2025 NFL Draft

[AlaskanTigersFan]

I'd love the Lions to trade out of the 1st round and get a 2nd and 3rd rounder. Then I'd love for them to trade back again to get extra picks. I'm fully happy with as many 2nd, 3rd and 4th round picks Brad Holmes can get his hands on.... 

[Hongbit]

NFL.com Bucky Brooks 1st Mock Draft

As a “draft expert” this guy should know that lack of pass rush down the stretch won’t be a factor in the pick.

 I don’t know jack about Mike Green from Marshall.  He may end up as the pick but it will be due to the fact that he’s the highest player on their draft board.   Especially at #28, it will be the main and probably only determiner for who Brad selects.  

[Hongbit]

So, this is Mike Green.  Not sure this guy is going to be around at #28 anyway.

 

Edited Wednesday at 07:00 PM by Hongbit

[CMRivdogs]

1 hour ago, Hongbit said:

NFL.com Bucky Brooks 1st Mock Draft

As a “draft expert” this guy should know that lack of pass rush down the stretch won’t be a factor in the pick.

 I don’t know jack about Mike Green from Marshall.  He may end up as the pick but it will be due to the fact that he’s the highest player on their draft board.   Especially at #28, it will be the main and probably only determiner for who Brad selects.  

The Athletic's mock has Green going to the Packers at 23, the Lions taking TJ Tuimoloau at 28. Pretty much the same reasoning 
 

Quote

Tuimoloau (6-5, 270) was a machine during Ohio State’s championship run. In four College Football Playoff games, he had a combined 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss, nearly doubling his season totals (six sacks, 11 TFLs during the regular season).

With oft-injured Marcus Davenport likely hitting free agency and Za’Darius Smith possibly in need of a reworked contract, the Lions could rotate Tuimoloau for a year opposite Aidan Hutchinson, then have him step in as a long-term starter.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6083815/2025/01/28/nfl-mock-draft-2025-abdul-carter-titans/

 

[Mr.TaterSalad]

This team drafts BPA and sticks tightly to their board. If they don't have a first round grade or high second round grade when they are drafting, they won't reach for the player. My personal first round draft preferences are edger or interior pass rusher or an interior offensive lineman who can slide over to Center one day. That may not match up at all with what Holmes and Campbell want. 

[Hongbit]

49 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

This team drafts BPA and sticks tightly to their board. If they don't have a first round grade or high second round grade when they are drafting, they won't reach for the player. My personal first round draft preferences are edger or interior pass rusher or an interior offensive lineman who can slide over to Center one day. That may not match up at all with what Holmes and Campbell want. 

Exactly my point. It’s not some deep secret either.  I don’t know why none of these draft expers predict a player for the Lions with the reason that he’s the highest remaining player on their draft board.  All these guys create a draft board so this should be their easiest to pick.   

[RandyMarsh]

On the topic of BPA when teams say that do they literally take who the best player is in a vacuum or is need/"position value" part of the formula they use when ranking the players? So if its the latter they very well are going to take the player they have at the top of the board everytime but part of the formula for that player getting there could be because of need.

[Hongbit]

6 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

On the topic of BPA when teams say that do they literally take who the best player is in a vacuum or is need/"position value" part of the formula they use when ranking the players? So if it’s the latter they very well are going to take the player they have at the top of the board everytime but part of the formula for that player getting there could be because of need.

Makes perfect sense but I am not sure about that.  Brad is on record saying they don’t draft for need.  They try to use free agency for needs as they are more immediate.   Draft is for developing future players and since needs change they want the best football player that fits their system. 

[gehringer_2]

It's an interesting question because you have to make an assignment of positional value even if you don't consider your own team's positional need, and that seems a loophole big enough to drive a lot of subjective influence through. It's likely to be the case that the 2nd best QB in a draft ranks higher than the #1 OG in a draft by overall BPA, but is there really a solid way to determine if the best OT in the draft is BPA wrt the best WR?

[KnoxP]

2 hours ago, Hongbit said:

So, this is Mike Green.  Not sure this guy is going to be around at #28 anyway.

 

I bet the R Tackle will be there at 28 🙃. That reminded me of the time Jadaveon Clowney blew through the M offensive line. Guy made lots of money with that play.

Edited Wednesday at 09:37 PM by KnoxP

[Motown Bombers]

Speaking of Mike Green. 

 

[Hongbit]

Mic drop 🎤 

[Jason_R]

Green is a little on the small side for a can crusher. The OSU kid fits their mold a little better. 

[AlaskanTigersFan]

Call me crazy. I hope Lions trade out of the 1st round. Get as many 2nd/3rds as possible. I trust Brad. Run it with Smith/Hutch this year and if you get a guy in the 2nd or 3rd that compliments them, more power to em. I just think we need to get younger at the O-line and we need depth all over. Just my $0.02.

[RedRamage]

20 hours ago, RandyMarsh said:

On the topic of BPA when teams say that do they literally take who the best player is in a vacuum or is need/"position value" part of the formula they use when ranking the players? So if its the latter they very well are going to take the player they have at the top of the board everytime but part of the formula for that player getting there could be because of need.

I have ALWAYS thought that teams should and do consider BPA and positional need. For example the Lions should not be in the market for a RB right now. They have stars at spots 1 and 2 and capable backups at 3 and 4. So if their spot comes up and the BPA is a RB and the SBPA (Second best player available) is an Edge rusher, the Lions SHOULD take the edge rusher and I think they would as would 31 other teams in the same situation.

But it's rarely as black and white as that. More likely it'll be something like BPA is a WR and SBPA is a LB. We're sitting decent at WR... it's not a need. LB is more of a need, but it's not necessarily a DESPERATE need. I think most teams here would take the LB. I think the Lions would take the WR.*

*Even this is an overtly simplistic senario because there will be lots of other factors including age/contact status of current players at various positions, trade options, depth of the draft class at various positions, etc. etc. etc. But I'm trying to present a situation here demonstrating where I think the Lions might behave differently than the majority of other teams.

[Hongbit]

I agree that if you have a surplus at a position you shouldn’t pick it in the early rounds, especially at a single starter role like QB, RB, C, TE.   

Even eliminating those positions of surplus from their board, they still make the decision based on best player available and not the best player available to fill a current need.  

[buddha]

the lions "dont draft for need" and yet took two cornerbacks last year.

the lions draft for "need" just like everyone else when youre standing on the edge of a championship.

"bpa" is such a nebulous concept.  there are plenty of players right around the same spot in the draft with similar rankings.  if one of them happens to fit an oeganizational need, then you take em.

lions traded up for a cb last year.  i wouldnt be surprised if they trade up for a pass rusher this year if one starts to fall.  like mike green.

Edited Friday at 01:54 AM by buddha

[1984Echoes]

I think "BPA" is also a term that shouldn't really apply to the Lions...

"Best Player" is subjective... and to buddha's point, they do NOT just simply ignore organizational needs.

I'm not certain exactly how to describe the Lions drafting philosophy... but I would consider:

1) Game Impact. They look at players and how they would contribute to the Lions winning, to making game changing plays, and if the guy dominates his opponent or his position. It's why they ranked Penei Sewell so high, as well as Jack Campbell. I mean there are other reasons for those picks... but I'll get to that in a minute. Was Jack Campbell BPA when they selected him. To buddha's point, was Ennis Rakestraw? This also means NOT a guy like Teez Tabor (WAY too slow for the position), and means someone like Jahmyr Gibbs (game breaking speed, can dominate the other team, and they don't care that the RB position has been "devalued").

2) Crazy about football. They want complete dedication to the game. Eat, drink, sleep football. That means high FB IQ, and it means will do anything the coaches ask of them. Being a captain or other leader on their college team is huge for them.

3) They LOVE the guy. They've said this so many times... They fall in love with a player... with their work ethic, talent, upside... everything. Or... whatever it is that they fall in love with... they go AFTER those guys, almost no matter the cost. It's why we have guys like Manu and Vaki on the team. It does NOT say that those guys are BPA... they just LOVE them... for one, or for many reasons... I ONLY... WISH... they would have fallen in love with Puka Nacua in 2023 in the 5th round instead of Colby Sorsdal... But that's another story...

 

So I wouldn't call it BPA.

I would call it "the guy that the Lions LOVE the most". It will probably fill an immediate or soon-to-be need. It will be someone who completely dominates his position and his opponent. It will be someone who affects the game massively... who lives, sleeps, breathes, and eats football. Who has a high FB IQ and would "run through a brick wall for Coach". The Lions will "Fall in Love" with him. Whoever he is.

I'll just guess at who they fall in love with this year in the 1st round:

I'm hoping it's Shavon Revel, or Shemar Stewart.

They'll find O-line help in the 2nd round (Tate Ratledge or Grey Zabel or...?), whoever they "love" the most and believe will grow into a key O-Line player...

A situational pass-rusher or developmental CB in the 3rd (the opposite position of who they pick in the 1st). Or maybe a productive X-Receiver here.

And who knows what other "gems" they find in this draft.

Maybe another 5th round Puka Nacua...

[Longgone]

15 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

I think "BPA" is also a term that shouldn't really apply to the Lions...

"Best Player" is subjective... and to buddha's point, they do NOT just simply ignore organizational needs.

I'm not certain exactly how to describe the Lions drafting philosophy... but I would consider:

1) Game Impact. They look at players and how they would contribute to the Lions winning, to making game changing plays, and if the guy dominates his opponent or his position. It's why they ranked Penei Sewell so high, as well as Jack Campbell. I mean there are other reasons for those picks... but I'll get to that in a minute. Was Jack Campbell BPA when they selected him. To buddha's point, was Ennis Rakestraw? This also means NOT a guy like Teez Tabor (WAY too slow for the position), and means someone like Jahmyr Gibbs (game breaking speed, can dominate the other team, and they don't care that the RB position has been "devalued").

2) Crazy about football. They want complete dedication to the game. Eat, drink, sleep football. That means high FB IQ, and it means will do anything the coaches ask of them. Being a captain or other leader on their college team is huge for them.

3) They LOVE the guy. They've said this so many times... They fall in love with a player... with their work ethic, talent, upside... everything. Or... whatever it is that they fall in love with... they go AFTER those guys, almost no matter the cost. It's why we have guys like Manu and Vaki on the team. It does NOT say that those guys are BPA... they just LOVE them... for one, or for many reasons... I ONLY... WISH... they would have fallen in love with Puka Nacua in 2023 in the 5th round instead of Colby Sorsdal... But that's another story...

 

So I wouldn't call it BPA.

I would call it "the guy that the Lions LOVE the most". It will probably fill an immediate or soon-to-be need. It will be someone who completely dominates his position and his opponent. It will be someone who affects the game massively... who lives, sleeps, breathes, and eats football. Who has a high FB IQ and would "run through a brick wall for Coach". The Lions will "Fall in Love" with him. Whoever he is.

I'll just guess at who they fall in love with this year in the 1st round:

I'm hoping it's Shavon Revel, or Shemar Stewart.

They'll find O-line help in the 2nd round (Tate Ratledge or Grey Zabel or...?), whoever they "love" the most and believe will grow into a key O-Line player...

A situational pass-rusher or developmental CB in the 3rd (the opposite position of who they pick in the 1st). Or maybe a productive X-Receiver here.

And who knows what other "gems" they find in this draft.

Maybe another 5th round Puka Nacua...

Fans always get BPA wrong, it’s not the best player available on some consensus draft board, it’s always been the best player available for that particular team at that particular point in the draft. 

[Hongbit]

You guys can keep pontificating on if they take BPA or need.   I’ll take word of Brad and Dan on what they do.

Holmes said at last week's Annual League Meetings in Orlando that nothing changes in his process of taking the best player available no matter the draft slot.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell mentioned that the pre-draft process and work they've been putting in preparing for the draft is the same it's always been, and so too is the philosophy of just taking the best player on their board when it's their time on the clock.

"Since we've been here, we've really, 'Man, draft the best player available,'" Campbell said in Orlando. "Don't let the 'man, we absolutely have to have a linebacker. We absolutely have to have (blank).' Just go with what you believe is going to fit your team and what you feel like is the best player at the time."

https://www.detroitlions.com/news/late-first-round-pick-won-t-change-lions-draft-strategy
 

We don't really get anchored on position, we don't really get anchored on windows," Holmes explained. "We just look for guys we're convicted on that are the right fit for us."
 

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/detroit-lions-brad-holmes-nfl-draft-trades-new-uniforms/7aaab8095a5d4c200443fbb0

 

When Campbell spoke with The Athletic shortly after his hire, he all but promised that the Lions would lean into a best-player-available approach at the draft. “If this guy’s a fit,” Campbell said, “if he’s the best guy and we love him but we’re stacked at the position, we probably ought to still get him.”

Campbell added that he’d rather have an abundance of high-quality players at one spot — and maybe have to trade one to solve the issue — than to make decisions just to fill out the depth chart: “I don’t want to get caught in, well, we don’t have one of these.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2600284/2021/05/21/lions-gm-brad-holmes-qa-draft-strategy-penei-sewells-appeal-and-building-a-roster-from-scratch/

There are plenty more direct quotes from the men on their draft strategy. 

 

[4hzglory]

8 hours ago, Hongbit said:

You guys can keep pontificating on if they take BPA or need.   I’ll take word of Brad and Dan on what they do.

Holmes said at last week's Annual League Meetings in Orlando that nothing changes in his process of taking the best player available no matter the draft slot.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell mentioned that the pre-draft process and work they've been putting in preparing for the draft is the same it's always been, and so too is the philosophy of just taking the best player on their board when it's their time on the clock.

"Since we've been here, we've really, 'Man, draft the best player available,'" Campbell said in Orlando. "Don't let the 'man, we absolutely have to have a linebacker. We absolutely have to have (blank).' Just go with what you believe is going to fit your team and what you feel like is the best player at the time."

https://www.detroitlions.com/news/late-first-round-pick-won-t-change-lions-draft-strategy
 

We don't really get anchored on position, we don't really get anchored on windows," Holmes explained. "We just look for guys we're convicted on that are the right fit for us."
 

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/detroit-lions-brad-holmes-nfl-draft-trades-new-uniforms/7aaab8095a5d4c200443fbb0

 

When Campbell spoke with The Athletic shortly after his hire, he all but promised that the Lions would lean into a best-player-available approach at the draft. “If this guy’s a fit,” Campbell said, “if he’s the best guy and we love him but we’re stacked at the position, we probably ought to still get him.”

Campbell added that he’d rather have an abundance of high-quality players at one spot — and maybe have to trade one to solve the issue — than to make decisions just to fill out the depth chart: “I don’t want to get caught in, well, we don’t have one of these.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2600284/2021/05/21/lions-gm-brad-holmes-qa-draft-strategy-penei-sewells-appeal-and-building-a-roster-from-scratch/

There are plenty more direct quotes from the men on their draft strategy. 

 

To be honest, that sounds a lot like what 84 was saying.  The best player on their board that they love.  The right fit-ie lives and breathes football.  And we’ve seen how best player for them is completely different than other teams.

[1984Echoes]

9 hours ago, Hongbit said:

"...Just go with what you believe is going to fit your team..." "We just look for guys we're convicted on that are the right fit for us." 

“If this guy’s a fit,” Campbell said, “if he’s the best guy and we love him but we’re stacked at the position, we probably ought to still get him.”

 

Right.

Exactly what I just said.

Edited Friday at 01:26 PM by 1984Echoes

[1984Echoes]

31 minutes ago, 4hzglory said:

... And we’ve seen how best player for them is completely different than other teams.

Yes exactly.

Key point.

[Jimbo]

I've always felt this regime has stuck to the same philosophy for each draft.  Its easy to say they changed their approach last year because they took two CB's.  I actually think it was the perfect example of BPA.  Things are going to look different when you draft later.  There is no argument that 2024 was Holmes weakest draft but a lot is where they were drafting and the amount of picks.  Plus this draft didn't have that guy that really played that much better than their draft position in the 24/25 season.  A lot of this is also what happens when you have a good team and players don't get the opportunity.  There is also different kind of BPA's.  When your team is rebuilding, your BPA needs to be players that can play right away.  When your team is a contender, your BPA might be the player with the best upside.  I think the fact that so many teams went offensive players in last years draft, they didn't think there was any way they could get Arnold.  Not sure what their draft board looked like but I feel like he was one player left that still had a 1rst round grade for them.  It didn't hurt that was one position that we needed to upgrade.  So not sure if it was another player (that they were solid at) that was out there with a similar grade they would of traded up for.  With Rakestraw, this was definitely BPA.  They could of possibly been looking at him for the original 1rst round pick.  Holmes and Campbell are pretty straight up guys but I still don't think they are going to give all there secrets to their draft strategy.  So saying they always go BPA, is just a small part of their strategy. 

[1984Echoes]

Terrion Arnold was not BPA in the 1st round.

he was a NEED.

Best Players Available when the Lions selected Arnold:

Ladd McConkey - Wide Receiver: 82 Catches, 1,150 Yards, 7 TD's (X-Receiver was also a need)

Braden Fiske - Defensive Tackle 44 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 2 FF's, and 2 Fumbles Recovered AND 6 "stuffs" (DT was also a need as it turned out...)

The Lions LOVED Arnold. That's it. And they needed a MAN-COVERAGE CB = Arnold. They drafted him for... NEED. 0 INT's, and led the league in PI flags (or at least he was at the top around mid-season or so... I don't know where he ended up at... top 10?)

And I can do the same for Rakestraw, Manu, Vaki...