Notes: The Athletic’s data and math gives Lions’ 2025 draft class an ‘F’

The Athletic didn’t love the Lions’ 2025 draft class, giving them a grade of an F based off their combined data.

I understand this is part of the NFL draft process: assigning grades to a group of players who have not taken any snaps in the league. With that said, and stop me if you have heard this before, but there are people out there that have a lot to say about the Detroit Lions ’ 2025 draft class. Among them, Austin Mock of The Athletic gave Detroit an ‘F’ for their efforts in this year’s class.

“Out of their seven picks, four were considered reaches by our consensus board, including all three in the top 70,” Mock wrote. “They also lost quite a bit of value in the trade market, highlighted by their big move up for board for wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. They lost the fourth-most value in trades during the draft, and the three teams below them either gained a first-rounder or had the chance to draft Travis Hunter.”

I understand these rankings are based off The Athletic’s own metrics and formulas—calculated via trade values, position values, and perceived reaches/steals—but at this point, you have to wonder if analysts are hesitant to hand out grades like this to Detroit. After all, Lions’ general manager Brad Holmes has proven over the course of several years now that he is that guy.

I still remember what everyone had to say following the Lions’ 2023 draft class. You know, that one that included running back Jahmyr Gibbs, linebacker Jack Campbell, tight end Sam LaPorta, and defensive back Brian Branch. Jokes were made by opposing fan bases, and failing grades were posted all over the internet.

Now Holmes and the rest of the Lions’ fanbase are the only ones laughing about that class today. Each of those first four draft picks in 2023 have proven to be big-time contributors for a team with championship aspirations. Will it be the same story for their 2025 class?

You can read Mock’s complete article right here .

And now, onto the rest of today’s notes:

• Congratulations to Lions tight end Brock Wright on his engagement.

• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press had a conversation with Boise State defensive coordinator Erik Chinander about what Ahmed Hassanein will bring to the Lions defense.

• Lions’ coach Dan Campbell doing his fatherly duties during move-out day.

• Lions’ All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is an S-tier level troll.

• Lions’ cornerback Terrion Arnold went undercover during draft weekend in Green Bay.