NFL Draft Grades - Detroit Lions
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Detroit Lions Upcoming 2025 Draft Picks (7)
Walt's Mock Selections as of 4/23/2025 -View Current Mock Draft
Round: 1


The Lions need another edge rusher for the long term, especially after what happened with Aidan Hutchinson last night. J.T. Tuimoloau has flashed some great pass-rushing potential, but must be more consistent. *** OTHER 2025 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: *** 1. Donovan Ezeiruaku/Jack Sawyer, DE - Some other edge rushers who would fit Dan Campbell's style. 2. Tyler Booker/Grey Zabel/Donovan Jackson, OL - You can't ever count out the Lions drafting an offensive lineman.
Round: 2


The Lions are great because of their offensive line. They could stand to add a young guard to eventually take over for one of the veterans. Caleb Rogers was one of the top performers in the agility drills at the combine.
Round: 3


The Lions lost Carlton Davis, so they'll need to obtain a new cornerback. Davison Igbinosun has nice size and ball skills. Go to 2025 NFL Mock Draft by Charlie Campbell Go to 2026 NFL Mock Draft by Walter Cherepinsky
Round: 4


Tim Patrick re-signed, but the Lions may want a third receiver for the long term. Evan Stewart wasn't overly productive in school thus far, but he's flashed some play-making ability at times.
Round: 6


It shouldn't surprise anyone if the Lions obtain two edge rushers during draft weekend. Chaz Chambliss is a great blitzer. He should be a designated pass rusher.
Round: 7


The Lions figure to draft a linebacker late on Day 3 for depth and special teams.
Round: 7


A potential third tight end for the Lions. Detroit added Kenny Yeboah in free agency, but here's some competition.
Past Grades and Selections
2024 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
A+ I bet the Lions were absolutely shocked that Terrion Arnold was still on the board at No. 24. He wasn't going to last until No. 29, so I like Detroit moving up five spots to land someone who was considered the top cornerback in the draft by some. Detroit desperately needed a cornerback in the wake of Cam Sutton's arrest, and Arnold seems like an instant upgrade.
A+ The Lions may not have trouble stopping the pass much longer. I love that they're attacking cornerback, given how much of a weakness it has been in the past. Ennis Rakestraw provides amazing value because he was discussed as someone who could sneak into the end of the opening round. I'm surprised he lasted this long.
MILLEN Sorry, Lions fans, for giving you a Millen grade, but this isn't the best selection. Giovanni Manu is a late-round prospect, so had Detroit made this pick a round later, I wouldn't have minded it. However, surrendering a third-round pick in 2025 to get him is a huge mistake. A huge, kielbasa type of mistake.
C I don't think the Lions needed to trade up for Sione Vaki, who fits the range as a fourth-round prospect. Vaki is just a mediocre prospect, but he does fill a need, as Detroit needed to find more help for the secondary.
A+ I love Jaylin Simpson as a prospect. He's a highly instinctive safety who can challenge for a starting job right away. Simpson needs to bulk up, but this is a great pick, as I thought Simpson could be chosen in the third round.
B- I had Micah Abraham as my Mr. Irrelevant, so while this is a reach, it's not a very egregious one in the middle of the sixth round. The need makes sense for the Colts, who had to find another cornerback.
A I love this pick, as the Texans are adding an element to their offense they didn't possess. Jawhar Jordan is a small back who can't handle a full workload, but he has explosive ability and can go the distance, much like Keaton Mitchell.
A Here's a nice bargain for the Texans. LaDarius Henderson was projected to go a round or two earlier than this. He can play both guard and tackle, though he'll likely have to settle for the former in the NFL. Protection for C.J. Stroud had to be added.
2023 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
A The Cardinals had to move up ahead of the Raiders to draft Paris Johnson. This is the prospect Kyler Murray wanted, so it's hard to hate this selection. Arizona had to find someone to protect Murray, given that Murray hasn't been able to play a full season in the NFL yet. No one could have hated the Cardinals for picking Johnson at No. 3, so moving down three spots for him was great management.
B- I had Jack Campbell going to the Lions in the second round. However, this is not like the Will McDonald selection because I've had Campbell going in the 20s on occasion, as we knew there was some interest from teams in that range. Campbell will also fill a huge need for Detroit. Still, I wish the Lions would have traded down for Campbell.
B I'm not sure why the Buccaneers moved ahead of the Steelers for Cody Mauch, given that Pittsburgh drafted an offensive lineman yesterday. Still, this is a solid pick. The Buccaneers had a huge need on the offensive line, and Mauch is a rock-steady, plug-and-play guard.
C- The Chiefs traded up, so they must have gone after one of the Tennessee receivers. Apparently not. Rashee Rice projects as a solid No. 2 receiver in the NFL, unlike Jalin Hyatt. Given how many talented receivers were still available, I don't know why Kansas City thought it had to trade up, especially for this player.
B+ The rebuilding process is about to begin for the Titans, who could be trading Derrick Henry in the near future. Tyjae Spears is a complete back who could take over as the starter in the near future. He makes sense in this range.
C+ This is a bit early for Colby Sorsdal, whom I never had in my mocks. However, Sorsdal was a solid right tackle and a team captain. He could provide good depth on the offensive line.
B The Packers obviously needed a receiver, and they're getting a decent prospect in Dontayvion Wicks. The Virginia product has some speed concerns, but he's a tall, lengthy receiver who could be a good weapon in the red zone.
B- The sixth round is the right range for J.L. Skinner, who is a safety-linebacker tweener. He may not have a natural position in the NFL, but he should be able to play special teams well.
C+ Keondre Coburn is not someone I had in my mocks because there is concern with him being able to keep his weight under control. He has potential as a solid run stuffer, however.
2022 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
B+ Grade
The Lions did not expect to land Aidan Hutchinson a couple of weeks ago. Hutchinson was chalked to go to the Jaguars back then, but things changed since then. Jacksonville selected Travon Walker, allowing Hutchinson to fall to Detroit. Hutchinson is not an elite pass-rushing prospect like Chase Young or the Bosa brothers, but he's just a notch below. He's the best player available for the Lions, so this is the right choice. It would've been better had Detroit been able to trade down, but that wasn't really a possibility.
B Grade
The Lions traded up from No. 32 to 12 for a quarterb- no, wait, that's not right. These are the Lions we're talking about. They've moved up for a receiver. The Lions using mulitple resources on a receiver ... where have we seen that before? Look, I love Jameson Williams as a prospect, minus the torn ACL, but surrendering resources to a divisional opponent for a non-quarterback is irresponsible. That said, the Lions aren't giving up as much as initially expected, so I don't hate this move at all! I don't know what the Vikings are thinking here.
C Grade
I don't hate this pick, but I think it could've been better. The Lions already addressed their edge rush with Aidan Hutchinson, and I thought Josh Paschal would go toward the end of the second round, so I don't love this value. There were better players available who filled bigger needs.
C+ Grade
I wonder if the Nick Cross pick influenced this because I think Kerby Joseph was a slight reach, though not really an egregious one. Joseph is talented, but is a one-year wonder, so there's some concern in that regard. Still, the Lions needed help in the secondary, and Joseph could help.
A- Grade
The Lions are concerned about not being able to retain T.J. Hockenson past the 2022 season, so this pick makes sense from that regard. It's also a solid value choice, as James Mitchell could've gone in the fourth round with no complaints.
A Grade
I love this value for the Rams. I had Daniel Hardy pegged as a fifth-round prospect, as he was a highly productive player at Montana State. The Rams needed a replacement for Von Miller, so perhaps Hardy can contribute at some point.
2021 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
A+ Grade
I imagine the Lions are shocked that Penei Sewell made it past both the Bengals and Dolphins. This is a no-brainer selection. It could be argued that Sewell was the best player not named Trevor Lawrence in this class. Detroit has a huge hole at tackle, which Sewell will fill very nicely. Detroit's next quarterback - probably someone from next year's draft - go here for my 2022 NFL Mock Draft - will be thrilled to have Sewell blocking for him.
B Grade
The Lions maintained one of the worst run defenses in the NFL last year, so it's not a surprise to see them address that with this pick. I was never really a fan of putting Levi Onwuzurike in the first round because of his pass-rushing limitations, but he makes sense near the middle of the second round. This is a solid pick.
B Grade
This is a much better pick than Dallas' selection of Nahshon Wright. Like Wright, Ifeatu Melifonwu is a tall cornerback, but he's actually a good player. He'll be a liability in run support, but he could end up being a solid starter across from Jeff Okudah.
B Grade
Amon-Ra St. Brown was productive at USC, and he obviously helps fill a huge need for the Lions, who have nothing at receiver. However, I had St. Brown a bit later on Day 3, so I'm not wild about this value. Still, this is a fine selection.
B+ Grade
Here's another linebacker for the Browns to help neutralize Lamar Jackson. Tony Fields is an undersized player, and he's not very athletic, but he was very productive at West Virginia. I had him in the fourth round in some updates.