Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup 3.0

Detroit moves Savaiinaea back to right guard, where he started as a freshman before shifting to tackle for most of his sophomore season and his entire junior campaign. The Dan Campbell/Brad Holmes Lions have won a lot of games due to their offensive line, so it's important to keep the strength a strength.

Trey Amos' name has come up more often as a possible first-rounder these days, and while I don't have him that high on my board, I get what teams would be intrigued by. He's long and fast, which are two traits oft appreciated at the corner position.

When you don't have many needs, take a lineman. Banks could immediately compete for a starting spot at right guard and eventually kick out to left tackle later in his career. This offense is built on elite line play, might as well keep the pipeline going.

The Lions aren't a needs-based draft team, but after the first wave of free agency, there's a glaring hole at edge. Za'Darius Smith was released and the Lions have yet to address the position other than bringing back the injury-prone Marcus Davenport. The Lions could still add to the room before the draft, but without knowing what other moves will be made, Detroit proposed to the Rams to move up two spots for edge rusher Ezeiruaku — who also happened to be the best player available on our board. Detroit offered Nos. 28, 102 and a 2026 fourth-rounder in exchange for Nos. 26 and 127. The Rams wanted a 2026 fifth-rounder included in addition to the other picks offered, but before the Lions could respond, Los Angeles accepted an offer from the Bills to jump the Lions, who selected Ezeiruaku. Consider the Brad Holmes-Les Snead bromance (and the Colton Pouncy-Jourdan Rodrigue friendship) dead.

However, the Lions were fine standing pat because we figured the board would still work in our favor. We landed another player we love in Zabel — a versatile, high-end interior offensive lineman who could compete for a starting job immediately at guard and potentially be the long-term replacement for Frank Ragnow at center. There should be some quality edge rushers available on Day 2, and a trade-up into the second round could help guarantee our pick of the bunch. — Colton Pouncy

Williams is another player with a wide range of potential destinations. The production has trailed the athleticism, but there's a ton of upside here.

The loss of Aidan Hutchinson to injury last year sapped some of the ferocity from a passionate Lions defense, and finding another defender to complement that should be Detroit's top priority. Few edge rushers in this class offer Green's combination of burst, physicality and motor.

Don't let Burden's 2024 stats fool you -- he's a premier receiver prospect with upside galore.

I don't think the Lions need a ton, making this a luxury selection, but the window to win titles in the NFL is small and the blueprint is specific. You need to be able to get to the QB. Pearce would help Aidan Hutchinson in a big way.

Pearce could be the answer opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Besides figuring out how to stay healthy, the second edge rush spot was the Lions' biggest question last season. They traded for Za'Darius Smith at midseason, and he ended up contributing with four sacks over eight games. But to get past their playoff hump, having a steadier presence rushing the passer on the other side of Hutchinson is key. Pearce had just 7.5 sacks in 2024, but his 19% pressure rate was second in the FBS. He keeps offensive tackles guessing with his burst and strength.

Walter Nolen is a butt-kicker in the run game at the three-tech position. That's the missing link on what is a terrifying Lions defensive line when healthy.

The Lions get some of their punch back in the middle of the offensive line with this addition. Graham Glasgow regressed and Kevin Zeitler is off to his next home, leaving some open spots for the taking.

Booker fits the mold of the kind of players the Lions have gravitated toward.