If we look back at the 2024 season, the Detroit Lions have been through everything—from losing players due to injuries one by one, going to the playoffs for the second time to losing in the divisional round against the Washington Commanders. But underneath the defeat, there is a constant fire that must be burning in the hearts of Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes to clinch a playoff spot again—in fact, the Lombardi Trophy.

But to get to that level, the Lions have quite a lot of work to do. With great signal callers like Jared Goff—who was second in passing yards, fourth in TDs, and sixth in QBR—the team needs to strengthen the offensive line and wide receivers. Other than the OL and WRs, from a defensive squad perspective, the Lions need to draft a prospect who excels at edge and defensive tackle positions. So, here comes the mock draft of the Detroit Lions for the 2025 NFL Draft. Let’s check out which prospects have higher chances of getting drafted by Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes.

Round 1 (28th overall pick): James Pearce Jr., Tennessee Volunteers

The Lions have the 28th pick in the first round, and the most discussed, deserved, and, most importantly, perfect player for the Lions as an edge rusher would be James Pearce Jr. Many experts have projected the Tennessee Volunteers defender as a first-round pick, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper.

According to Kiper, “James Pearce Jr. is a guy we talk about as ‘polarizing.’ In terms of James Pearce Jr., you’re all over the place.” He also added, “Pearce is a guy who plays with an edge, tenacity, and a ‘hair-on-fire’ mentality.” That’s dope, right? But why should we go with opinions if James Pearce Jr. has already proved his strengths in the NFL Combine and college football?

If we look at his NFL Combine performance, James Pearce Jr. was nothing short of great in prospect grade and every single result. James completed the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds, along with a 10-yard split in 1.56 seconds. And to talk about his vertical, goes up to 31’’, with a broad jump at 10’3’’.

If we explore his stats for the Tennessee Volunteers, James Pearce Jr. has recorded 72 tackles, with 44 being solo tackles. Along with tackles, he has sacked opposing QBs 17 times while also forcing three fumbles. And looking at the Detroit Lions’ defensive rankings, he would be a great fit.

Dan Campbell’s team ranks 20th in defensive rankings. Their stats for ‘yards allowed per game’ go up to 342.4 for the 2024-25 season. In the 2024-25 season, the Lions’ defense has allowed 37 touchdowns. From a touchdown standpoint, they actually compare well, as the number-one defense—Philadelphia—allowed 33 total touchdowns. So, there should be no hesitancy in drafting this 6’5’’, 243 lb edge.

And after losing two key men in the Lions franchise—Carlton Davis to the New England Patriots and Kevin Zeitler to the Tennessee Titans—James Pearce Jr. could try to fill the gap.

Round 2 (60th overall): Jack Sawyer, Ohio State

This defensive end from Ohio State is an interesting option for the Lions, as they will most likely value his leadership and relentless motor. Further, he can affect the quarterback by using his strength to create pressure from the edge or from the guard’s outside. And his past performance backs him, and it is safe to say that he is NFL-ready. Just look at his 2024 season, where he had a total of 59 tackles, out of which 25 were solo. Further, he had 34 assists and 9 sacks.

With a vertical jump of 35 inches and boasting a 6’4″ frame at 260 lbs, his game is built for power and not speed. And if NFL analyst Lance Zierlein is to be believed, then he has short arms and a slow power that could prove effective in neutralizing and overcoming run blocks. If the Lions are to draft him, they’re giving their defensive line a much-needed push.

Round 3 (102nd overall): Jalen Royals, Utah State

We discussed right at the start that the Lions need wide receivers. Last season, Tim Patrick was decent at the receiving end of the pass with 33 receptions and three touchdowns, but the veteran WR is turning 32 this year. So, it would be great for Dan Campbell to work on the wide receiver options, and Jalen Royals could be a great fit.

The Utah State Aggies WR performed well at the NFL Combine, with an overall score of 82. The 6’0’’, 205 lb WR previously played for the Georgia Bulldogs before landing at Utah. Jalen Royals ranked seventh in total score among wide receivers at the Combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds and completed the 10-yard split in 1.49 seconds while showcasing his skills.

But he has already shown his skills in college football with a total of 21 receiving touchdowns in two years after catching 126 passes. Surprisingly, he landed a staggering 16 TDs in a single season in 2023. So, Lions, please draft this WR at any cost, and he might do wonders!

Round 4 (130th overall): Jonas Sanker, Virginia

The Lions trade picks 130 and 196 to the Falcons for pick 118, and this is the player we have been talking about. After spending four college football seasons with the Virginia Cavaliers, Jonas Sanker has made an impressive 273 total tackles, 167 of which were solo tackles. His 2023 season was great, where he tackled 107 times, assisted in tackles 34 times, and also forced three fumbles. So, why couldn’t the Lions draft him?

Well, the Lions have a great pair of Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph at the safety positions. But both players are unrestricted free agents, and the Lions would be vulnerable if either left the position vacant. So, picking up Sanker in round 4 can be a long-term solution. At the Combine, he also showed some moves to grab a final score of 71 and ranked seventh among safeties. I believe Dan Campbell would not regret this pick.

But before moving to the sixth pick, let’s not miss the fact that the Lions traded their fifth-round pick (164th overall) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Za’Darius Smith. So, let’s dive deep into the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Round 6 (196th overall): Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech

Among the four major needs of the Detroit Lions—edge, wide receiver, and offensive linemen—here is the fourth deal. Though the Virginia Tech defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles is undersized at 6’0.5’’, 282 lbs, his strengths lie in speed, quickness, and agility. In the latest Combine, he scored an average of 66, ranking 24th among all defensive tackles.

Throughout his college football journey, he was part of Virginia Tech in the last year. In the 2024 season, he made 30 tackles, with 10 being solo tackles. Along with tackles, he also sacked opposing QBs three times. According to Stadium Rant, “Watching the tape, he is quick, instinctive, and deceptively strong. He has good first-pass rush moves and counters, and he battles hard through the whistle.”

Round 7 (228th overall): Dante Trader Jr., Maryland

First of all, the Detroit Lions got the 7th-round pick from the 2024 draft trade with the Dallas Cowboys. Dan Campbell’s team wanted to trade up in Round 1 from the 29th to the 24th position to draft Terrion Arnold. So, that’s why the Lions are going to pick in the compensatory round, and Dante Trader Jr. would be a great deal at the safety position. As we know, the Lions also focus on the defensive side, as the run game should be equalized.

And if you are thinking, why Dante Trader Jr.? Then think again. In the 2024 season, Dante Trader Jr. made a total of 37 solo tackles, along with one interception and four PDs. Though in the NFL Combine, he also scored decently, he ranked 21st among safeties. So, for the 7th-round, 228th pick, the Detroit Lions can pick Dante Trader Jr. on April 26, 2025.

Round 7 (244th overall): Peny Boone, Central Florida

The Lions also got this pick from the Dallas Cowboys when they traded for DT Justin Rogers. So, in this position, running back Peny Boone can be a great fit, as Detroit is his hometown, and he knows the culture very well. According to A to Z Sports, “This feels like an absolute steal for the Lions if they can get that guy from Toledo.”

In the 2024 season, Peny Boone made a total of 34 rushing attempts for 208 yards and landed two touchdowns. His average for rushing attempts to yards goes up to 6.1. So, in order to help the QB, this could be a good fit for the Lions.

So, these are the complete seven-round picks we believe Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions could target in the 2025 NFL Draft. Each selection is aimed at strengthening key positions and addressing the team’s most pressing needs, from bolstering the defense to adding offensive firepower. Now, all that’s left is to wait and see how the draft unfolds on April 24 and the following days. Will the Lions make these moves, or will there be surprises along the way? Let’s find out soon!