A lack of depth prevented the Detroit Lions from overcoming an abundance of injuries to conclude their 2024 campaign. A now-annual contender finding themselves in Super Bowl or bust territory, the No. 1 seed Lions were disappointingly eliminated from the postseason by the underdog Washington Commanders in the divisional round.
The Lions own the No. 28 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. With new coordinators on both offense and defense, the Lions must maximize their eight scheduled selections to both capture continuity and improve their back-end depth. We’ve conducted a seven-round mock draft that achieves that.
Round 1 (No. 28 overall): Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
The need for an EDGE opposite Aidan Hutchinson is obvious as the Lions' pass rush struggled following his season-ending injury. Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes tend to prefer bigger-body types at the position. Princely Umanmielen checks a lot of boxes, weighing in at a sturdy 265 pounds at the Senior Bowl. Umanmielen is an explosive pass rusher with first-step quickness who totaled a career-high 10.5 this past season.
Round 2 (No. 60 overall): Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
Starting guard Kevin Zeitler is scheduled for free agency, and his running mate Graham Glasgow struggled in 2024. Maintaining a top-tier offensive line could have the guard position as one of Holmes’ two biggest priorities this offseason. Tyler Booker is a phone-booth guard who fits Campbell’s preferred style of play.
Round 3 (No. 101 overall): Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State
Like EDGE, the interior defensive line was also hampered by injury. Alim McNeill is recovering from a serious season-ending injury this offseason. Elsewhere, Levi Onwuzurike is a free agent and DJ Reader will be entering a contract year in 2025. Florida State's Joshua Farmer was impressive at the Senior Bowl, showcasing explosion and raw strength at 314 pounds.
Round 4 (No. 132 overall): Tai Felton, WR, Maryland
Tim Patrick is a free agent and was a starter in three-receiver sets alongside Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown. If he needs replacing, the Lions will prefer a bigger boundary prospect who complements their two dynamic starters. Tai Felton projects as an outside receiver. Felton is a little wiry, but he's twitchy at 6-foot and 186 pounds.
Round 6 (No. 198 overall): Mac McWilliams, CB, UCF
Carlton Davis is a free agent and the Lions couldn't stop Washington's passing attack in the playoffs. Mac McWilliams was one of the big winners at the Senior Bowl, establishing himself as draftable. McWilliams is a man-cover corner with terrific instincts.
Round 7 (No. 227 overall): Jalen McLeod, LB, Auburn
Three linebackers project as free agents, including Derrick Barnes. The Lions will draft a developmental talent here. Jalen McLeod played both off-ball linebacker and EDGE throughout his college football career. McLeod projects to play inside at the next level, but he's versatile enough to play a diverse attacking role in Campbell's aggressive front seven.
Round 7 (No. 230 overall): Jonah Monheim, IOL, USC
A need for interior depth could force Campbell to draft two guards/centers. Jonah Monheim struggled in Mobile, but he's still worth a flier late. Monheim possesses multi-positional usefulness, a trait Holmes will appreciate as he prepares to retool the inside of his offensive line.
Round 7 (No. 246 overall): Jay Toia, IDL, UCLA
Campbell appreciates having a nose tackle for occasional run-stopping downs. Jay Toia tipped the scales at 339 pounds at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Toia consistently gains backfield penetration via quickness and first-step explosiveness.
