2025 NFL Draft preview: Great DT depth could help Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have a need at defensive tackle, and the 2025 NFL Draft class offers many options on all three days.

There’s been no shortage of talk about improving the Detroit Lions ’ defensive line in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft . And while Lions general manager Brad Holmes may have spoken this week about how they are not overly concerned with drafting for need, this year’s class of players offers several prospects who would meet Detroit’s qualifications of football character, high-tier talents, and, yes, filling a role that is needed.

Let’s start with the defensive tackles.

Previous Lions draft previews:

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs
• Wide receivers
• Tight ends
• Offensive tackles
• Guards/centers

2025 Detroit Lions draft preview: Defensive tackle

Under contract: Alim McNeill (2028), Mekhi Wingo (2027), DJ Reader (2025), Levi Onwuzurike (2025), Roy Lopez (2025), Brodric Martin (2026), Pat O’Connor (2025), Chris Smith (2025)

Short-term need: 4/10
Long-term need: 7/10

Detroit has a lot of bodies at the defensive tackle position for 2025, and it could theoretically be ample enough for the entire season. They’ll need reinforcements early in the year with Alim McNeill expected to miss some time into the regular season, but Wingo, Reader, Onwuzurike, Lopez, and O’Connor would make an acceptable five players on the 53-man roster while McNeill recovers.

However, there are some serious long-term concerns here. Only three players are signed beyond this season (McNeill, Wingo, Martin), and one of those players (Martin) will be entering training camp on the outside of the roster bubble looking in. Ideally, the Lions will find a 3/5-technique to fill Onwuzurike’s role long terms, as it’s reasonable to think that with a good 2025 season, he’ll hit the open market seeking a significant raise. Wingo could fill that role long-term, but it would require a pretty significant jump in the sixth-round pick’s play.

Additionally, with Reader on the last year of his deal—and him turning 31 in July—Detroit would be wise to start thinking about a long-term plan at nose tackle.

PFF top-100

• Mason Graham, Michigan (#4 overall)
• Walter Nolen, Ole Miss (#8)
• Kenneth Grant, Michigan (#17)
• Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee (#27)
• Tyleik Williams, Ohio State (#41)
• Derrick Harmon, Oregon (#42)
• Darius Alexander, Toledo (#49)
• T.J. Sanders, South Carolina (#54)
• CJ West, Indiana (#75)
• Shemar Turner, Texas A&M (#77)
• Alfred Collins, Texas (#79)
• Vernon Broughton, Texas (#90)
• Jordan Phillips, Maryland (#94)

There are plenty of options for the Lions on Day 1 and Day 2 of the draft, although anywhere from 2-4 players are expected to be off the board by the time the Lions are picking at 28.

If the Lions are seeking additional pass rush from the interior, but don’t want to jeopardize their ability to stop the run, Nolen and Harmon are likely their most realistic options at 28, although both could be gone. As detailed by our Ryan Mathews, Harmon sports a rare display of size (313 pounds) and athleticism, making him an ideal fit in Detroit . And while Nolen is a bit undersized and has some questions about his run defense (despite a 91.7 PFF grade), his pass rush tape is very tempting.

Beyond the first round, Tyleik Williams is a potential nose tackle replacement for Detroit who may not offer much in pass rush, but was dominant, physical, and instinctive against the run. Shemar Turner is a high-energy, explosive player with the versatility to play multiple spots and boost Detroit’s pass rush, but could get pushed around a bit in the run game due to his lack of size.

One of my favorites from this group is Vernon Broughton—a late Day 2 option who may squeeze into Day 3. He only started a single season at Texas, but he’s got massive arms, decent athleticism, and plays with a level of violence that is just fun to watch. He absolutely needs refinement to his game, but with size, burst, and strength, I think he could be a pretty well-rounded player with the right coaching.

Notable Day 3 players

CJ West (Indiana), Ty Robinson (Nebraska), JJ Pegues (Ole Miss)

West is short (6-foot-1) and has short arms (31.5-inch), but at 316 pounds, his 10-yard split was an impressive 1.73 (second fastest among 315+ pound players at the NFL Combine ). That alone is a baseline to work with. Add in the fact that he plays with an endless motor and takes to coaching makes him a good fit for a bit of a project who could even be a subpackage guy in Year 1.

Robinson scored Tier 2 on our Grit Index and for good reason.

“No one practices harder than Ty ,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said. “He comes to practice every day like it’s a game, and so it makes it fun to coach.”

At 6-foot-5 (!), 288 pounds, he’s a tree trunk that even Anthony Zettel couldn’t tackle . He’s one of the most athletic defensive tackles in this class . So why could he be available on Day 3? His height betrays him at times with his pad level and his production besides last year (12.5 TFLs and 7 sacks) was minimal. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Lions take him at 102.

I can’t not talk about JJ Pegues, who at 6-foot-2, 309 pounds decided to do some running back drills at the NFL Combine:

Pegues also scored highly on the Grit Index (top of Tier 3), as he was given the Chucky Mullins Courage Award by Ole Miss for the defensive player “that embodies the spirit of Mullins – courage, leadership, perseverance and determination.” Arriving at Auburn as a tight end (before moving to DL and then transferring to Ole Miss), he’s still learning to play with his size (6-foot- 2, 309) and power on the defensive side of the ball. But 2024 was by far his best year, with 13.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and seven rushing touchdowns. Yes, you read that right.