As teams get better, the number of available starting roles diminishes. The 2021 Detroit Lions, kickstarting a rebuild, had to rely on players from Day 3 to fill their roster vacancies. However, as the Lions have turned things around, those starting opportunities have disappeared for many rookies. In 2024, the Lions’ only immediate starter was cornerback Terrion Arnold. Could 2025 be a similar situation?
The Lions walked away from the 2025 NFL Draft with seven new faces. How many of them are in line to potentially start come Week 1 of the regular season?
Today’s Question of the Day is:
How many immediate starters did the Detroit Lions draft in 2025?
My answer: One, Tate Ratledge.
I was waffling between one and zero, but I’m having a tough time envisioning a starting lineup without Ratledge slotted in at guard.
The guard competition between him, Christian Mahogany, Graham Glasgow, and fellow rookie Miles Frazier could come down to the wire, and that is not even factoring in dark horses like Kayode Awosika and Netane Muti. That being said, Ratledge is such a perfect fit at right guard between Frank Ragnow and Penei Sewell: he is an athletic dirtbag that can absolutely maul in the trenches. You never want to crown a rookie right away, but it’s hard not to get excited about him. I really think the right guard spot is his to lose, with Mahogany and Glasgow battling it out at left guard.
Of the remaining Lions draft picks, I do not see any Day 1 starters. Nose tackle Tyleik Williams could have an opportunity if Alim McNeill starts the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but I do not believe he would get the starting nod ahead of DJ Reader or Levi Onwuzurike at defensive tackle. He could see some sizeable snaps early, but I doubt he will be an official starter right off the bat.
Elsewhere, receiver Isaac TeSlaa will be a developmental piece behind Tim Patrick (or perhaps as a new-look big slot role)—he only enters the starting conversation if there is a string of injuries ahead of him. Frazier, the other rookie offensive lineman, figures to be a valued depth piece, though he also has a non-zero shot as starting. Ahmed Hassanein will be a rotational edge, while safety Dan Jackson will likely be a special teams-first player to start his career.
Ironically, a rookie with a decent shot at starting is receiver Dominic Lovett. However, that starting role would not be on offense, but special teams. Khalil Dorsey is an ace gunner, but following the departure of Kindle Vildor in free agency, the Lions have an opening for another. Many scouts have raved about Lovett’s skill as a gunner, and he could very well earn himself a roster spot purely based on special teams.
The 2025 NFL Draft is finished and we are quickly approaching training camp. How many immediate starters do you think the Lions acquired in the draft? Let us know in the comments below.
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