Pride of Detroit
Bad news for some players can be good news for others. Here are 7 players that benefitted from the Detroit Lions’ 2025 NFL Draft.
Things are not all doom and gloom for the Detroit Lions depth chart.
While some players are at risk of losing a starting role or a roster spot, this post-draft period also highlights how beneficial the NFL Draft was for others. The Lions only had so many draft picks to play with, meaning not every position was addressed. The draft is impactful not only due to the moves that were made, but also the moves that were not made.
Which Lions players benefitted from the 2025 draft class?
We can officially put to bed any rumors about a Jameson Williams trade this year. When the Lions brought in prospect Matthew Golden for a pre-draft visit, speculation quickly arose from a section of the fanbase that Williams could be potential trade piece. The Lions quickly and promptly shut down those rumors with both actions and words.
Brad Holmes reinforced his belief in Jameson Williams and smothered any notion that a Williams trade was in the works. The Lions backed up those claims by exercising Williams’ fifth-year option just a day later. While the Lions added a pair of receivers in the NFL Draft, neither of them are in the mold of Williams. Isaac TeSlaa was a big slot receiver in college that could transition into an X receiver, while Dominic Lovett is a special teamer and depth slot option.
I cannot guarantee he will be in Detroit long-term, but for now, let us appreciate his talent. Onward to training camp.
Speaking of training camp, it could be an interesting time for two depth linebacker options. Trevor Nowaske and Anthony Pittman are competing for a limited number of linebacker openings on this roster, and given that they bring a similar skillset, they could be hard pressed to both make the roster.
However, the draft did prove somewhat beneficial for both of them. Not only did the Lions not draft a linebacker, as of this writing, they have not signed a undrafted free agent either—the entire linebacking corps is composed of experienced players. The reason why this benefits Nowaske and Pittman is for their roles on defense and special teams. On defense, both players can be utilized as SAM linebackers, a role with limited depth on the Lions roster right now. The leader of that group is Derrick Barnes, but nobody besides Nowaske and Pittman have played that role in an extended capacity. When you factor in their special teams abilities, that could put them ahead of a player like Ezekiel Turner on the depth chart. If Malcolm Rodriguez starts the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, that could mean another open spot as well.
I do not know if both players will make the roster, but things are shaping up nicely for at least one...
