With the draft of the NFL 2025 to a few days, the Lions of Detroit made their reasonable diligence on many recovery prospects of this year. Not only did they meet some of the best names in this year’s class, but the team spent a lot of time meeting the most unknown players who are fortunate to hear their names called day 3.
Detroit would have met 46 prospects throughout their local day, virtual interviews and the first 30 visits (consult our list of visits here). With as many players as they know now, here is how the 2025 draft could look for lions:
Round 1 – Pick 28: Ol Gray Zabel, North Dakota State
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The Lions’ offensive line may seem to be set at the moment, but a long -term option in Guard is a major need for the team passing after 2025. Graham Glasgow played less than ideally towards the end of the 2024 season, and has an outing in his contract in 2026. If the Lions want to continue to have the best offensive line in the League, the writing of Zabel is a good start to this process.
Now, an offensive line player from a small school in the first round may seem scandalous for some, but all skeptics just need to look a second from the Zabel band to see why he would be a perfect fit in Detroit. The 6-foot 6-inch and 312 pound line player has played most of his university career as a tackle, but should be able to move easily for the guard given his athletics and his know-how of football. He is a big racing blocker and plays violently on the line without drawing too much penalties. In the game of passes, he only granted four bags throughout his 1,137 career shots with bison.
Zabel is a real field leader and even chose to stay at NDSU despite the transfer offers in larger schools. He was also captain of the team his last year. An additional advantage in the editorial staff of Zabel is his links with the coach of the tight lions Tyler Roehl, who was his offensive coordinator in the state of Dakota from north from 2020 to 2023.
Round 2 – Pick 60: Edge Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
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The Lions do not choose for 42 other choices after this one, and Brad Holmes was not afraid to reach the second round of the past years. The Lions have already had several meetings with Stewart, which means that they see something they love in the rusher of 21 years.
Although Stewart’s style of play can better correspond as an outdoor second 3-4, he could still carve out a beautiful role if he lands in Detroit. Stewart would be able to play the role of second sam that James Houston played not long ago, and would probably be much more successful than Houston. Having a smaller under-dimensioned rusher in front of Aidan Hutchinson can open the defensive gaming book enormously and create shift nightmares to oppose offensive lines.
Stewart was also a team captain for Michigan in his last year and was praised both for his efforts on the field and his leadership capacities in the locker room.
Round 3 – Pick 102: S Jonas Sanker, Virginie
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Although the Lions can have one of the best safety tandem in the league with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, another security would benefit their defensive rear field by allowing Branch to place the role of nickel if necessary.
Sanker is a very similar player in Branch in the sense that he is more a versatile defensive back than real security. At Virginia, he played both strong and free security as well as the role of defender of the location. He raised 176 plated and left with seven reversals in total in four seasons with the riders.
Sanker’s abilities as a Run Stout defender in the box would greatly complete Joseph’s ball style. He was also well registered in Detroit because of his will and his successes as a shooter in the booty team. Like the two previous players on this list, Sanker was a team captain for Virginia in 2024.
Round 4 – Pick 130: Wr Isaac Teslaa, Arkansas
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Detroit could benefit from a large receiver of possession to body to his profession on their offense. Tim Patrick will not be there forever, and that would help to make her replacement wait in the wings. Isaac Teslaa, at 6 feet 4 inches and 214 pounds, corresponds well to this invoice. He shone with the combine harvester and won a 9.96 RAS, making him one of the most athletic receiver perspectives of all time.
His athletics transformed him into a red zone weapon which can surpass defenders and leave with disputed captures with easier than most. He was also congratulated for his race blocking capacities, which is a trait that Lions coaches are specifically looking for in their receivers.
Teslaa is a native of Hudsonville, Michigan, who played his first three years of college football at Hillsdale College before transferring to Arkansas. The transfer of a Division II school to the dry is not an easy task, but the ethics and work production of Teslaa demonstrate that it can face adversity and be patient until its time is offense.
Round 6 – Pick 196: LB Kobe King, Penn State
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To strengthen the depth of the second, Detroit should turn to Kobe King by Penn State. King is a native of Strait who played Cass Tech before joining the Nittany Lions.
King is an assistant inside the body that excelled as a race defender in the box. He had 53 plated last season as well as three bags and a forced escape. He is a real secondary of Mike whose size, framework and skills make him a perfect candidate to save Jack Campbell.
Following the theme of this class project, it should be noted that King was the defensive captain of Penn State for 2024.
Round 7 – Pick 228: Te Ben Yurosek, Georgia
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On the seventh round, the Lions should opt for a real tight end of blocking to complete Sam Laporta. Ben Yurosek has the framework for this, and his blocking capacities have improved throughout his stay in Stanford and Georgia.
He would have a difficult battle in competition with Kenny Yeboah and Shane Zylstra for the third tight role, but his adjustment in the Detroit scheme is logical overall.
Round 7 – Pick 244: RB Lan Larison, UC Davis
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The latest choice of this Lions simulation project makes them stick to the offensive and build the end of their depth of ball carrier.
Lan Larison is a double threat playmaker who put more than 2,000 yards in attack last season. Its 2024 season included 1,456 yards on the ground and 17 affected on the ground, as well as 847 yards in reception and six other scores. In addition to his precipitated and receiving distinctions, Larison saw certain representatives such as a quarter of Wildcat and contributed as a kick-up.
It is a short and robust at 5 feet 11 inches and 215 pounds which uses its size and its strength to lose the defenders. His film gives the impression that he wanted to kiss contact on the line, but he maintains a solid level of platelets and has no trouble running between the plasters. It is not shy to direct block either, and does not hesitate to charge opposing defenders like a boar to make a room.
If you see a trend here, Larison was also a team captain for UC-Davis as a senior. He was also appointed finalist for the Walter Payton Prize (awarded to the best offensive player on the FCS) and was the first All-Big Sky team.