The Detroit Lions hold the 28th overall pick, and as expected, mock drafts have been inconsistent. Of the 17 mock drafts reviewed this week, 12 different players were projected for then Lions across five position groups.
As anticipated, defense was heavily favored, with only one mock pairing the Lions with an offensive player. Among the other 16 mocks, 11 different players were named, but seven of those were edge rushers, which stands as the only real trend in the early offseason mock drafts. Detroit has a strong offensive line but faces potential changes, especially with Kevin Zeitler’s expiring contract and Graham Glasgow’s struggles in 2024 after his 3-year deal. Given the coaching changes, sticking to the team’s identity could ease the transition, making a powerful guard like Tyler Booker an ideal fit. — Crabbs Early projections had Booker as a late first or early second-round pick, but NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah recently ranked him No. 14 overall and mocked him to the Bears at No. 10. He later tweeted that sources at Alabama described him as the “Will Anderson of offense,” citing his leadership, work ethic, and competitiveness.
With Jeremiah’s influence, Booker’s stock will likely rise, though guards rarely go high unless they’re game-changers, so he could still be available in the 20s. The Lions may find themselves in a good position to select him. With Alim McNeill recovering from injury, DJ Reader in a contract year, and Levi Onwuzurike a pending free agent, Detroit might need interior defensive depth and a potential future starter.
We mentioned Williams last week, but this is the first time Harmon has been projected to the Lions. A Detroit native, Harmon is a versatile interior lineman capable of playing across the line, making him an excellent complement to McNeill. He can help push the pocket and solidify the line against the run.