Free agency has a way of changing up mock drafts after teams fill some holes in the roster with veterans. It probably shouldn't because good drafting teams focus on finding the best football players and not filling needs, but I digress.
Here's a look at what the mock drafts around the country have the Lions doing at No. 28 following the first big wave of free agency:
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
Why: Williams is another player with a wide range of potential destinations. The production has trailed the athleticism, but there's a ton of upside here.
Williams' full mock
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
Why: Pearce could be the answer opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Besides figuring out how to stay healthy, the second edge rush spot was the Lions' biggest question last season.
Kiper's full mock
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Why: Hutchinson's return should rejuvenate a defensive line ravaged by injuries last season, but lingering concerns remain after defensive tackle Alim McNeill suffered a torn ACL in December. The 6-foot-4, 331-pound Grant is still learning to translate his rare movement abilities into consistent pass-rush production, but he can make teams pay if they don't double-team him.
Middlehurst-Schwartz's full mock
View photos of 2025 NFL Draft edge prospect James Pearce Jr.
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) against Arkansas during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) lines up for a play during an NCAA football game against Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. Arkansas won 19-14. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) sacks Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff (12) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Virginia quarterback Tony Muskett (11) is pressured by Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. runs a drill during Tennessee's NFL Pro Day, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
UTEP quarterback JP Pickles (19) is sacked by Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) reacts to making a sack during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Steve Serby, New York Post: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Why: A 6-foot-3, 340-pound run-stuffer alongside Hutchinson with McNeill (torn ACL) possibly sidelined until October.
Serby's full mock
Seth Quinn, Newsweek: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
Why: The Lions could use youth on the defensive line after suffering injuries last season, and get that with Green. Green was a riser early in the draft process and has cemented himself as a solid first-round pick.
Quinn's full mock
John Kosko, Pro Football Focus: Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M
Why: After the Lions suffered no fewer than 250 injuries to their defense a year ago, they add an edge defender opposite Hutchinson in the big and physical Scourton. Don't let his "lack" of production fool you, as Texas A&M's scheme didn't provide him with many true pass rushes. He still won 17.1% of his reps in 2024 after a stellar 2023 where he was one of the best in the nation (21.3%).
Kosko's full mock
Rob Rang, FOX Sports: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
Why: The loss of Hutchinson to injury last year sapped some of the ferocity from a passionate Lions' defense, and finding another defender to complement that should be Detroit's top priority. Few edge rushers in this class offer Green's combination of burst, physicality and motor.
Rang's full mock
Joel Klatt, FOX Sports: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
Why: I don't think the Lions need a ton, making this a luxury selection, but the window to win titles in the NFL is small and the blueprint is specific. You need to be able to get to the QB. Pearce would help Hutchinson in a big way.
Klatt's full mock
Dave Helman, FOX Sports: Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas
Why: The Lions' pass rush looks solid on paper, but it comes with a lot of injury concern. I'd like to bump the depth there, not to mention add a player with some insane athleticism. Jackson's got the size and frame to contribute right now and could grow into a fun pass rush partner for Hutchinson.
Helman's full mock
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
Why: No one helped themselves more at the Senior Bowl than Zabel, who played primarily left tackle in 2024 for NDSU, but had experience at guard and center, too.
Wilson's full mock
Michael Renner, CBS Sports: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Why: Walter Nolen is a butt-kicker in the run game at the three-tech position. That's the missing link on what is a terrifying Lions defensive line when healthy.
Renner's full mock
Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Why: It was a major bummer that a hamstring strain kept Kenneth Grant from working out at the NFL combine, but he's still a massive, super athletic interior defensive lineman with a ton of room to grow.
Stackpole's full mock
View photos of 2025 NFL Draft offensive line prospect Grey Zabel.
North Dakota State linemen Grey Zabel (74) and South Dakota Mi"Quise Grace (90) engage each other during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Vermillion, S.D. (AP Photo/Josh Jurgens)
National team offensive lineman Grey Zabel of North Dakota State (77) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
North Dakota State linemen Grey Zabel (74) backs into pass protection against a South Dakota defender during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Vermillion, S.D. (AP Photo/Josh Jurgens)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
North Dakota State linemen Grey Zabel (74) lines up against a South Dakota defender during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Vermillion, S.D. (AP Photo/Josh Jurgens)
National team offensive lineman Grey Zabel (77), of North Dakota State, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
North Dakota State linemen Grey Zabel (74) sits back waiting for South Dakota defenders to rush during the PAT attempt during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Vermillion, S.D. (AP Photo/Josh Jurgens)
National team offensive lineman Grey Zabel of North Dakota State (77) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
Why: Smith is gone. Hutchinson will be returning from a torn ACL. Detroit makes the move to add depth at a premier position after seeing the unit decimated by injuries in 2024.
Edwards' full mock
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Why: Don't let Burden's 2024 stats fool you — he's a premier receiver prospect with upside galore.
Trapasso's full mock
Garrett Podell, CBS Sports: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
Why: The Detroit Lions were absolutely decimated by injuries along their defensive line in 2024, so they grab Pearce, a two-time first-team All-SEC player who led the conference in tackles for loss (28) and quarterback pressures (107) across the last two seasons.
Podell's full mock
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
Why: OK, so I've had Ohio State's Jack Sawyer here in each of my first two mocks because it seems like a match made in heaven, but Mike Green has a higher ceiling and would be the better value late in the first for a Detroit team that needs a second pass-rusher.
Fornelli's full mock
Eric Fronton, NBC Sports: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Why: Detroit has an arsenal of picks and dips into the deep defensive line class to give head coach Dan Campbell another talented big man IDL to support Hutchinson.
Fronton's full mock
Go behind the scenes with the Detroit Lions during 2025 free agency.
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91) and Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed celebrates after he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed with his wife as signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed celebrates after he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed celebrates after he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell meets with Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed and his wife meet with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Marcus Davenport (92) signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Anthony Pittman (41) signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Hamp meets with Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell meets with Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard meets with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard with Detroit Lions Equipment Manager Tim O'Neill during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard with his family as he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard with his family as he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez meets with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions run game coordinator/defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers meets with Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Marcus Davenport (92) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) signing his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes poses for a photo with Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during his contract signing the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) with his family as he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) with his son as he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) visits Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Yahoo Sports Staff: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
Why: When you don't have many needs, take a lineman. Banks could immediately compete for a starting spot at right guard and eventually kick out to left tackle later in his career.
Yahoo's full mock
Steven Cheah, Barstool Sports: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
Why: With Hutchinson missing most of the season, it became clear that the Lions' weakness was pass rush. Green is a muscled up 6-foot-3, 251 pounds, coming off a 17-sack season for the Thundering Herd.
Cheah's full mock
Kyle Crabbs, 33rd Team: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
Why: The Lions get some of their punch back in the middle of the offensive line with this addition.
Crabbs' full mock
James Foster, 33rd Team: Bradyn Swinson, Edge, LSU
Why: Detroit needs a capable edge rusher to play opposite of Hutchinson and Bradyn Swinson is the best one available. Swinson is a multi-dimensional pass rusher with a potent combination of burst, power, and lateral quickness.
Foster's full mock
