NFL Draft week is finally here, and that means Lions general manager Brad Holmes and the 31 other general managers around the league are making their final preparations for the three-day event kicking off with Thursday night's first round in Green Bay.
The Lions currently have seven total picks, one in each of the first four rounds, one in the sixth and two in the seventh. This is probably the most complete roster Holmes has had entering the draft, which means he has options. He could move up to make a play at one of the elite players on his board. Maybe he finds there's a group of players similarly graded, and he gets an offer to move back, gain an asset or two, and still come away with a player they like early in Day 2.
If Holmes stays put at No. 28, here's a look at 10 players who could be on the board late in the first round that make sense for the Lions:
1. OL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
Zabel is one of my favorite prospects in the class because of the versatility he could offer teams upfront and that might take him off the board before he can get to No. 28. Zabel was an All-American left tackle but has also started at right tackle and both guard spots. He focused on playing some center in the pre-draft process too. He's tough, technically sound and excels as a run blocker.
2. EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Stewart has the frame (6-5, 267) and athletic traits teams love to deploy on the edge. There's some question marks about his sack production (4.5 sacks the last three seasons combined), but his tape shows a far more disruptive player. He led the Aggies in pressures last season with 39. Stewart could really benefit from playing across from and learning from one of the best pass rushers in the business in Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson.
3. DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Harmon is an athletic big man who generated a ton of disruption for the Ducks in his lone season as a starter in 2024 after transferring from Michigan State. Harmon led all FBS interior defensive linemen with 55 pressures last year, which was 12 more than the next-closest player. He racked up 45 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks to go along with all those pressures last season.
4. LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Campbell played the MIKE and WILL roles at Alabama and also lined up on the edge and was productive there. He could be a player who has three-position (WILL, MIKE & SAM) potential in Detroit's defense. Campbell led Alabama in tackles (117), tackles for loss (11.5), sacks (five) and forced fumbles (two). Holmes must love Alabama prospects having drafted CB Terrion Arnold, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, DB Brian Branch and WR Jameson Williams in the last three drafts.
5. WR Matthew Golden, Texas
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said this offseason he'd like to add some young talent to the wide receiver room. Detroit returns their top four receivers from last season, but the long-term future of the position needs to be addressed. Golden is a speedster (4.29 seconds in 40-yard dash) who averaged at least 20.0 yards per catch in 10 of 16 games in 2024. He's also a terrific kickoff returner (25.8-yard average with two touchdowns).
6. EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia
Williams was used up and down Georgia's defensive front from the three to five technique and even standing up as an outside linebacker. He's got terrific length (6-5, 267) and bend to go along with long arms (34 3/8). He was a consistently productive player on a deep Georgia defense recording 67 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 14.0 sacks and three forced fumbles over the last three seasons.
7. S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
The Lions don't have a lot of experienced depth behind starters Kerby Joseph and Branch, and they like to use the versatility and skillset of a third safety in sub-packages. What stands out about Watts is the ball production. He tied for second in the FBS with six interceptions last season and that was after tying for the lead in 2023 with seven. He's got terrific ball skills, range and instincts.
As the 2025 NFL Draft nears, let's take a look back at Detroit Lions players and their draft experiences.

Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson shakes hands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Detroit Lions as the second pick in the NFL football draft Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong )

Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold on the phone while being chosen by the Detroit Lions with the 24th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft at the 2024 NFL football draft Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Detroit. (Doug Benc/AP Images for the NFL)

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) holds up his jersey on stage after he is selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the first overall pick during the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre on Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Chicago. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)

A Detroit Lions fan, left, who was chosen to be on stage, points to an image of the team's first-round pick Penei Sewell, an offensive lineman from Oregon, on the display on stage at the NFL football draft, Thursday April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson stands next to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Detroit Lions as the second pick in the NFL football draft Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong )

Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the Detroit Lions with the 12th pick of the NFL football draft Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher )

Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams walks towards the stage after being selected by the Detroit Lions during the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 28, 2022 in Las Vegas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)


Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on April 28, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)

Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on April 28, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs meets Detroit Lions Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Hamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on April 28, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)

Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell speaks to the media at a press conference at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on April 28, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)

Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, and Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on April 28, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)

Penei Sewell arrives to Allen Park during the 2021 NFL DRAFT - Day 3 (AP Photo)

Penei Sewell arrives to Allen Park during the 2021 NFL DRAFT - Day 3 (AP Photo)

Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, poses with a fan after the Detroit Lions selected Frank Ragnow during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

The Detroit Lions first-round NFL football draft pick Frank Ragnow addresses the media, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Allen Park, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) shakes hands with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the first pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 28, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

UTSA defensive end Marcus Davenport on the phone in the green room during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams during a visit to the Detroit Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on April 29, 2022. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)

Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold with Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during his visit to the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on April 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)

Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold poses being chosen by the Detroit Lions with the 24th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Alabama defensive back Brian Branch celebrates after being chosen by the Detroit Lions during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 28, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
8. IOL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
A three-year starter for the Buckeyes, Jackson played both left guard and left tackle. There will be some teams that view him as a tackle and others at guard. His ability to play both should be attractive to a lot of teams. He's got a ton of experience playing in 53 career games. He is athletic and strong, which will translate to wherever he plays at the next level.
9. T Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
The Lions have a terrific tackle tandem returning in the All-Pro Penei Sewell and Pro Bowler Taylor Decker. But consider this, Decker will be 32 years old in August and swing tackle Dan Skipper will be 31 in September. Conerly anchored an Oregon offensive line that was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation's most outstanding offensive line unit, and allowed just one sack in 494 pass-rush reps while surrendering just nine total pressures.
10. DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Nolen combines terrific size, strength and quickness for a player who was a game-wrecker at times for the Rebels last season. He's a penetrator with strong hands and finished top three among FBS defensive tackles with 14.0 tackles for loss in 2024. He also chipped in 6.5 sacks and got his hands on three balls in the passing game. Him and Alim McNeill together could be scary.