Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup 1.0
Throughout the year and leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, we will update our Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Detroit Lions from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Lions:
Fox Sports - Rob Rang (5/3)
28. Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Ever since James Franklin took over at Penn State, the Nittany
Lions have churned out edge rushers and all indications are that Carter is next. Even while splitting duties with 2023 top-100 draft picks
Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Carter earned first-team All-Big Ten honors with 5.5 tackles for loss, including 4.5 sacks.
ESPN - Jordan Reid (5/2)
29. Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville
The Lions want some pass-rush help opposite Aidan Hutchinson, and if you enjoyed watching
Missouri's Darius Robinson (
Cardinals first-rounder) during this past draft cycle, you'll love Gillotte. His game similarly revolves around power. At 6-3 and 275 pounds, he packs a strong punch, helping him to 13 tackles for loss and 11 sacks last season. But can he expand his pass-rush skill set behind his raw strength?
San Diego Union-Tribune - Eddie Brown (5/2)
29. Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon
The Lions likely give
Jameson Williams one more season to figure it out before bringing in someone else to pair with superstar receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown. Stewart was the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting class and spent two seasons at
Texas A&M before transferring in January. He struggled with injuries during his time with the Aggies, but Stewart is an advanced route runner with speed and the ability to make tacklers miss.
The Athletic - Dane Brugler (4/30)
29. Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
Another
Purdue transfer (the poor Boilermakers), Burks is a playmaking athlete with the ball in his hands. The Belleville, Mich., native returns to his home state in this scenario.
PFF - Max Chadwick (4/29)
29. JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
The Lions didn't select an edge defender in the 2024 NFL Draft even though they can upgrade at the spot opposite of Aidan Hutchinson. Tuimoloau has been frustratingly inconsistent (74.5 grade in 2023) but has first-round tools and flashes dominance (see: 2022 tape against
Olu Fashanu and
Penn State).
The 33rd Team - Marcus Mosher (4/29)
29. Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville
The
Detroit Lions are still searching for a long-term bookend to pair with Aidan Hutchinson, and they could get one here with Ashton Gillotte from Louisville. Leading the ACC in sacks with 11, Gillotte was a force during the 2023 season. During the past two seasons, he's recorded 22.5 tackles for a loss and 18 sacks. Another strong season should firmly plant him in the first round.
USA Today - Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (4/28)
27. Donovan Jackson, IOL, Ohio State
The 6-4, 320-pound Jackson is experienced and savvy. Kevin Zeitler just turned 34 and probably isn't much more than a stopgap solution for Detroit on the interior.
CBS Sports - Ryan Wilson (4/28)
29. Shemar Turner, IDL, Texas A&M
Turner had a breakout campaign in 2023, finishing the season with 10.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. He's an athletic, bendy defensive lineman with positional versatility; he can align as a 3-4 DE but also has the length to play inside the next level.
More roundups: NFL Teams | NFL Draft Prospects