The Detroit Lions have won 27 regular-season games over the past two seasons after totaling just 26 wins in the five years prior, and they are on a trajectory to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl sooner rather than later.
The instant impact of the players they drafted this year may be limited, but their long-term trajectory relies on their ability to build a young foundation. Should their fans like what they did this year?
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Overall Lions Draft Grade: B+
Many people were taken aback by the Detroit Lions’ first-round selection. Interior defensive line may not have been the most pressing need for Brad Holmes and company, but Tyleik Williams is an exciting defensive tackle prospect who possesses the kind of raw athleticism and physical tools that get defensive coordinators excited. He’s drawn comparisons to Alim McNeill, and now, he’ll be joining him.
Detroit also addressed the trenches on the other side of the football. After losing Kevin Zeitler in free agency, the Lions needed to add some talent on the interior of their offensive line. Tate Ratledge is an elite athlete with rare explosiveness, agility, and second-level mobility.
His power and athleticism should be a good fit on one of the best offensive line units in the NFL. He should compete with Christian Mahogany for a starting spot next season. Miles Frazier is another guard who played against elite competition in the SEC and could develop into a starter.
The Isaac TeSlaa selection was an underrated pick. He’s a natural talent who needs to expand his route tree, but he’s a high-level athlete with great size and run-after-catch ability. With some development, he has the tools to become a WR3 in the Lions’ offense.
While Detroit added plenty of value, it’s disappointing that they didn’t address their need for edge rushers until Round 6. This was a relatively deep class at the position, and it would’ve been nice to see them go after a player with more upside. Other than that, Holmes came away with a haul that features a good mix of NFL-readiness and potential.
Grades for Every Lions Draft Pick
- Round 1, Pick 28
Tyleik Williams, DT | Ohio State
Grade: A-
The expectation was that the Lions would address not just the defensive line but also EDGE in particular. There’s still a need for a true starter opposite Aidan Hutchinson, but the Lions managed to bolster their interior defensive line at 28th overall, selecting Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams.
Williams’ placement on boards varied, but he was a top-25 talent on mine and a sure-fire first-round DT with exciting three-down upside. At 6’3” and 334 pounds, he’s a slab of marble in run defense with unique alignment versatility, and he has the energized build-up speed and power capacity to make an impact as a rusher.
Interestingly enough, Williams profiles similarly to the Lions’ own Alim McNeill, who has developed into a star. Williams has the versatility to line up at 0-tech and 1-tech in odd fronts or at 3-tech and 4i in even fronts, and he’s even taken reps as a play-side 5-tech in run defense. Simply put, Williams is a role-diverse DT with a complete skill set and exciting early value.
- Round 2, Pick 57
Tate Ratledge, OG | Georgia
Grade: B+
One of the NFL’s elite offenses entered the draft with very few holes. The Lions may have plugged that need with Tate Ratledge, who could slot in at right guard after Kevin Zeitler departed in free agency.
Ratledge comes with plenty of experience after starting 37 games at Georgia. He possesses an unorthodox build for an interior offensive lineman at 6’7”, but his power and explosiveness should fit beautifully between All-Pros Frank Ragnow and Penei Sewell.
Ratledge should have the inner track to start over 2024 sixth-rounder Christian Mahogany.
- Round 3, Pick 70
Isaac TeSlaa, WR | Arkansas
Grade: B-
The Lions force you to automatically consider “devil’s advocate” thought exercises with their unorthodox picks. No one liked the Jahmyr Gibbs pick or the Sam LaPorta pick. Those turned out well. They don’t have Ben Johnson anymore, but the infrastructure is still there, and Isaac TeSlaa is the kind of natural talent who can exceed expectations with the right support.
To be clear, TeSlaa is relatively underdeveloped, and will need to expand his route tree. But at 6’4”, 214 pounds, he’s a 99th-percentile athlete, with 4.43 speed, a 39.5” vertical, a 10’9” broad jump, and a 6.85 three-cone.
He’s a size-speed freak, vertical threat, and potential RAC weapon who can block at a high level. The Lions have a long-term vision for him as a WR3, and he’s a quality rotational spark with run-game utility right out of the gate.
- Round 5, Pick 171
Miles Frazier, G | LSU
Grade: A - Round 6, Pick 196
Ahmed Hassanein, EDGE | Boise State
Grade: B+ - Round 7, Pick 230
Dan Jackson, S | Georgia
Grade: A - Round 7, Pick 244
Dominic Lovett, WR | Georgia
Grade: A
