Detroit Lions 2025 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 from Russ Brown

Posted by author March 4, 2025 NFL

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Last week I started my mock draft series on the Detroit Lions for the 2025 NFL Draft. While mock draft simulators are fun, they don’t always accurately represent how each team ranks these prospects. Some simulators may have a player placed in the 3rd-round range, but the NFL could value that player as a borderline first-round pick. Each year, it varies.

This year will be no different.

The question now becomes which players will that be for the 2025 NFL Draft? After the NFL Scouting Combine, it feels as if players such as Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr are slipping down draft boards. That could all change, for better or worse, by the time we get to April.

We’ll see how it all unfolds, but for now, we continue to guess which players will get selected. For the second time during the 2025 NFL Draft cycle, I predict who the Detroit Lions could select. Let’s dive into it!

First Round | 28th Overall | Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College

If I had to lock a player in as a first-round pick after the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, this would be my pick. Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku had a great Combine for so many reasons. He checked in with adequate size, had great results in his Combine testing and his on-field workout was impressive.

Ezeiruaku checked into the Combine at 6′ 2″ and 248 pounds with 34″ arms and 9 1/4″ hands. His 3-cone drill time of 6.94 seconds and his short shuttle time of 4.19 seconds were all impressive. Good fluidity and bend were put on display during his on-the-field workouts. More importantly, he interviewed well from what some scouts have said.

When you put on the tape, you’ll see an explosive pass-rusher that is able to bend and win with active hands. He uses his length to create separation while being able to win with leverage and slip under blockers. He’ll need to get stronger when squeezing blocks down in the run game and collapsing pockets to get the quarterback. Finding an explosive option to play opposite of Aidan Hutchinson isn’t a bad thing for the Lions.

Second Round | 60th Overall | Kevin Winston Jr, S, Penn State

Similar to last week, I don’t see a scenario where safety Ifeatu Melifonwu returns to the Lions. Using the draft to find a replacement, I think there are quite a few options to find it. This week, we’re going with Kevin Winston Jr from Penn State.

Winston Jr checked into the Combine at 6′ 1 1/2″ and 215 pounds with 32 1/2″ arms and 9 1/2″ hands. He didn’t compete as he may not be fully healthy as he recovers from a partially torn ACL. Despite only being able to play 3 games in 2024, there’s much to be desired with his skill set.

For starters, he’s a physical player that can cover the slot and tight ends. His length helps him compete at the catch point and wrap the opposition with ease when tackling. There are times that hesitates in space or when reading the play but he makes up for it with his closing speed. His development as a rookie will depend on his health but it sounds promising that he’ll be ready by the start of the season.

Third Round | 101st Overall | Joshua Farmer, IDL, Florida State

Adding a defensive tackle before an edge rusher could be a priority for the Lions in the 2025 NFL Draft. Much of that depends on if defensive tackle Alim McNeill will be ready by the start of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL. The Lions may want to ensure they have good depth behind McNeill and Reader.

By adding Joshua Farmer from Florida State, the Lions are getting a strong and powerful interior defender who is best suited as a 3-tech in the NFL. Farmer has long arms at 35 inches and was still able to put up 26 reps in the 225-pound bench press.

When watching the 6′ 3″ and 305-pound defensive lineman, it’s easy to spot him on film. He knocks defenders back with ease and plays stout against the run. Hand speed when rushing the passer will need improvements but he’ll also need to get faster off the ball. His ability to stop the run should allow him to contribute on a rotational basis early in his career.

Fourth Round | 133rd Overall | Seth McLaughlin, IOL, Ohio State

I’d be somewhat surprised if the Lions didn’t add one offensive lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft. Whether it be a tackle, guard or center, another player up front is needed. At this point on the simulator, there were questionable players across the board but one player that feels possible is Seth McLaughlin from Ohio State.

As he recovers from a torn Achilles, he wasn’t able to workout at the Combine but he did get measured and interviewed with teams. It’s unclear how he interviewed but when watching his tape, there’s much to be desired. Especially if we’re talking about a developmental prospect.

On film, he’s a technically sound player that displays good play strength and quickness. He’s able to get out in space quickly and shows that he can climb to the second level to seal off linebackers. There are times that his anchor will get tested but he’s shown that he can recover.

The biggest issues could be McLaughlin’s size and recovery from the injury. At 6′ 4″ and 304 pounds with 31″ arms, it feels as if he’s a bit maxed out. Maybe he’s able to add some mass but if not, there’s a chance it gets tested more frequently in the NFL.

His skill-set is best suited for a zone scheme but the variance to the Lions run and pass game would still make McLaughlin a great fit. At this stage in the draft, you can’t get mad at selecting a player that would have probably been a day two pick had he not gotten hurt in Novemeber.

Sixth Round | 198th Overall | KeAndre Lambert Smith, WR, Auburn

I’d like to think the Lions would bring back wide receiver Tim Patrick. However, they could hesitate with that decision due to Patrick’s injury history. Either way, if I’d expect a short-term deal if he was resigned. That would also leave the door open for adding another pass-catcher. One player that could be an ideal fit is KeAndre Lambert Smith from Auburn.

Lambert Smith could get a chance to develop behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Tim Patrick. There wouldn’t be any size concerns as he checked into the Combine at 6′ 1″ and 190 pounds with 32 5/8″ arms and 9 1/8″ hands. His 40-yard dash time of 4.37 seconds was tied for 6th best for wide receivers that tested.

On tape, he doesn’t a lot of burst after the catch but he attacks the football and has made tough grabs through contact. Best suited to run curls, hitches and comebacks, Lambert Smith will also adjust to tougher throws. He may not start early in his career but with time in an offense that values short and intermediate area passes could see him develop.

Seventh Round | 230th Overall | Jackson Hawes, TE, Georgia Tech

Part of me feels as if Jackson Hawes will already be off the board at this point in the 2025 NFL Draft. I know we’re talking about a day three pick but just wanted to clarify that for the folks at home. That said, he could be a player on the radar of the Detroit Lions. Much of that could be due to the fact that backup tight end Shane Zylstra is set to the hit the free agent market.

The overall frame and size and blocking ability of Jackson Hawes would be ideal for what the Lions look for in their backup tight ends. Especially when they align in ’12’ and ’13’ personnel. Hawes could slide right in and contribute as a blocker. He maintains a square base, good pad level and the desired play strength to move defenders consistently in the run game.

Oddly enough, Hawes has similar size and Combine results to Lions head coach Dan Campbell. For Hawes, he checked into the Combine at 6′ 4 1/2″ and 253 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.82 seconds and posted a 34.5″ vertical jump and 10′ 1″ broad jump. Going back to 1999, Campbell checked in at 6′ 5″ and 263 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.85 seconds and posted a 36″ vertical jump and 10′ 1″ broad jump.

It’s unclear if the Lions met with Hawes at the Combine but I could only imagine how a meeting would have went with Campbell and the rest of the Lions coaching staff. After all, Hawes seems like a perfect fit not just for the physical demeanor he plays with but also with the way he carried himself during interviews with the media. Hawes labels himself as a player with “a salty demeanor on the field.” Put him in the Lions locker room and he could develop quickly.

Seventh Round | 246th Overall | Alijah Huzzie, CB North Carolina

For this mock draft, I took a different approach with adding another cornerback to the Lions roster. Much of that is me operating under the mindset that the Lions will be bringing back cornerback Carlton Davis. If they end up doing that, they could look to add a cornerback much later than expected in the 2025 NFL Draft. One developmental player that could intrigue Detroit is North Carolina cornerback Alijah Huzzie.

At the Combine, Huzzie didn’t workout but he did get checked in for height, weight, hand size and arm length. He checked in at 5′ 10″ and 193 pounds with 29 5/8″ arms and 8 5/8″ hands. He’ll be labeled as an undersized defender but on tape he appears to be a fluid athlete that can play bigger than listed when stopping the run. His long speed will get tested but as developmental prospect, he’s worth rolling the dice on.