Jeff Risdon
Just back from my 16th trip to Senior Bowl week, it’s time to examine some players I observed and conversed with throughout the week, focusing on the Detroit Lions. The Lions were evaluating players all week too, holding a 10-minute interview with each player present (a practice all teams follow), in addition to spending extra time with certain prospects and agents during the week.
Here are 12 athletes who shone during practice and interview sessions as possible Lions prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft. Additionally, three players I anticipated would capture the Lions’ attention but fell short of Detroit’s expectations are mentioned here too. They are arranged in alphabetical order, with a clear emphasis on the offensive and defensive lines.
Just back from my 16th trip to Senior Bowl week, it’s time to examine some players I observed and conversed with throughout the week, focusing on the Detroit Lions. The Lions were evaluating players all week too, holding a 10-minute interview with each player present (a practice all teams follow), in addition to spending extra time with certain prospects and agents during the week.
Here are 12 athletes who shone during practice and interview sessions as possible Lions prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft. Additionally, three players I anticipated would capture the Lions’ attention but fell short of Detroit’s expectations are mentioned here too. They are arranged in alphabetical order, with a clear emphasis on the offensive and defensive lines.
Darius Alexander, DL, Toledo
Alexander consistently received plusses in the practice log for his performance in both individual and team drills. The 6-foot-3, 304-pound player demonstrated his ability to excel as a stand-up EDGE with his quick burst off the snap and unexpectedly agile footwork. Alexander excelled even more as a 3-technique, which is the position he mentioned he envisions for himself in the NFL.
Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
Ersery aligns well with the Lions’ favored approach to offensive tackle. He possesses raw strength, impressive shoulder and grip power, along with strong downfield mobility skills. His performance in one-on-ones gradually enhanced over the week as he became more at ease playing more often on the right side—an adaptation for a longtime left tackle at Minnesota. His mentality and approach during our conversation with Ersery on media night certainly matched the toughness of the Dan Campbell Lions.
Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Green came with a remarkable production résumé to Mobile, yet there were concerns regarding his size and capability to compete against tougher opponents than those he encountered at Marshall. He ticked those boxes, especially on this play where he dominated Oregon OT Josh Conerly.
Green may not be a strong edge setter against the run and is lighter (253 pounds) than what the Lions desired alongside Aidan Hutchinson, yet his capacity to affect the quarterback is undeniable. If new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard wants a flamethrower, Green provides a lot of explosive energy.
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
While Hairston is slightly below the preferred size for Detroit at just over 5-11 and 179 pounds, his performance in drills in Mobile suggests otherwise. He effectively utilized his long arms and solid body positioning to eliminate throwing angles. Hairston was absent on the last day due to an undisclosed injury, yet he stood out on the sidelines supporting his new teammates, with a football securely held in his right arm. Team captain, passionate leader, strong tackler, Detroit-area local; Hairston fulfills numerous Lions criteria.
Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
The Lions may seek a sizeable wide receiver, since frequently-injured Tim Patrick is available as a free agent. Higgins distinguished himself during the week in Mobile not only for his size (nearly 6-4 and 217 pounds) but also for his quickness off the line. Higgins was clearly the top performer among the larger wide receivers throughout the week.
Demetrius Knight, LB, South Carolina
Knight stood out as one of the largest LBs in Mobile (6-1 3/4, 247 pounds) and excelled in both coverage and blitz drills. Extremely engaged before the snap during team drills, and his talent for reliably hitting the correct gap in run fills with power was quite remarkable. His football intelligence and explosive closing speed should be quite attractive to new DC Kelvin Sheppard if he aims to strengthen his LB group in the mid rounds.
Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss
Nolen moves with the agility of a much lighter individual than his 6-foot-3, 293-pound physique might indicate. During the positional drills, Nolen excelled in navigating the bags and agility tests compared to his peers. He was reliably too fast off the line for guards and centers to manage in 1-on-1 pit drills, as well. Nolen might be a top-20 overall prospect, but if he drops slightly as a fierce player capable of performing across the 3 to 7 technique, the Lions should be highly interested in Nolen.
Oluwafemi Oladejo, EDGE, UCLA
Femi, O2, O-O, or however you choose to refer to Oladejo (he was known by all three names at different times in Mobile), just ensure you recognize him as a talented football player. A transformed off-ball linebacker, he demonstrated the highest level of success off the edge in one-on-one drills. He’s shaped similarly to ex-Lions starter Romeo Okwara, featuring a sturdy torso and lengthy, strong arms. Due to his experience off the ball, Oladejo might be a mid-round candidate as a hybrid EDGE/SAM—at least in the scheme the Lions utilized under Aaron Glenn.
Aeneas Peebles, DT, Virginia Tech
Peebles is a dynamic force in the interior line who experienced a captivating week during practices. He didn’t have much success in 1-on-1 rush scenarios in the pit, except for outpacing a few of the less agile guards. However, during team drills or a segment where the pit drill extended to 2 DL against 3 OL, Peebles was unstoppable. He stands at a modest 6 feet tall, but he utilizes this to his advantage effectively, and his lengthy wingspan enables him to contain runners and prevent blockers from penetrating too deeply into his body. He’s a quicker counterpart to Lions 2024 newcomer Mekhi Wingo.
3 disappointments from a Lions perspective
All three of these players were ones I was watching as potential targets for the Lions heading into the week, but they simply didn’t shift my perception in Detroit’s favor.
Tai Felton, WR, Maryland – Felton possesses decent size for someone capable of playing in the slot or wideout, and he demonstrates strong straight-line speed. He didn’t handle jams effectively and frequently took an extra step to escape his initial break. Still an interesting possibility, though likely a round or two later than I expected, as someone who believed he might be a reasonable choice at No. 60 overall for the Lions.
Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas—has a rigid lower body and lacks creativity as a pass rusher. Uncertain if he succeeded on the outside in 1-on-1s, but he appeared significantly improved when targeting the inside shoulder during the final practice day. Too frequently hindered during team drills this week.
Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss—yet another lengthy edge rusher who fell short in terms of both speed and stability. The final burst is impressive, and he effectively set the edge in team drills, but Umanmielen did not appear to be a Day 2 prospect (where he’s commonly projected) during the week.
Shemar Stewart, DL, Texas A&M
At times, an image arranges everything flawlessly. Stewart ended up pivoting inside off this play against LSU’s Emery Jones, making him reach for imaginary shoulder pads, while Stewart aimed directly at the (would-be) quarterback. Perfectly designed as a “crush the can” force on the edge at 6-foot-5 and 281 pounds, Stewart excelled in practices to the extent that he took the final day off. He plays in a way that’s quite comparable to Ndamukong Suh when the Lions positioned him over a tackle rather than inside during his time in Detroit. If he reaches No. 28 in the draft, it’s difficult to imagine the Lions not seriously contemplating Stewart with their initial selection—and he’s also a technically improving talent.
Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M
The objective for small-school players is to demonstrate sufficient skill that compels me to return and review additional footage of their games. That definitely occurred for Vinson, a massive FCS-level tackle standing nearly 6-foot-7 and weighing 314 pounds, possessing arms exceeding 35 inches and hands that actually hurt my fingers when we shook hands. Given his physique and athletic potential, it was promising to witness Vinson achieve more victories than defeats in one-on-one matchups. His pad height and leg power in run blocking during team drills were notable.
Grey Zabel, IOL, North Dakota State
If you’ve consumed any Senior Bowl content from pretty much anywhere, you’ve heard Grey Zabel mentioned as a big winner for the week. I’ll go so far as to say he was the all-around most impressive player in Mobile, especially considering he was a college left tackle playing guard and center exclusively. He can start at guard or center for most every NFL team right away, though it’ll probably cost Detroit their first-round pick to select Zabel. He was that good…arguably the best center I’ve seen in Mobile since Alex Mack.