Pride of Detroit
Our staff picks out the biggest surprises from the 2025 Detroit Lions draft.
As we continue to dig into the Detroit Lions’ 2025 draft class, we wanted to give the entire staff a voice to share their overall thoughts on how Brad Holmes and company performed over the weekend.
This is the first installment in a seven-part series of Lions draft superlatives. Here are the seven questions we’re going to answer over the course of the next week.
In this article, we start at the bottom:
Jeremy: Not trading up in the top-50 picks.
Holmes is known for his aggression, and while he certainly showed that later in the draft, I thought there was a very good chance he was going to do it early. I believed he may take a stab to climb 10-12 spots in the first round, and when players like Donovan Ezeiruaku, JT Tuimoloau, and Nic Scourton were available in the 40s, I fully expected Holmes to go get one of them.
Brandon Knapp: Trading up for Isaac TeSlaa
Brad trading up wasn’t the surprise, it was the trade up for TeSlaa specifically. I was hoping for a defensive end or a different WR there.
Ryan Mathews: Trading up for Isaac TeSlaa
The Lions had a need at wide receiver, X-receiver specifically, and hosting Matthew Golden for a top-30 visit did nothing but stoke those flames. Trading two additional third-round draft picks in 2026 to move up to No. 70 for a player ranked the 171st consensus player in the draft was by far the biggest surprise of the draft.
Max Gerber: Doubling up on guards
Let me preface this by saying that I love the Miles Frazier pick and think he will be a great addition to the offensive line group in Detroit. I saw guard as a major need for the Lions and thought that box was checked with the selection of Tate Ratledge in the second round. For them to trade two picks to move up and take Frazier as well was a welcome surprise. I’m interested to see how he’ll fit in a crowded and versatile offensive line room.
John Whiticar: Not trading up in the first round
In a draft with a perceived weak first round, I really expected Brad Holmes to make a trade up to secure one of his “guys.” They ended up staying put and selecting Tyleik Williams, but it is unclear if he was one of those select prospects with a first-round grade or whether that list had already been plucked clean. Holmes has made numerous trade ups, both this year and in previous drafts, and he strikes me as someone very eager to get his...
