With the 2025 free agency period set to kick off next week, this week’s mock draft roundup offers Detroit Lions fans their last opportunity to check out which prospects are being mocked to the Lions before the official start of the 2025 league new year.
For this week’s exercise, we examined 40 mock drafts and saw 17 different players projected to the Lions. While we expanded our search pool this week, the trends of heavily mocking the Lions with offensive and defensive linemen continued. Just six of the 40 mock drafts paired the Lions with an off-the-ball prospect, illustrating the idea that the Lions will focus on restocking and deepening the trenches this offseason.
With that, let’s take a look at the latest players we’re seeing mocked to Detroit.
Offensive line
Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
Source: Ryan McCrystal (Sharp Football Analysis), Chris Gregory (Rotoballer), Jacob Camenker (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
“With Kevin Zeitler an aging free agent and Booker falling further in this mock than many expect, the Lions jump on the opportunity to turn a strength into an even bigger strength. Booker is one of the safer picks in this class. Pass rushers who attack him head-on are swallowed up, and he can move the line in short-yardage situations.” — Gregory
Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
Source: Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports), Paul Guillemette (Draft Countdown), Matt Bitonti (Football Guys)
“No one helped themselves more at the Senior Bowl than Zabel, who played primarily left tackle in 2024 for NDSU, but had experience at guard and center, too. He was used solely on the interior in Mobile and looked like a 10-year veteran no matter where he lined up. Zabel stood out in the Week 1 opener against Colorado, and his stock has been on the rise ever since. Talking to teams at the Senior Bowl, he may be a better leader than football player and that’s saying something.” — Wilson
Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
Source: Charles Davis (NFL.com), JP Acosta (SB Nation), Reese Decker (Pro Football Network), Brianna Dix (Buccaneers.com)
“Jackson’s rise has been amazing to see unfold. The former Buckeye started the season at guard, then kicked out to tackle when OT Josh Simmons injured his patella. He played lights out there in the playoffs against top tier pass rushers, and played his way into round one and Detroit. He slots in at guard, with the capability of taking over at tackle when Taylor Decker is done.” — Acosta
Erik’s Thoughts:
With the Lions’ reliance on their offensive line, it’s no surprise that many are connecting them with a guard in the first round. Even if the Lions retain pending free agent Kevin Zeitler, the Lions could still be in the market for acquiring an interior player for long term stability.
If the Lions do consider a guard in the first round, Booker and Zabel are likely competing to be the first IOL off the board, and they’d be followed by Jackson, who isn’t a surefire first-round pick, but has the talent to go there.
Defensive tackle
Kenneth Grant, NT, Michigan
Source: Dane Brugler (The Athletic), Danny Kelly (The Ringer), Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports), Brentley Weissman (Pro Football Network)
“At 6-4, 331, Grant is a massive man with some unique traits. Do teams wish the tape was more consistent? No question. But the NFL is a big man’s league, and there aren’t many with Grant’s combination of size and ability in this class.” — Brugler
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Source: Tim Twentyman (DetroitLions.com), Alyssa Barberi (Touchdown Wire)
“The Detroit native led all FBS defensive tackles in pressures (55) and recorded five sacks and two forced fumbles. He was one of only two defensive tackles weighing more than 300 pounds to run under five seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Combine. At 6-foot-4 ½ and 313 pounds, he’s got unique traits. McNeill and him could be a nice duo inside for a long term in Detroit.” — Twentyman
Erik’s Thoughts:
Grant and Harmon are both likely to be drafted in the first round but it’s entirely possible neither are on the board when the Lions are on the clock. It’s easy to fall in love with the idea of either player pairing with Alim McNeill, as both would give the Lions a massive boost on the interior defensive line.
Edge rusher
Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia
Source: Thor Nystrom (Fantasy Life)
“Walker is a front-7 move-piece who will help you at both EDGE and LB. He has LB size at 6-foot-1, 243 pounds, but Walker has shown an exceptional prowess for getting after quarterbacks off the edge. He’s also proven to be an extremely effective quarterback spy, making dual-threat quarterbacks think twice before breaking containment.
“In 2024, Georgia gave Walker more responsibility and maximized his versatility. Walker’s ability to be moved around to frustrate opposing offenses will appeal to Detroit’s staff.” — Nystrom
Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Source: Tom Fornelli (CBS Sports)
“OK, so I’ve had Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer here in each of my first two mocks because it seems like a match made in heaven, but Mike Green has a higher ceiling and would be the better value late in the first for a Detroit team that needs a second pass-rusher.” —
Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
Source: Tyler Dragon (USA Today), Joe Shad (The Palm Beach Post)
“Aidan Hutchinson is coming off a season-ending leg injury. The Lions’ defense was ravaged by injuries this past season. Detroit needs more depth up front.” — Dragon
Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
Source: Jordan Reid (ESPN), Kyle Crabbs (33rd Team), Marcus Mosher (33rd Team), Hayden Winks (Underdog Fantasy), Nick Suss (Nashville Tennessean), Carmen Vitali (FOX Sports Staff), Jeff Ratcliffe (FTN Fantasy)
“The idea of lining up someone this athletic and productive opposite Aidan Hutchinson is salivation-worthy. Ezeiruaku won’t have to be a superstar with Hutchinson on the other side, but he might develop into one, especially given all the solo blocks he’ll take on with Hutchinson getting so much attention.” — Suss
James Pearce, EDGE, Tennessee
Source: Trevor Sikkema (PFF), Luke Easterling (Anthon Sports), Pat Fitzmaurice (Fantasy Pros)
“Pearce had an incredibly impressive combine showing in the speed drills, recording a 1.56-second 10-yard split and a 4.47-second 40-yard dash. His arms are shorter than expected for someone with a 6-foot-5 frame, and it feels he is mostly viewed as just an outside linebacker speed type. But that is still a worthwhile draft target for a team like the Lions.” — Sikkema
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Source: Ben Raven (MLive)
“Scourton, 20, is a powerful pass rusher with steady production. He also appears to have a natural feel for setting the edge and stopping the run. Scourton is no stranger to hitting blockers with a lethal spin move, too. He is one of those players who just seems to find a way to get into the backfield and then make the right type of reads. He’s a worthy first-round pick. He fills a need. He also fits in with the style Detroit prefers.” — Raven
Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Source: Justin Melo (The Draft Network), Kyle Dvorchak (NBC Sports)
“Landon Jackson was outstanding at the NFL Combine, leaping a 40.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-9 broad jump. The Lions need a pass rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson. Jackson is tough and athletic with three-down versatility. That checks a lot of boxes for Dan Campbell.” — Melo
J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
Source: Nate Tice and Charles McDonald (YahooSports.com)
“There’s something about the pairing of Tuimoloau with Aidan Hutchinson that I like. Tuimoloau is a strong pocket pusher who is effective against the run and pass. He isn’t always the sexiest player, but his strength combined with Hutchinson’s quickness and Alim McNeill on the inside would be a nightmare in the pocket for QBs to navigate.” — Tice and McDonald
Erik’s Thoughts:
Edge rushers continue to be the most popular choice for the Lions but also the position with the biggest variance of projections. The first five players listed here look like they’re positioned to be first-round picks, but the remaining three are very good stylistic fits that could entice Lions general manager Brad Holmes to grab above expectation—something we’ve seen several times in the past.
Ezeiruaku remains the most popular player connected to the Lions but it’ll be interesting to see if those projections shift toward bigger defensive ends, after the Lions re-signed SAM linebacker Derrick Barnes earlier this week.
Linebacker
Jihaad Campbell, WILL/SAM, Alabama
Source: Curt Popejoy (The Draft Wire), Calvin Watkins (Dallas Morning News), Daniel Belton (Cat Scratch Reader)
“Campbell can play off-ball linebacker and off the edge. NFL teams project him as a pass rusher, and he helps the Lions defense.” — Watkins
Erik’s Thoughts:
Campbell showed his worth at the NFL Combine last weekend and looks like he may have cemented himself as a first round pick—maybe top-half of the first round. Campbell is an ideal stylistic fit for the Lions, but with Barnes back in the fold, there’s not an immediate clean role for him in the Lions scheme at this time.
Defensive backs
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Source: Josh Edwards (CBS Sports)
“Carlton Davis is slated to hit free agency. Detroit could simply bring back Darius Slay, but some of the familiar faces in that organization have moved on. The Lions elect to move forward with a young room that features Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw and now Maxwell Hairston.” — Edwards
Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Source: Lance Zierlein (NFL.com)
“Detroit could go in a few directions here, but improving the back end with a long, physical, press-man cornerback might be the top priority.” — Zierlein
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Source: Mike Nicastro (Behind the Steel Curtain)
“Morrison’s stock has slipped after suffering a torn labrum and missing six games for the Fighting Irish. But he has the chance to be an elite corner in the league.” — Nicastro
Erik’s Thoughts:
After drafting corners in the first and second rounds of last year’s draft, it would be a bit surprising to see the Lions draft another in the first this season. While adding an outside corner could end up being a need when the Lions enter the draft, it seems more likely that they try to add a veteran in free agency to pair with their youth, then add more secondary depth later in the draft.