Detroit Lions mock draft 2025: We rounded up 52 expert predictions on who they'll pick

[ASFN Admin]

The Detroit Lions aren't on the clock yet, but that hasn't stopped experts from weighing in.

The Lions have the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, which will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin from April 24 through April 26.

Lions GM Brad Holmes has already created a reputation as an elite drafter, and NFL experts will be waiting to see what talent he can add to his team's roster. Many believe Holmes will focus on adding players to the defensive unit, as the Lions suffered from many injuries to defenders down the stretch in 2024.

NFL mock draft 5.0: Detroit Lions stick with pass rusher at No. 28

Many draft analysts believe the Lions will take an edge rusher or a defensive end to compliment star Aidan Hutchinson, who led the team with 7½ sacks in 2024 despite only playing in five games. Others believe the Lions will take a cornerback to further strengthen a steadily improving secondary. And if the Lions choose to acquire help on the offensive side, they might choose to draft more size for the offensive line.

Draft analysts have a lot of differing ideas about what the Lions will do with their pick, and their opinions have greatly evolved over time. Here's a list of 52 recent mock drafts that have outlined who the Lions might take with their first-round pick in the upcoming draft:

Detroit Free Press​

Our Lions insiders Dave Birkett and Rainer Sabin have each focused on the Lions bolstering their pass rush.

• Birkett 4/20: EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
• Sabin 4/19: EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
• Birkett 3/16: LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
• Sabin 3/14: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
• Birkett 2/19: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

USA TODAY​

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USA TODAY writers have had a similar focus ... with one exception courtesy of an AI chatbot.

• Nate Davis 4/21: TRADE with the Cleveland Browns
• Google Gemini 4/19: CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
• Tyler Dragon 4/18: EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
• Tyler Dragon 3/28: EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
• Tyler Dragon 3/3: EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

ESPN​

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ESPN's many draft analysts tend to agree with the idea that the Lions will zero in on a pass rusher, though Jordan Reid's most recent mock draft has the Lions choosing an offensive lineman.

• Jordan Reid 4/21: OG Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
• Mel Kiper Jr 4/18: EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia
• Mel Kiper Jr 4/8: EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
• Field Yates 4/2: DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
• Matt Miller 3/27: OG Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
• Mel Kiper Jr 3/18: OLB James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
• Jordan Reid 3/4: EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

Fox Sports​

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Fox Sports' experts were initially all-in on a pass rusher, but Geoff Schwartz has recently pivoted to the Lions taking a cornerback.

• Geoff Schwartz 4/18: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
• Nick Wright 4/18: EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia
• Nick Wright 4/8: DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
• Geoff Schwartz 3/28: DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

NBC Sports​

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NBC's Connor Rogers was convinced the Lions would take a pass rusher until his most recent mock draft.

• Connor Rogers 4/9: OL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
• Connor Rogers 3/24: EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia
• Connor Rogers 1/9: EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia

CBS Sports​

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CBS' many mock draft analysts all have different opinions about who the Lions will draft.

• Jonathan Jones 4/21: OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
• Ryan Wilson 4/21: EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
• Garrett Podell 4/20: DL Derrick Harmon, Oregon
• Tyler Sullivan 4/19: EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
• Tom Fornelli 4/18: OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
• Chris Trapasso 4/16: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
• Ryan Wilson 4/14: OG Gray Zabel, North Dakota State

Pro Football Focus​

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Most of PFF's mock drafters have the Lions selecting a pass rusher.

• Staff list 4/21: LB Jalon Walker, Georgia
• Jordan Plocher 4/14: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
• Mason Cameron 4/7: OLB James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
• Dalton Wasserman 3/31: OLB James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
• Josh Liskiewitz 3/24: OG Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
• Josh Kosko 3/17: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
• Max Chadwick 3/10: EDGE Mike Green, Marshall
• Trevor Sikkema 3/3: OLB James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
• Dalton Wasserman 2/24: EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
• Jordan Plocher 2/17: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
• Trevor Sikkema 2/10: LB Jalon Walker, Georgia

The Athletic​

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler is one of the few draft experts to have connected the Lions to a Michigan player.

• Dane Brugler 4/18: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
• Dane Brugler 4/4: DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
• Dane Brugler 2/27: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

Yahoo Sports​

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Though they're unsure who, Yahoo's Nate Tice and Charles McDonald think the Lions might draft an Ohio State player.

• Nate Tice and Charles McDonald 4/16: OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
• Nate Tice and Charles McDonald 4/8: OL Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
• Nate Tice and Charles McDonald 3/18: EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State

NFL Network​

Could the Lions take a wide receiver with their first-round pick? NFL Network's Marc Ross seems to think so.

• Chad Reuter 4/18: OG Tyler Booker, Alabama
• Marc Ross 4/17: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
• Mike Band 4/14: OG Tyler Booker, Alabama
• Gennaro Filice 4/11: EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

Who were the most popular choices?​

Here's a tally of all the players with at least three selections in the above mock drafts:

• EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M - seven picks
• EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M - six picks
• EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College - five picks
• OLB James Pearce Jr., Tennessee - four picks
• EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia - four picks
• OG Grey Zabel, North Dakota State - three picks

[ Think you know football? Play our mock draft challenge for a chance to win! ]

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions mock draft 2025: We rounded up 52 expert predictions

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