As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, all eyes are on the Detroit Lions and their pick at 28th overall. The Lions have come a long way under head coach Dan Campbell, moving from a long rebuilding phase to becoming a legitimate playoff contender in the NFC. With the team entering a new phase of competitiveness, their draft strategy will be key to their future success. The Lions’ front office will likely be looking to address remaining weaknesses on the roster, further solidify their core, and position themselves as Super Bowl contenders for years to come.
Several needs exist on Detroit’s roster that the front office will be eyeing during the 2025 NFL Draft. While there is flexibility in terms of which position the Lions may prioritize with their first pick, a number of factors will influence their decision-making. These include their 2025 season needs, their depth chart, player development, and the overall direction of the team.
Mock draft experts have weighed in on the Lions’ most likely 28th overall pick, and multiple positions are in play. From cornerbacks to wide receivers, edge rushers to linebackers, each draft analyst has a slightly different opinion on who will be the ideal selection for Detroit. Below, we will take a closer look at some of the top prospects that mock draft experts have pegged as possible selections for the Lions, analyze why they are viable choices, and explore how they would fit with Detroit’s current roster.
1. Cornerback: Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama)
Overview: As the Lions’ defense continues to improve, one glaring need remains: a true lockdown corner. While Detroit has made strides in developing its secondary with players like Jeff Okudah and Jerry Jacobs, a true shutdown corner to pair with these young players would provide much-needed stability and playmaking ability. Cornerback is one of the positions most frequently mocked to Detroit, with many experts pointing to Kool-Aid McKinstry as a potential first-round pick.
Why Kool-Aid McKinstry?
- Elite Coverage Skills: McKinstry, who hails from Alabama, has developed into one of the top cornerbacks in college football. His ability to blanket wide receivers in man coverage, combined with his speed and physicality, makes him a highly coveted prospect. McKinstry excels at both press coverage and zone coverage, providing versatility to a team’s defensive scheme.
- Playmaking Ability: McKinstry is a ballhawk, capable of creating turnovers and disrupting passing lanes. His agility and quick reactions allow him to make plays on the football, whether it’s an interception or a forced fumble.
- Fit in Detroit: The Lions need a cornerback who can shut down top-tier wide receivers in the NFC North and across the NFL. Pairing McKinstry with Jeff Okudah could give the Lions one of the most formidable cornerback tandems in the league. His ability to match up against speedy and physical receivers will elevate Detroit’s pass defense and provide stability to the secondary.
Mock Draft Predictions: Many mock drafts have McKinstry slotted to Detroit at 28, with analysts like Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay highlighting his potential to be a key addition to the Lions’ defense. His ability to play in both man and zone coverage schemes makes him a flexible option who could immediately contribute.
2. Wide Receiver: Xavier Worthy (Texas)
Overview: While Detroit’s receiving corps is solid, led by Amon-Ra St. Brown, the team could still use another dynamic playmaker who can stretch the field and add another explosive element to the offense. With Jared Goff playing at a high level and the offense continuing to improve, adding another weapon in the passing game could be the key to taking the offense to the next level. Xavier Worthy, a speedy and explosive wide receiver from Texas, has drawn interest from mock draft experts as a top selection for the Lions at pick 28.
Why Xavier Worthy?
- Speed and Deep Threat: Worthy is one of the fastest and most explosive wide receivers in college football. His ability to stretch the field and create big plays down the sideline or across the middle makes him a nightmare for defensive backs. Worthy would provide Goff with a true deep threat who can take the top off the defense, creating more space for Amon-Ra St. Brown and the rest of the receiving corps.
- Excellent Hands and Route Running: While Worthy is known for his speed, he is also a polished route runner with excellent hands. His ability to make contested catches and track deep passes in the air would make him a reliable target for Goff. This blend of speed and reliability is what makes Worthy an intriguing first-round prospect.
- Fit in Detroit: Worthy would complement Amon-Ra St. Brown perfectly, giving Detroit a dynamic duo at wide receiver. His speed and deep threat potential would open up opportunities for the entire offense, allowing St. Brown to operate in the intermediate and short-to-medium range with more space to work. Worthy’s presence would also force defenses to play more honest, making Detroit’s offense even more potent.
Mock Draft Predictions: Worthy has been a popular pick for Detroit in multiple mock drafts, with analysts like Daniel Jeremiah and Chris Trapasso suggesting that he would be an ideal fit for the Lions. His skill set fits what Detroit needs to round out its offense and would give Goff a legitimate playmaker alongside St. Brown.
3. Edge Rusher: Jared Verse (Florida State)
Overview: While Aidan Hutchinson has emerged as a star for Detroit, the Lions still need another dynamic edge rusher to help him generate pressure on the quarterback. Pairing Hutchinson with a player like Jared Verse, who is explosive and versatile, would give Detroit one of the most potent pass-rushing duos in the league. An edge rusher is a logical selection at pick 28, as the Lions would love to add another pass rusher to help take their defense to the next level.
Why Jared Verse?
- Elite Pass-Rush Ability: Verse is a disruptive force off the edge, with a relentless motor and the ability to rush the quarterback from multiple spots on the defensive line. His quickness and strength make him an ideal fit as an edge rusher, capable of generating pressure on the quarterback and making life difficult for opposing offenses.
- Versatility: Verse is not just an edge rusher—he can also line up as an interior rusher, creating matchup problems for offensive linemen. His versatility would allow Detroit’s defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, to move him around and create havoc in various defensive schemes.
- Fit in Detroit: Hutchinson and Verse would make a formidable duo on the edge, and the Lions would benefit greatly from having two players who can consistently pressure the quarterback. Adding a player like Verse would help Detroit’s defense become more aggressive and dominant, particularly in the pass-rushing department.
Mock Draft Predictions: Experts like Matt Miller and Lance Zierlein have identified Jared Verse as a strong fit for the Lions at pick 28. His combination of pass-rush ability and versatility makes him one of the best edge prospects available, and many analysts believe that Detroit would be wise to add him to their defense.
4. Linebacker: Jaren Kanak (Kansas State)
Overview: The linebacker position is another area of need for the Detroit Lions. While the team has some young pieces, they could use a true playmaker who can cover the field, stop the run, and provide leadership in the middle of the defense. Jaren Kanak from Kansas State has emerged as a potential first-round pick due to his sideline-to-sideline range and ability to impact the game in a variety of ways.
Why Jaren Kanak?
- Sideline-to-Sideline Range: Kanak is an athletic linebacker with incredible speed and lateral movement. He can cover a lot of ground, making him an asset in both run defense and pass coverage. His ability to track down ball carriers and cover running backs and tight ends in the passing game makes him a versatile linebacker.
- High Football IQ: Kanak is a smart player who can diagnose plays quickly and get himself in position to make an impact. His ability to read offenses and react quickly is one of his strongest attributes, and he has shown a knack for being in the right place at the right time.
- Fit in Detroit: Detroit has made progress at linebacker, but Kanak could be the type of player who elevates the group. His coverage ability, combined with his physicality and leadership, would make him a valuable asset to the Lions’ defense.
Mock Draft Predictions: While Kanak isn’t as frequently mocked to Detroit as some of the other prospects, analysts like Bucky Brooks have noted that he fits the Lions’ defense perfectly. His skill set could be too good to pass up, and Detroit could certainly use a linebacker with his skill set.
