Time to plant your flag. Who are you hoping the Detroit Lions select in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The day is finally here. The 2025 NFL Draft is now just hours away, and while this weekend may not be as exciting for Detroit Lions fans as it has been in the past, it’s still a critical day for the franchise. With more and more extensions getting signed in Detroit, it will be on general manager Brad Holmes to complement those pricey contracts with elite talent on rookie deals. The draft actually becomes even more important than it was when Holmes took over a low-talent roster.
But with the team picking 28th overall, it won’t be easy for Holmes. Landing blue-chip talent is not easy in the final picks of the first round—and it’s also made Detroit’s intentions incredibly hard to nail down. There’s not many leaks out of Allen Park these days, and with the Lions’ needs list very low, you’re seeing mock drafters slot a wide variety of players and positions to Detroit.
Today, it’s all about you.
Who should the Lions take with their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft?
My answer: I’ve already planted my flag for Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams. You can read my argument here.
Unfortunately, I no longer think it’s realistic that the Lions will have a shot at Williams, even with a trade up. The latest rumors this week suggest Williams could go in the top 10, and I believe it.
So I feel the need to pick another player who I hope is the pick. I’m a big fan of some of the other players our staff has backed, including Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel, and Texas A&M ’s Shemar Stewart. If any of those guys are the pick, consider me content.
But I’m gonna throw my support back at Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell. While he may not slide into a starting role right away, he could fit into their long-term plans with both Alex Anzalone and Malcolm Rodriguez on the final year of his deal. In the meantime, he could be a subpackage player, a pass-rushing specialist, or anything in between his rookie season. He gives more juice to the team’s pass rush than Derrick Barnes does, while also not giving up much else when it comes to his off-ball skills.
While I think he’s a top-15 talent in this draft class, the fact that he’s a linebacker could make him slide while teams attempt to load up on defensive and offensive line talent.
Who is your dream pick for Thursday night? Your realistic pick? Your nightmare pick? Share it all by scrolling down to the comment section at the bottom of this post.