DETROIT – All picks are in, and the Detroit Lions are looking ahead to the 2025 season.
General manager Brad Holmes completed his fifth NFL draft with the franchise last weekend, adding seven players to the fold at key positions.
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Beat writer Nolan Bianchi from The Detroit News joined Local 4’s “Sports Final Edition” to break down the selections and prepare for a competitive training camp.
In Brad, we trust
Since taking over as GM in 2021, Holmes has been lauded for his team-building through the draft, acquiring playmakers like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell in 2021, Aidan Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph in 2022, and Jahmyr Gibbs in 2023.
Sometimes, Holmes’ draft classes are a slow burn, though, which makes immediate analysis tricky.
“You can’t grade a draft until three years after the fact,” said Bianchi. “They got younger in the trenches. They got a lot of high-upside players, including Isaac TeSlaa, the wide receiver from Hudsonville, in the third round. I’m super fascinated by his upside. He is one of the most athletic wide receivers ever to enter the NFL Draft, and the same can be said for [Tate] Ratledge in terms of his relative athletic score."
Tyleik Williams will play
The Lions used the 28th overall pick in the first round to select Tyleik Williams, a defensive tackle from Ohio State.
Williams is a proven run-stopper at the college level with a high upside against the pass, and the door could be open for him to receive playing time right away.
Alim McNeill is expected to miss the beginning of the season while recovering from a torn ACL.
“McNeil is not going to be ready to play at the start of the season, despite becoming one of the highest-paid players defensive tackles last season,” Bianchi confirmed. “I’m super intrigued to see what [Williams] does in training camp, how much he’s able to grow, how much of that untapped potential as a pass rusher is able to come to life early on in those practices.”
Brace for battles in training camp
To put it simply, training camp is going to be a war. With McNeill missing time, the defensive line’s playing time will be up for grabs, while the offensive line is loaded with young talent from recent drafts.
“I keep going back to the offensive guard position,” Bianchi said. “You just drafted two guys who, if only one was drafted, could have competed for those starting spots. Now you’ve got two of them, plus veteran incumbent starters.”
Grit, Georgia Bulldogs, and “Dirtbags”
Second-round selection Ratledge is a self-proclaimed “dirtbag.”
If that’s a synonym of grit, the University of Georgia offensive guard prospect will fit right in along with college teammates picked in the seventh round, safety Dan Jackson, and wide receiver Dominic Lovett.
Ratledge also trained extensively with guard Miles Frazier, the fifth-rounder out of LSU. Holmes says Frazier will get looks at center along with his workout partner.
Besides fulfilling Holmes’ philosophy of selecting the best player available on the clock, these picks also show commitment to growing the culture present in recent seasons.
“It’s everything,” Bianchi said. “[sixth round pick] Ahmed Hassanein got on the post-draft interview and said, ‘I’m ready to die on the football field for Dan Campbell.' It might be a little extreme, but the mentality with these guys they’ve drafted is so clear. When Brad Holmes drafted Christian Mahogany a year ago, we were like, ‘What do you like about him?’ And he said, ‘he’s just a dirtbag.’ That is as flattering a comment as you can get for an interior offensive lineman."
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The Lions full 2025 NFL Draft in review:
Rd. 1, pick 28: Tyleik Williams – DL, Ohio State
Rd. 2, pick 57: Tate Ratledge – OL, Georgia
Rd. 3, pick 70: Isaac TeSlaa – WR, Arkansas
Rd. 5, pick 171: Miles Frazier – OL, LSU
Rd. 6, pick 196: Ahmed Hassanein – DL, Boise State
Rd. 7, pick 230: Dan Jackson – S, Georgia
Rd. 7, pick 244: Dominic Lovett – WR, Georgia
Watch Nolan Bianchi’s full interview below.
