Three weeks from today, on April 24th, we learn what the Detroit Lions are doing with their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Until then, we're going to continue to lay out potential scenarios for how the draft weekend can play out for Lions GM Brad Holmes and his crew. This is the latest set of projections, the fifth of the offseason series.
The last edition can be found here. That's from just after the first week of free agency. Version 2.0 came from directly before the NFL Scouting Combine.
Here's how the first round went, giving an idea of the available player pool for the Lions at No. 28:
First round: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Harmon is a repeat performer in the mock draft. He's an ascending talent with dominant physical potential at a position where the Lions can use more long-term pieces. Harmon's ability to generate instant pressure from anywhere between the tackles means he can thrive even when Alim McNeill returns from his knee injury. Harmon projects as a much higher-end version of Levi Onwuzurike's role in Detroit.
Second round: Oluwafemi Oladejo, EDGE, UCLA
"Femi" is a player the Lions have shown interest in throughout the draft process, and the converted off-ball backer merits the consideration here. Oladejo was the second-round option presented in the "EDGE For Every Round" and that still seems like a distinct possibility if the 259-pounder is still on the board.
Packaging this No. 60 overall pick and one of Detroit's third-round picks from next ...
