A dive deep into everything you should know about Detroit Lions 7th-round pick, WR Dominic Lovett.

 

We’ve come to the end of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 draft class when it comes to our “5 things to know” series. Before we get into Lions seventh-round pick Dominic Lovett, make sure you catch up on the series below.

 

 

 

Here are five things to know about Lovett.

 

He’s really dang fast

Without a doubt, Lovett’s defining feature is his speed, which he utilized early and often in college. At the NFL Combine, Lovett ran a 4.40 40-yard dash, which ranked 11th among the wide receiver group.

 

College made him Georgia Tough

You don’t often think about a 5-foot-10, 185 pound player who wins with speed as someone who is particularly tough or physical, but Georgia coach Kirby Smart made sure that Lovett built some physicality in his game for his final year in 2024.

 

“Kirby’s kind of old-school,” Lovett said at the NFL Combine. “He likes the tough guys. He likes the smash-mouth football. He wants the guys that are going to block when they don’t got the ball. He wants the guys that are going to go out there and dig out a safety. He wants guys that will be on special teams. He wants guys that will play complete football, and not just be like a one-position guy. He wants you to be able to be all over the field and just be a tough football player, really. Biggest thing is he likes toughness and grit.”

 

Georgia has a weekly practice they call “Bloody Tuesday,” which emphasizes physicality and intensity, and many former Bulldogs—including Lovett—credit those practices for making them NFL-ready.

 

“I can play bigger than what I am,” Lovett said. “Even though I’m 5-10, a smaller guy, you can still put me on the outside, put me on a big-box fade, and I just play bigger than what I am. My attitude and my heart is all.”

 

That’s clearly something that Lions general manager Brad Holmes picked up on.

 

“(He’s) been mostly a slot and he can do some gadget things, but he’s got some toughness about him when he’s got the ball in his hands that we really, really like,” Holmes said Saturday night.

 

He credits Ennis Rakestraw for helping develop his game

Before he transferred to Georgia, Lovett played two years of ball at Missouri, where he overlapped with current Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw. The two would often go head-to-head in practice, and Lovett says Rakestraw’s work ethic after practice helped him become a better player.

 

“We had great battles, one-on-ones. There were days he got the best of me and there were days that I got the best of him,” Lovett said. “But every day after practice, he would stay with me and help me with something on how I can beat a defender and what a defender doesn’t like. And vice versa, I would also give him tips as well. So, I really want to give a big shout-out to Ennis. I just want to let you know that you helped me a lot along the way, even when I was at Missouri. Even when I was at Georgia, I could still call him and get tips.”

 

He “fell in love” with special teams at Georgia—and dominated as a gunner

“I didn’t really play special teams until I got to Georgia,” Lovett said at the combine. “But when I got to Georgia, I fell in love with specials teams. Me and Arian (Smith) kinda took that gunner role under—basically that’s who we was. We only allowed like 23 yards on (punt) special team, gunner-wise, over two years. So we take pride in special teams.”

 

It’s hard to know how Lovett came up with that stat, but it’s worth pointing out that according to the NCAA’s official website, the Bulldogs allowed just 57 punt return yards in 2024 (18th in country) and 0 punt return yards in 2023. (Yes, zero).

 

“Special teams is another opportunity for you to grow your value as a football player and get on the field,” Lovett continued. “It’s just another way to get on the field. I just like being on the field.”

 

What may be interesting to watch is whether Lovett can get involved in the returner game in Detroit. He didn’t do it in college, but Holmes mentioned it as a possibility.

 

“His upside on specials teams as a gunner, as a vice, really a four-core guy, and there may be some return stuff that’s untapped with him as well,” Holmes said.

 

He had a defining leadership moment

While Lovett was never a captain at Missouri or Georgia, he was, by all accounts, a very good teammate. In my research of him, this moment stood out among all the rest.

 

Back in October, Georgia defeated then-No. 1 Texas in a resilient, 30-15 victory. Even after jumping out to a 23-0 lead, Georgia’s offense struggled behind three interceptions from quarterback Carson Beck. After Beck’s third interception—which led to a 23-15 ballgame late in the third quarter—cameras caught Lovett trying to keep spirits high among his teammates by literally keeping their heads up.

 

The very next drive, the Bulldogs offense went 89 yards in 11 plays to essentially put the game away and get the big upset on the road.

 

Taking a closer look at the Lions 2025 draft class and how they fit into the Grit Index.

 

The Detroit Lions acquired seven new players in the 2025 NFL Draft, bringing in another batch of youth to help strengthen the roster. Some players will immediately challenge for starting roles, while others will compete for situational/reserve roles or roster spots in general, but each of them fits the Lions organization in their own way.

 

This offseason, we introduced the third evolution of the Grit Index with the hope of being able to contextualize what “Grit” is by aggregating data from NFL Draft analysts, while also acknowledging that the system is based on imperfect and incomplete information.

 

So, let’s take a look at how the Lions’ seven draft picks scored in the 2025 Grit Index, discuss their tier, and explore if there was anything the current system missed.

 

Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State: 42.79 (Tier 5)

Reflecting back on Williams’ pre-draft information, we identified tallies for his intelligence and toughness, but most reports didn’t delve deep into his character. In his post-round one press conference, Lions general manager Brad Holmes echoed those two traits while also adding in specific phrases like instincts and versatility.

 

“I remember his interview at the Combine – he really knocked it out the park with his intelligence and how much he knew about the game,” Holmes said.

 

One of the things we discussed in our lead-up to the draft was that with all the data collected, we saw some potential flaws in our system regarding a few specific position groups—most notably at nose tackle, which is where Williams is expected to play for most of his NFL career. For example, the average Grit score for a nose tackle was 53.83, and only three nose tackles in the entire draft class reached Tier 3 in this year’s Grit Index.

 

It’s also possible we were too harsh on Williams in a few areas. When we went back to reexamine his score, we identified a few phrases that used softer language. For example: “always in pursuit mode” is softer than the more common “relentless motor.” But even if we had identified those phrases and included them, Williams would have only moved from Tier 5 up to Tier 4.

 

At the same time, it’s also possible Williams doesn’t score highly in some of the areas that we’ve targeted. And based on his overall demeanor, a Tier 5 (or 4) is likely an entirely accurate score.

 

“He’s a good kid, he’s mild-mannered,” Holmes continued. “He doesn’t say a lot, he’s more about his business, but he fits right in not only from the physical qualities, but he’s going to fit in with the other standards that we have around here.”

 

Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia: 86.3 (Tier 1, 3rd overall)

Ratledge is the primary example of proof of concept for our Grit index. Not only was he one of just 16 players to achieve Tier 1 status, but Ratledge had the third-highest overall score, regardless of position. Here’s an excerpt from our write-up:

 

Ratledge—who describes himself as a “dirtbag” on the field—would be a fun player to pair with Christian Mahogany, who Lions general manager Brad Holmes called a dirtbag in his opening press conference.

 

ESPN’s Matt Bowen had this to say about the Georgia right guard’s demeanor: “Ratledge plays angry up front, with a tenacious demeanor displayed on the tape. He’s a culture-setter who could add an old-school feel to an offensive line room.”

 

Ratledge scored highest on the Grit index in toughness, passion for the game, and leadership while also getting points for his work ethic and dedication. In his post-Day 2 presser, Holmes once again brought up the concept of “versatility” when discussing Ratledge.

 

“Played through some serious toughness, played through some injury stuff, came back, has played at the top level for a long time,” Holmes said.

“I don’t think enough can be said about that level of football that he’s played in. Tough kid. Great locker room guy. I think you guys are going to enjoy getting to know him. But he’s got a little bit more versatility. He rose more as the process went along because of his versatility that we were able to find out a little bit more about. I thought that he would fit in just like a glove here.”

 

Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas: 77.36 (Tier 2, 32nd overall)

TeSlaa was another home run selection for the Grit Index, as he was not only ranked high overall, but he had the second-highest score amongst all wide receivers. He scored highest in our “passion for the game” category but also earned marks for his work ethic, toughness, and dedication.

 

As a no-star recruit in high school, TeSlaa initially attended Hillsdale College, and in 2022, he played through a broken hand while securing 68 catches for 1,325 yards. Arkansas recognized that toughness, and it earned him the right to level up in competition.

That work ethic stayed with him as he climbed his way up the depth chart and contributed on special teams—something he continued to do even after earning a starting role. The intangibles TeSlaa collected and displayed over his college career showed up during the draft process and helped him get noticed by Holmes.

 

“He was just being a pest (at the Senior Bowl), and he was just pissing off the DBs and defenders,” Holmes said. “And obviously, it just made me want to completely watch the tape, and you see a guy that’s just big, long, smooth strider, can accelerate, can run. He’s a hands catcher, can play special teams, can block, so (he) can do a lot of things. We’re really excited.”

 

While TeSlaa still has some skills to develop to be a starter-level NFL wide receiver, Holmes believes the work ethic and intangible traits TeSlaa has displayed will help him overcome the obstacles in front of him.

 

“He’s got the tools to play outside and win outside,” Holmes continued. “He’s going to have to learn getting off press and all that stuff, just like they all do, but he’s got all the physical tools, and he’s got the intangible makeup to be able to overcome that.”

 

 

When reflecting on our Grit Index notes for Frazier, like with Williams, there were a few spots where he was probably not given enough credit based on softer language being used.

 

The first example comes from Brandon Thorne’s profile of Frazier at Bleacher Report, where he mentions Frazier has the “strength to grind down the bull-rush and penetrators from stunts,” which was not included but maybe should have been. Additionally, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler notes that Frazier “can be a bully when he wants,” which was also excluded because it suggests it happens situationally. But even if we added fringe terms like this, he might have gone up one level (to Tier 3) but probably not any further—similarly to what we saw with Williams.

 

However, the most challenging obstacle when attempting to identify Frazier’s grit level is the lack of information available. Not only did most pre-draft profiles of Frazier focus solely on gameplay, but those that did include character traits were limited or passive. Even Holmes, who spends time talking about each draft pick, never really addressed Frazier’s intangibles.

 

What we do know is that Frazier earned positive scores for passion, dedication, and toughness, along with the occasional great quote that leaves us encouraged that there’s more to his character than what was published this offseason.

 

“(Frazier) had an extra edge. You could see he was different,” Arkansas defensive lineman Eric Gregory said via The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.

 

Ahmed Hassanein, EDGE, Boise State: 79.35 (Tier 2, 19th overall)

Checking in as a Tier 2 player and just .65 away from breaking the Tier 1 threshold, Hassanein was player No. 19 overall on the Grit Index and another quintessential Holmes draft pick. Passion, work ethic, and football character were off the charts for Hassanein, who has an incredible back story detailing his path to the NFL.

 

“He’s going to do everything he can, and he’s going to try to make sure that he’s going to maximize every single thing that he’s got in his body,” Holmes said. “He’s going to be very, very coachable; the kid would probably sleep in this facility if he could. That’s kind of what his makeup is, and he just brings a lot of energy. I mean, you saw it at the Combine. He’s a nonstop kid, so his motor reflects what his personality is, and as you guys know, it’s going to fit right in here.”

 

While Hassanein’s Grit score is impressive, there were a couple of things that held him back from landing near the top of the class. His lack of experience certainly limited him. Even more significant was that the design of our index focused solely on written material that could be aggregated and did not include any input from me or Anthony (who co-created the index). This may have been a mistake as it prevented us from including moments (like from the Combine) that illustrate his passion and intensity:

 

The addition of this note probably would have been enough to push Hassanein into Tier 1—which is probably where he belongs—and is something we plan to adjust for next year’s index.

 

 

Passion, work ethic, and toughness are at the core of everything Jackson does. He is highly regarded by coaches and teammates at Georgia, where they routinely rave about his commitment to the team, football intelligence, and leadership, all of which led to a Tier 2 ranking.

 

Like TeSlaa, Jackson was a zero-star recruit, but instead of taking a developmental path through a smaller school, he elected to walk on to Georgia (his dream school) and work his way up the depth chart from there. Jackson’s intangibles would help him go on to win a job on special teams, earn a starting role, and be named captain in 2024.

 

“We’ve always had a liking for Dan Jackson just in terms of being a heady safety and who’s gotten his hands on the football,” Holmes said “And a lot of it is above the neck, but he’s faster than what a lot of people think. He’s been at the Senior Bowl, so he put together a nice little year.”

 

 

Lovett’s willingness to compete on special teams—most notably as an NFL starter-level gunner—gets him into Tier 4, but there was very little written about his grit character beyond that.

 

“Dominic Lovett, obviously, he’s another one that I’ve been a fan of his for a long time, we all have,” Holmes said. “And one thing about him is that, yes, he has speed, he can do a lot of stuff from the slot, but he’s a really good special teams player, so we’re fired up to get him.”

 

 

While the Lions opened the draft with a player with a “mild-mannered” player who is a perfect scheme fit, four of the remaining six players they drafted were all Tier 1 or 2 players and all in the top 41 “gritty” prospects in this draft class.

 

While the Lions targeted many of the traits we’ve identified on the Grit Index, overall, they appear to be looking for gritty players who are intelligent, instinctual, versatile, and adaptable to coaching—which will help guide us for future evolutions of the Grit Index.

 

Breaking down the 2025 Detroit Lions roster, biggest position battles ahead, and assessing the team’s depth at each position.

 

With the 2025 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, most of the Detroit Lions’ roster acquisition is done. There will still likely be a signing or two before training camp, but what you see with the Lions 2025 depth chart is pretty much what you’re going to get this season.

 

So on this week’s episode of the PODcast, we’re taking inventory of the entire roster. Where are the Lions the strongest? Where are they the most vulnerable? Where are they set up for the future? And where do they still need to ensure they find long-term solutions?

 

Plus, we dip our toe into the spots on the 53-man roster that are still up for grabs. While the core of this team is stronger and deeper than ever, there are still those roles—like TE3, OL10, WR6, S3—that will be won and lost in training camp. And there are even a few starting positions (see: guard) that will be determined in the upcoming months.

 

Overall, the exercise is to assess each position, but to also underline that this Lions roster is robust. Yes, it’s not perfect—no roster is. But in terms of the amount of blue-chip players, quality depth, and shrinking amount of needs from 1 to 53, the Lions are in a pretty darn good spot.

 

You can listen to our entire assessment of the Lions roster in the embedded player below or on any of your favorite podcasting platforms.

 

If you’d rather watch the PODcast—with plenty of in-between segments bonus content, you can check out this week’s show on YouTube or Twitch.

 

A look at eight free agents the Detroit Lions may be interested in after the 2025 NFL Draft.

 

Halfway through the 2025 NFL Draft, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes reminded the media that the player acquisition phase does not end with the draft.

 

“We’ll keep looking. I mean, we’ll turn over every stone. There are other avenues in the player acquisition process, so it doesn’t stop at the draft,” Holmes said.

 

Though the Lions are at their maximum of 90 rostered players right now, they will undoubtedly be looking for every opportunity to improve their roster from top to bottom. So here are eight free agents the Lions should consider adding now that the draft is over.

 

I am centering my focus on what I believe the Lions’ only two real remaining needs: edge defender and safety.

 

EDGE Za’Darius Smith

Let’s just get this one out of the way. According to Lions general manager Brad Holmes, the ball is in Smith’s and his agent’s court. Smith produced 4.0 sacks and 40 pressures in eight games with the Lions last year. Detroit clearly has a price limit on Smith after cutting him earlier this offseason—saving them $11 million over two years—but it’s unclear where Smith’s priorities currently lie.

 

EDGE DeMarcus Walker

The Lions hosted Walker for a free agency visit back in April. Walker brings some inside/outside versatility along the defensive line. And while he only has 7.0 sacks in the past two seasons (as a starter with the Bears), his size (6-foot-4, 280) and violence make him an above-average run defender.

 

EDGE Von Miller

I find it pretty hard to believe the Lions would be interested in Miller at this stage in his career (36 years old). But if they just wanted a situational pass rusher, Miller did produce 40 pressures and 6.0 sacks in just 332 snaps over 13 games (about 25 snaps per game).

 

EDGE Matthew Judon

Judon struggled last year with the Falcons but had a strong career with the Ravens and Patriots. In his best season—2022—he produced 15.5 sacks, 69 pressures, and even an above-average PFF run defense grade (67.0). Judon will be 33 before the season starts, though.

 

S Marcus Williams

I believe the Lions could use a veteran in the safety room, not just to provide much-needed experience behind their two starters but also to help get rookie Dan Jackson up to speed.

 

Williams has five years of experience in this defense from his days with the Saints—four of which directly overlapped with Dan Campbell’s time in New Orleans. The biggest downside here is that Williams may be seeking a starting role and hasn’t regularly played on special teams since 2018.

 

S Justin Simmons

Simmons may be in the same boat as Williams—seeking an opportunity to start. He’s just a year removed from a Pro Bowl season, but he’s a physical run defender who has plenty of ball skills, too (21 interceptions in the last five seasons). Last year, he signed a one-year, $7.5 million, fully guaranteed deal, so he’d likely only cost slightly less than that—probably too much for a backup role.

 

S Rayshawn Jenkins

Jenkins may be a more realistic target. Though he was a full-time starter since 2019, his last year with the Seahawks, he accepted a more situational role after being overtaken by Coby Bryant.

 

Jenkins, too, is a physical run defender who is probably more fit to be a box safety than single-high, but he has plenty of experience and has played a decent amount of special teams his entire career.

 

S Marcus Maye

Maye has two years of experience in the Saints defense (2022-23), so there is some schematic overlap even though he wasn’t in New Orleans when Campbell was. At 32 years old, Maye has struggled with injuries for much of his career, but he played in 15 games last year—starting four.

He played over 100 special teams snaps last year. It’s worth noting back in 2023, he was suspended for three games as a result of a DUI incident in 2021 and was arrested for aggravated assault in a road rage incident in 2022, but the charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence.

 

Breaking down Lions’ first round pick Tyleik Williams’ tape from his 2024 season at Ohio State University.

 

First up in our film review of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 draft class is a first-round pick and defensive tackle out of Ohio State, Tyleik Williams. If you are looking for a video to go along with this written film study, be sure to check out our work over on the Pride of Detroit YouTube channel.

 

After spending the last several days watching Williams’ All-22 tape from 2024, I am really excited to see what he can do in Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s defense. Despite pushing 330 pounds, Williams is very much an athlete on the defensive line. He played football and basketball throughout his childhood and set his Virginia high school’s record in the shot put. If this sounds familiar, Lions’ star defensive tackle Alim McNeill was also a multi-sport star back in his home state of North Carolina.

 

Having started 25 games for the Buckeyes over the last two seasons, Williams faced a strong level of competition during his college career, making it easier to see what should translate to the professional level. Let’s jump into the All-22 and take a look at how Williams impacted games in 2024.

 

Smart and dominant run-defender

When you turn on Williams’ 2024 tape, you see a player who has seen the game slow down for him in terms of how he processes things mentally, and typically that isn’t something often said about interior defensive linemen.

 

On top of what he picks up pre-snap, his ability to stack blockers, extend his arms, and find the ball carrier is elite. You rarely catch him staring at a blocker while working, and instead his eyes are consistently where they need to be, allowing him to make more impact plays at or behind the line of scrimmage.

 

Below, we have a clip from his game against Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal round. Third-and-4 on their own side of the 50 and he helps make a big stop for his defense.

 

 

Up next is a rep where Williams stacks and sheds the right guard before working down the line of scrimmage to help make the stop.

 

Another theme you quickly pick up from Williams’ tape is his ability to violently defeat blocks while simultaneously keeping his eyes on the ball carrier. Watch below as he discards Texas’ center before making the play on the running back.

 

 

Next up, we have another example of Williams having strong play recognition. Watch as he takes a few steps down towards the center out of his stance in an effort to squeeze that gap. While doing so, he is able to peek around the right shoulder of the guard (#76) blocking him.

 

In an instant, Williams uses his strength to turn the guard’s hips and, in doing so, is able to spill the run towards the right for a 1-yard gain. The rookie should be one of many Lions defensive linemen that the linebackers will enjoy playing behind.

 

In our last clip of this section, Williams throws Kelvin Banks Jr (who just went ninth overall to the New Orleans Saints) out the club before taking a good angle to help string out the ball carrier toward the boundary.

 

 

Pass-rushing juice and potential

In our first clip of this section, Williams begins lined up on the guard’s outside shoulder in the three-technique. Ohio State runs a game where the end loops back around both Williams and defensive end Jack Sawyer (#33), allowing Williams to work one-on-one against the center (#65).

 

Williams is able to instantly reset the center’s initial punch, allowing him to open up the right shoulder of the blocker. In doing so, he opens up a straight line to the quarterback, Quinn Ewers. Ewers is able to hit the bottom of his dropback, but at that point, Williams had already collapsed the pocket, forcing the ball out in a hurry.

 

Next up, we have another example of Williams being efficient with his hands while also understanding his opponent’s tendencies. And while it isn’t a pass-rush rep, I wanted to include it here because of how quickly he won in this particular instance.

 

This is the kind of rep that can change a series, or sometimes—the entire game. If the Lions are able to generate more interior pressure in 2025 on top of getting star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson back, it could lead to some really big things for the defense as a whole.

 

 

Lastly, we have another quick win for Williams, this time with a powerful bull rush on third down. Once again, his power quickly overwhelms the center for Texas. Watch as Williams is able to extend his left arm after knocking him backward out of his stance, which in turn opens up the left shoulder of the offensive lineman. Ewers is still able to get this pass off, but it appears to be a tick early in terms of timing and ends up falling incomplete.

 

 

The Detroit Lions revamped their roster this offseason with seven new selections in the 2025 NFL draft including Tyleik Williams of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Tate Ratledge of the Georgia Bulldogs.

 

The Lions’ draft coup has been lauded by fans across the nation as coach Dan Campbell’s team prepares to defend its back-to-back NFC North Division crowns this fall.

 

This weekend, a Lions post-draft signee was given the spotlight treatment by Michigan native and former New York Yankees superstar Derek Jeter, who offered words of encouragement for the former high school prodigy.

 

Ohio Bobcats RB Anthony Tyus III hurdles a defender.

Anthony Tyus III hurdles a Jacksonville State Gamecocks defender at Camping World Stadium on December 20, 2025.

 

“Big congrats to Kalamazoo @JetersLeaders alum Anthony Tyus III, who’s heading to the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent!” Jeter wrote on Facebook.

 

“Since graduating high school in 2021, he’s played for the Northwestern Wildcats and joined the Ohio Bobcats prior to the 2024 season, where he broke records.

 

“Following his junior campaign, he even earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition.

 

“#Turn2 (Derek Jeter’s Foundation) couldn’t be prouder of Anthony’s resilience and leadership, and will be cheering him on in this next step of his football journey.”

 

Tyus III stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 215 pounds.

 

He will join a crowded Lions backfield that includes Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery this fall in the Motor City.

 

Tyus III had 1,215 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns along with 16 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns with the Bobcats in Athens, Ohio last season.

 

 

 

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes says he doesn’t draft for need.

 

“I think you can get in trouble chasing these sometimes and then you’re dependent on a rookie,” Holmes said prior to the 2025 NFL Draft and countless times before that.

 

Yet when you look at the Lions’ draft class this year, it covered many of the team’s long-term needs. Whether by coincidence or intention, the Lions got their interior defender of the future, a pair of guards to contend for open starting spots, their potential long-term X-receiver, they safety depth they needed, and, yes, even a developmental edge defender who could grow into a significant contributor.

 

If you take a look at the Lions’ current depth chart, it’s looking pretty darn good.

 

 

Today’s Question of the Day is:

 

What is the Lions’ biggest post-draft need?

My answer: Despite the addition of Dan Jackson in the seventh round, I still think this team could use more trusted depth behind their safeties. If Kerby Joseph or Brian Branch suffered an injury, the Lions would be forced to start either Morice Norris, Loren Strickland, Erick Hallett, or Jackson. Those players have a collective one defensive snap at the NFL level.

 

There is one other player to consider at the position, and that is veteran nickel cornerback Avonte Maddox. He has seen a fair share of time at safety, but struggled to find a long-term role there in Philly. The Lions’ actions in the draft tell me he’s likely to get some action at safety during the preseason, and Holmes even mentioned his potential at that position.

 

“We’re excited to get a guy like Maddox, a veteran that’s got versatility,” Holmes said at the owners meetings. “He can compete, obviously, he can play nickel, but he’s got some safety versatility as well that we’re excited about, and he can play on special teams as well.”

 

Still, it feels like the Lions would be best served to add another veteran to that room, and there are still some options available out there in free agency, including Marcus Williams (who has plenty of familiarity with Detroit’s defense from his Saints days), Justin Simmons, and Quandre Diggs (who is admittedly coming off a Lisfranc injury).

 

I know many are going to say edge defender, and there’s certainly plenty of room to grow in that room, but in my opinion, it’s not as pressing as safety. If Marcus Davenport does indeed go down with injury, the Lions do have some experienced bodies at that position, be it Josh Paschal, Al-Quadin Muhammad, or Levi Onwuzurike. I do think they should still add more competition to that room, but I just think safety is a little more pressing.

 

What do you think? Scroll down to the comment section and sound off!

 

Beefing up the interior: While Tyleik Williams doesn’t win as a pass rusher consistently, he fits the Lions’ need for pocket pushers from the interior to let Aidan Hutchinson clean up on the edge.

A much-needed edge presence on Day 3: Despite being a bit of a raw talent, Ahmed Hassanein brings effort and physicality at the point of attack, which will lead to him being a favorite of Lions coaches, even though he lacks elite athletic traits.

Final chance to claim 25% off PFF+: Use code DRAFT25 and unlock access to player grades, fantasy tools and the 2025 Draft Guide.

 

 

 

Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes value their type of player over all other evaluation, which is emblematic of this draft class. Despite perceived reaches on Days 1 & 2, the Lions added quality talent throughout the process, and gained value on Day 3. Ultimately resulting in positive marks in PFF’s draft grades.

 

A powerful run-stuffing defensive tackle in Round 1: The Lions were inevitably going to draft a defensive lineman, and they didn’t disappoint with a run-stuffing tackle. Tyleik Williams’ 88.6 PFF run-defense grade was one of the best of the class, as was his 7.8% run-stop rate. While he doesn’t win as a pass rusher consistently, he fits the Lions’ need for pocket pushers from the interior to let Aidan Hutchinson clean up on the edge.

 

A perfect fit at guard in Round 2: The Lions beefed up their already stellar offensive line with three-year Georgia starter Tate Ratledge. He fits Detroit’s style as a powerful downhill blocker who also shows good, light feet in pass protection. Ratledge allowed just two sacks over three years and gave up only seven total pressures in his senior season. His 77.3 PFF pass-blocking grade ranked above the 70th percentile nationally.

 

 

 

TeSlaa began his college career at the Division II level before making the leap to the SEC. While his production didn’t pop against top-tier competition, his size, explosiveness and sure hands give him a starting-caliber ceiling as a big slot or X option with developmental upside as a downfield threat, after having generated a 141.9 quarterback rating when targeted.

 

Brad Holmes has been quoted as saying TeSlaa was his “favorite receiver in this draft,” which prompted the trade-up to select him in the third round. While the trade didn’t project as a solid value for the Lions, the investment will likely mean TeSlaa will see the field early.

 

Position/role battle to watch: ED Ahmed Hassanein vs. ED Josh Paschal

 

When the Lions selected Paschal in the second round in 2022, the expectation was that he would bring solid acumen as a run defender while he further developed as a pass rusher. Three years later, Paschal has failed to eclipse a 59.0 PFF overall grade in any season.

 

Needless to say, that won’t cut it for a contender looking for more up front. Despite being a bit of a raw talent, Hassanein brings effort and physicality at the point of attack, which will lead to him being a favorite of Lions coaches, even though he lacks elite athletic traits. His 76.0-plus PFF grades as both a run defender and pass rusher will help him find his way into the Lions’ rotation.

 

Our staff makes their pick for the most valuable selection made in the Detroit Lions’ 2025 NFL Draft.

 

The Detroit Lions’ 2025 draft wasn’t really about value. Detroit was aggressive in grabbing three top-70 players, trading up twice with negative trade value. No one will care if the players they grabbed hit, but by some metrics Detroit’s picks quite literally had the lowest value in the league.

 

Regardless, that wasn’t necessarily true for all of the Lions’ seven picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. So in the latest edition of our draft recap roundtable, our staff made their picks for the most valuable selection made over the weekend.

 

Previous roundtables:

 

What was the Lions’ best value pick of the 2025 class?

Erik Schlitt: Miles Frazier

 

Most draft analysts viewed Frazier as having third-round value—Daniel Jeremiah even ranked him No. 61 on his final draft board—so for the Lions to land him with pick No. 171 looks like massive value. Frazier may end up being OG4 on this roster, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he starts a game or two when injuries occur.

 

Al Karsten: Miles Frazier

 

Frazier already brings the size, demeanor, and punch that offensive line coach Hank Fraley covets, and his pass protection chops should let him hit the ground running. Fraley can clean up the technical stuff—but Frazier had no business falling this far. Picks like this are a reminder that Brad Holmes might be an evil genius operating at the expense of the rest of the league.

 

Brandon Knapp: Miles Frazier

 

While I wasn’t initially excited about the pick, due to the team already taking Tate Rutledge, the fact that they got a top-100 player in Frazier in the fifth round (and for a very fair trade up) is amazing. Frazier can be a future starter, too.

 

Max Gerber: Miles Frazier

 

Miles Frazier was one of my favorite guards in this draft class, and I was shocked to see him fall to the end of the fifth round when many analysts had him going in the third or fourth. Detroit landed a starting-caliber player with NFL-ready size and intangibles in a spot where most teams wouldn’t. They obviously knew he was a great value pick as well, since they traded a sixth and seventh-round pick to move up and take him.

 

John Whiticar: Miles Frazier

 

Had the Lions not selected Tate Ratledge, I would have viewed this pick as the Lions getting a starting guard in the fifth round—an absolute steal.

With Ratledge competing with Christian Mahogany and Graham Glasgow, I think Frazier has a difficult (but not impossible) path to the starting lineup, but even if he is a mere backup, he projects as an elite one. I would have been fine with Frazier in the third round, so securing additional offensive line insurance later in the draft is fantastic. If he can become comfortable at center and tackle during training camp, even better—he would be a depth piece at every position.

 

Hamza Baccouche: Miles Frazier

 

Miles Frazier by a wide margin. He has a ton of potential and getting him in the fifth round felt like a steal. He has a very similar resume to Ratledge as a three-year starter in the SEC, and Frazier has shown positional versatility with the ability to play any position that’s not center.

 

Ryan Mathews: Miles Frazier

 

Detroit was able to get quite the value when they selected Frazier, the sixth-best guard in the class according to the consensus draft board, with pick No. 171. Even though the Lions had already drafted guard Tate Ratledge earlier with pick No. 57, some great value in and of itself, that didn’t stop Holmes from trading up again for Frazier, a guard who checks all the boxes for Detroit: athleticism (9.30 RAS), dependability (played in every game over his last four seasons), and a mean streak.

 

Morgan Cannon: Miles Frazier

 

To draft a player like Miles Frazier at pick 171 is incredible value, and is hopefully yet another late-round steal for Lions’ general manager Brad Holmes. Frazier has three productive years under his belt at LSU, and should offer some positional versatility for offensive line coach Hank Fraley.

 

Jeremy Reisman: Ahmed Hassanein

 

Frazier is the lay-up answer based on media notions before the draft, but if we’re going to dismiss the “reaches” made by Holmes, then “steals” hold the same insignificant value. I like Frazier, but he has a tough route for any meaningful snaps early in his career. Hassanein, picked a round later, could be part of the defensive line rotation on Day 1, and with his passion, energy, and growing knowledge of the game, he has a ton of untapped potential. That’s everything you want in a sixth-round pick.

 

Poll

What was the Lions’ best value pick?

Pick 28 – Tyleik Williams

Pick 57 – Tate Ratledge

Pick 70 – Isaac TeSlaa

Pick 171 – Miles Frazier

Pick 196 – Ahmed Hassanein

Pick 230 – Dan Jackson

Pick 244 – Dominic Lovett