The 2025 NFL Draft process is officially underway for the Detroit Lions. Senior Bowl practices are beginning on Tuesday and this is the premier all-star game to pay attention to for the NFL Draft.
The Lions definitely like to mine players from this game. Last year they walked out with two players from the game but had interest in a lot more. Multiple first-round picks played in last year’s game as well. That will again be the case this year.
With those things in mind, here are eight players that the Lions should be keeping their eyes on this week and will likely look to talk to.
Marshall edge rusher Mike Green
This guy has already been mocked to the Lions several times already. Everyone knows this team needs some edge rusher help and Green is one of the guys that a lot of teams are going to be interested in. He led the FBS in sacks with 17 last year. Right now we have his average draft position at 43. By the time the Senior Bowl and Combine are past, he’ll be a low first-round pick.
Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins
It’s just hard to see the Lions going into another summer with a ton of questions about their receiver depth two years in a row. While Tim Patrick had a good season, he’s turning 32-years-old soon, and the Lions are likely to go younger. Higgins is a 6’5″ receiver with a lot of speed and athleticism. He can go up and get it and he stretches the field. Adding him to a group with St. Brown and Williams is dangerous. He’s a third-round guy right now.
Ole Miss edge Princely Umanmielen
Another really good edge rusher who could potentially find himself out of range for the Lions, but you still have to do your due diligence on him for sure. He put up 55 pressures and 11 sacks in 2024. Right now we have his average draft position at 29th. One spot below where the Lions pick.
Purdue guard Marcus Mbow
The Lions are likely to try and keep Kevin Zeitler, but in case they don’t, and frankly even if they do, the Lions should still be keeping an eye out for interior offensive linemen since we’ve seen Graham Glasgow take a step back this season. Mbow and Christian Mahogany could be a really good guard duo for the Lions. Mbow is currently expected to go in the second-round.
Illinois receiver Pat Bryant
For me, Higgins is the way to go, but if the Lions don’t want to take a receiver super high, Bryant is someone who has a similar skillset but is a little smaller and a little slower. He is also expected to go on day three in the fourth or fifth round.
LSU guard Miles Frazier
For a team that loves positional versatility, here’s a guy that definitely has it. He’s played left and right tackle and left and right guard in college. He started at every position. Frazier had a great 2024. He allowed just 13 pressures and no sacks from the right guard spot. In 2023 he allowed just one sack and six pressures.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart
Basically every team that’s going to be there is going to have an eye on Dart. While the Lions have Hooker on the roster right now, that does not currently seem like something that is going to last. The 21-year-old Dart is going to have teams interested with his mobility and his big arm. He’s someone the Lions can draft and develop into their starter someday. He’s expected to be a late first-round or early second-round guy.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe
Same story here as Dart. Milroe has the mobility and the arm that everyone is looking for. The Lions will probably take a look, although he could be out of range for them.