projected to the Lions the most this week. So why is he paired so frequently? First, he showed well at the Senior Bowl this week but he also is arguably the most tenacious pass rusher in the group.<\/p>\n

Linebacker<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jalon Walker, SAM, Georgia<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Source: Kent Weyrauch (Fantasy Pros)<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDespite being listed as a linebacker, Jalon Walker projects more as a 3-4 OLB at the next level. His pass rush is fueled by elite athleticism and extremely high motor. His versatility should have him on several teams\u2019 boards as we approach the NFL Draft.\u201d \u2014 Weyrauch<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Erik\u2019s Thoughts<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Walker is going to be a player connected to the Lions a lot this offseason because, while he played off-the-ball linebacker at Georgia, his best attribute is as a pass rusher, making him a perfect fit for the SAM role, which has been occupied by pending free agent Derrick Barnes.<\/p>\n

Defensive backs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Azareye\u2019h Thomas, CB, Florida State<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Source: Ayrton Ostly (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cJust three of the seven cornerbacks on the Lions\u2019 final active roster are signed with the team in 2025. Thomas is getting more buzz as a potential first-round pick thanks to impressive strength and athleticism packed into a 6-foot-1, 191-pound frame. He\u2019s a willing tackler, too. He\u2019ll need some development and lacks ideal ball skills, but that\u2019s not a problem in a secondary featuring ballhawks Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.\u201d \u2014 Ostly<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Erik\u2019s Thoughts<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

If the Lions stay in the market for an outside corner, Thomas could be a player who works his way up into the back end of the first-round conversation. With good size, length, and man-cover skills, Thomas is a stylistic fit for the Lions scheme.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Taking a closer look at the prospects from the 2025 NFL Draft that have been projected to the Detroit Lions over the past week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-detroit-lions"],"yoast_head":"\n2025 Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup 2.0: Defense dominates early projections - Breaking News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=12375\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2025 Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup 2.0: Defense dominates early projections - 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