A look at the Detroit Lions\u2019 need at offensive tackle, and some 2025 NFL Draft prospect who may fit them.<\/p>\n
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At the NFL owners meetings a couple weeks back, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes noted that the Lions are not done adding to their offensive line.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still need to make sure that he (Christian MahoganY) has competition, and it\u2019s part of\u2014we bring (Ka)yode (Awosika) back and we\u2019ll still be looking at possibly another veteran to add, and you still have the draft,\u201d Holmes said.<\/p>\n
While that focus was mostly on the guard position, I wouldn\u2019t completely rule out the idea of a tackle. That\u2019s because the 2025 NFL Draft is full of tackle prospects who could kick inside to guard at the professional level.<\/p>\n
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So let\u2019s look at the Lions\u2019 need at tackle going into the draft and some prospects that may fit that mold.<\/p>\n
Previous Lions draft previews:<\/em><\/p>\n Under contract:<\/strong> Penei Sewell (under contract through 2029), Taylor Decker (2027), Giovanni Manu (2027), Dan Skipper (2025), Colby Sorsdal (2026), Jamarco Jones (2025)<\/p>\n Short-term need<\/strong>: 0\/10 The Lions’ offensive tackle situation is pretty well set. Their two starters for 2025 are set with the steady and dependable Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker. They have ample depth, too. Dan Skipper is an experienced veteran who does well as the jumbo tight end. While Giovanni Manu and Colby Sorsdal are the two developmental players who could very well challenge for the OT3 spot this year.<\/p>\n Really, the only question with this group is simple: how long is Decker\u2019s runway? At 31 years old, his best days are likely behind him, but he\u2019s still playing at a very acceptable level. But with a cap hit north of $20 million for the next three seasons\u2014and a potential out in 2026 ($11.9 million in savings, $9.4 million in dead cap)\u2014it\u2019s possible Detroit may consider moving on relatively soon. But the Lions aren\u2019t going to move on just to move on. They would need a plan in place\u2014whether that be the development of Manu or Sorsdal, or a player they could draft as early as this year.<\/p>\n But if the Lions were to draft a tackle this year, it would be a complicated challenge to manage the roster this year. There likely wouldn\u2019t be enough room to carry the new player, Skippers, Sorsdal, and Manu\u2014unless one of those players moved inside to add interior depth, which is currently needed. Luckily for Detroit, there are plenty of prospects who could play early at guard and potentially slide outside when it\u2019s time to replace Decker.<\/p>\n Note: There are some common disagreements on whether prospects are best classified as a tackle or a guard. Think of this as Part 1 of a two-part article on the offensive line. <\/em><\/p>\n PFF lists fourteen<\/em> offensive tackles in the top 100, giving the Lions a really good opportunity to add a talented lineman with one of their top three picks.<\/p>\n Options like Banks, Conerly, Jackson, Mbow, and Grant, exactly fit the optimal profile for Detroit right now: a player who could almost certainly play some guard early in their career and then kick out to tackle. Among that group of five, any or all of them could be available with Detroit\u2019s 28th overall pick. Banks was mocked to the Lions by Nick Baumgardner with this exact kind of plan in place.<\/p>\n As for the more traditional tackles at the top of the draft, it would be harder for the Lions to justify that pick unless the player was too good to pass up\u2014but the top few options (Will Campbell and Armand Membou) are not likely to be there for the Lions to take.<\/p>\n If Detroit spent a Day 1 or 2 pick on a pure offensive tackle, it would almost certainly spell the beginning of the end for Decker. One player who could draw that kind of attention from Detroit is Charles Grant of William & Mary. He\u2019s both raw and coming from a small school, but there\u2019s a lot to like about his athletic tools, football character, and relentlessness in the run game. While the Lions already have a few developmental projects on the offensive line, their strong starting core would allow a guy like Grant to develop behind the scenes for at least one season.<\/p>\n Carson Vinson (Alabama A&M), Myles Hinton (Michigan), Hollin Pierce (Rutgers)<\/p>\n Picking a tackle on Day 3 makes a little more sense than spending an early pick. Here Detroit can target a developmental target or someone they think could compete for the OT3 spot with Skipper\/Manu\/Sorsdal.<\/p>\n Vinson is the archetype of a small school player who you\u2019d bet on due to physical traits.<\/p>\n Carson Vinson is a OT prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 8.07 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 292 out of 1508 OT from 1987 to 2025.https:\/\/t.co\/njQierSqM6<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Kp2M023zIi<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 10, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
2025 Detroit Lions draft preview: Offensive tackle<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nLong-term need<\/strong>: 3\/10<\/p>\nPFF top-100<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Notable Day 3 players <\/strong><\/h3>\n
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