Pride of Detroit
The Detroit Lions may not be looking to draft a quarterback during the 2025 NFL Draft, but the Combine presents an opportunity to scout some potential upcoming opponents.
The 2025 NFL Combine begins on Monday, February 24, with prospects arriving alongside their positional groups over the next few days. During their time in Indianapolis, players will go through orientation, receive medical checks, meet with NFL teams, and take the podium to answer questions from the media. Then, on Thursday, February 27, NFL Network will start four days of televised coverage of on-field drills.
As we have done in past years, our coverage of this event will begin with a series of articles previewing each position group and taking you right up to the televised coverage. Following each day of on-field drills, we will share our opinions on the prospects who improved their draft stock, writing up another series of articles reviewing their performances.
Our preview series kicks off with the quarterbacks—who will participate in on-field activities on Saturday, March 1—that the Detroit Lions should monitor closely during positional activities.
With Jared Goff signing a contract extension last offseason that keeps him under contract through 2028 and his direct backup, Hendon Hooker, signed through 2026, the Lions are not pressed to make a significant move at the quarterback position. Additionally, 2024 practice squader Jake Fromm is under contract for 2025, likely leaving one spot on the 90-man roster potentially open for a camp arm who could challenge for a QB3 role.
Footwork, balance, ball placement, confidence, and leadership skills are all translatable traits you look for during quarterback drills. Don’t get hung up on completions because there will be a lot of pass catchers these quarterbacks have never worked with and timing will be off, but keep a sharp eye on the player’s mechanics.
Additionally, quarterback is a massive leadership position, so pay attention to what players are doing when it’s not their turn to throw. How do they interact with others? Are they relaxed under the bright lights? Can they flip the switch with the ball in their hand? Do they want the ball? Do they take extra reps? Social skills are a premium trait for this position.
This class doesn’t appear to have a surefire elite prospect, and if any of the six quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2024 draft were in this class, they’d almost surely be the top overall pick.
At this point in the draft process, it looks like there could be just two potential quarterbacks with starter-level upside, with another handful of options that could become spot-starters/quality reserves at the next level.
While the Lions’ depth at the position could take them out of the running for drafting a quarterback, it’s always good to scout the quarterback class, as there’s a good chance they’ll eventually have to face a few of these rookies in the next few...
