Conjecture and angst about the NFL Draft and the free agent signing period is complete.
We know a lot more about the 2025 Detroit Lions.
It wasn’t the off season of the big move, that’s for sure, nor the sizzling draft pick.
The Lions, who are facing salary cap purgatory in the not-too-distant future, are in no position for splash moves.
The building phase is essentially complete. Now it’s about refining.
General manager Brad Holmes has not been afraid to drift outside the box in the past, but wisely understood this was not the time.
It’s period to secure the nuts and bolts with a tweak here and there, covering tracks and moving forward with one of the NFL’s best rosters.
If the Lions’ pass rush is going to improve, it’s must come from the healthy return of Aidan Hutchinson, who is elite at his position and very much in his prime. It wasn’t going to come by reaching for an edge in the draft.
The Lions, given Alim McNeill will likely miss part of the 2025 season, and D.J. Reader has clearly slowed down, had more need at inside tackle than edge.
It is by far the most rotated position in the NFL. The Lions’ defensive identity begins by stopping the inside run. They propped up that area with first-round round selection Tyleik Williams (Ohio State) and the free agent signing Roy Lopez (Cardinals).
Everything the Lions do is based on their offensive line. It protects an immobile quarterback, Jared Goff. It allows for the running game to set up the pass and keep the defense off the field by winning time of possession. Holmes was smart enough to understand he inherited just two worthwhile pieces from the previous regime, left tackle Taylor Decker and center Frank Ragnow, and quickly augmented the o-line in the foundation by drafting right tackle Penei Sewell.
But guard has become an issue. Graham Glasgow had a subpar season in ’24 and it’s reasonable to question whether he has played his best football. Kevin Zeitler left as a free agent. Sixth-round pick Christian Mahogany exceeded expectations as a rookie, but only played 144 snaps. Guards Tate Ratlledge (second-round, Georgia) and Miles Fraser (fifth-round, LSU) are inside maulers from the SEC.
Ratledge was a five-star recruit coming out high school and runs a sub. 5.0 40-yard dash at well-above 300 pounds. He is athletic enough to possibility flip to center, even at nearly 6-foot-7.
The most polarizing selection was third-round receiver Issac TeSlaa. There is no question TeSlaa has the size (6-4, 215 pounds) and athletic (39.5’’ verbal jump, 4.43 40-yard dash) equation to justify the selection. He passed all tests with flying colors during the draft process. However, he wasn’t particularly productive at Arkansas. He struggled with separation and needs refinement, especially against press coverage.
Considering how much draft capital Holmes made to move up for the pick, and that it doesn’t address an immediate need, it was an outside-the-box move.
However, that doesn’t mean it was a bad choice, just one with a definite element of risk.
When the Lions finally selected an edge, Ahmed Hassanein from Boise State, they took a player who doesn’t necessarily fit his profile. A native of Egypt, he started playing high school football late. But the reality of his play at Boise State is the opposite of that notion. He was very productive (10 sacks, 18 pressures). He is more of a traditional end than a standup linebacker. Hassanein might be able to contribute this coming season.
Dan Jackson, the Lions’ seventh-round safety from Georgia, is fast for his position (sub. 4.5 40) and stout. He is a heat-seeking missile, who is a rugged tackler and displayed underrated ball skills. Jackson, a walk-on, only started one season at Georgia, but made third-team all-SEC. At this point, he has practice squad written all over him in 2025, as does his Georgia teammate, smallish slot receiver Dominic Lovett. But Jackson does have an upside.
The Lions still have substantial wiggle room with the 2025 salary cap. It is entirely possible they will add to their roster. Yes, Za’Darius Smith would make sense.
All this is pretty basic. Yet, it makes sense given where the Lions are entering 2025.