The Athletic 3-round mock: Lions add flexibility in the trenches

We’re less than two weeks away from the 2025 NFL Draft and analysts are producing mock drafts at a fever-pitch rate. It can be tough to sort through the wash with so many ideas flooding the market, so it’s worth highlighting mock drafts that make sense for the Detroit Lions.

While Nick Baumgardner’s position at The Athletic has him covering a broader scope of NFL football and the NFL Draft, he maintains a high level of knowledge about the Lions and their approach to roster building. That’s clear in his latest three-round mock draft, where Baumgardner lands the Lions plenty of help on the offensive and defensive lines.

Setting the stage

Baumgardner has the Lions sticking at pick No. 28 in this draft, and like most Lions-based writers, has Detroit focusing on the trenches. Along the way to pick No. 28, we see several linemen come off the board, including:

Offensive line:

OT Will Campbell, LSU

OT Armand Membou, Missouri

OG Tyler Booker, Alabama

OG Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State

OT Josh Conerly, Oregon

Defensive line:

EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State

DT Mason Graham, Michigan

EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia

DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon

EDGE Mike Green, Marshall

EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia

EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

With 14 (!) linemen off the board, the Lions were left with only a few options where team need and talent matched with value of pick No. 28. Faced with the options in front of him, Baumgardner elected to go with ...

Round 1, pick 28: Kelvin Banks, OL, Texas

Here’s Baumgardner’s explanation for the pick:

“The Lions’ biggest need is edge, and it also wouldn’t shock me should Brad Holmes try to get younger at receiver — Jameson Williams’ long-term future on the roster is anything but certain. But Detroit also has uncertainty at guard. Banks, a college tackle, should translate well to a guard spot in the NFL and could potentially be a long-term answer opposite Sewell.”

While Banks played left tackle exclusively at Texas, many analysts (including The Atheltic’s Dane Brugler) project Banks’ best position to be inside at guard in the NFL. At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, Banks has the technique, movement skills, and athleticism (8.26 RAS) the Lions covet at guard, while also providing the Lions with the option to kick him outside to tackle in the future.

The idea of drafting a player capable of starting immediately at guard while also providing insurance at tackle is a smart strategy many analysts have contemplated for a few years now. And with the board falling the way it did, Banks makes a lot of sense. Donovan Jackson (Ohio State) has similar positional range—and went off the board a few picks later in this mock draft—but he’s not as clean of a tackle option.

On Day 2, Baumgardner stayed in the trenches but flipped over to the defensive side of the ball for both picks.

Round 2, pick 60, JT Tuimoloau, Edge (DE), Ohio State

At 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, Tuimoloau has the body type and skill set to occupy the Lions' “big defensive end” role in their defense. An elite edge setter and strong run defender, Tuimoloau has the consistency the Lions look for in an edge player opposite Aidan Hutchinson. He’s not flashy as a pass rusher, but he’s also not a liability in this area either. His energy level and high motor will give him the opportunity to challenge for a starting role immediately in the Lions scheme.

With the Lions' next pick, he stays in the Big Ten and grabs another edge rusher to complement Tuimoloau.

Round 3, pick 102: Josaiah Stewart, Edge (SAM), Michigan

Here’s Baumgardner’s explaining why he projected a double dip on the edge:

“The Lions double-dipped at CB last season, and don’t be surprised if they do the same this year while searching for pass-rush help opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Bringing an Ohio State (Tuimoloau) or Michigan (Stewart) player to Detroit always makes for a good time. These two would complement each other well.”

While Tuimoloau and Stewart both play the edge, they play very different roles. Stewart is a stand-up pass rusher who would act as more of a chess piece in Kelvin Sheppard’s defense. Stewart is a dynamic and explosive pass rusher (think James Houston’s old role), while also having the coverage range to back up Derrick Barnes at the SAM linebacker spot—and possibly start in the role if Barnes is moved back to WILL in the future.

Summary

With his three picks, Baumgardner filled multiple needs for the Lions, now and in the future. By targeting players with upside and positional range, he has potentially set the Lions up to walk out of this draft with three future starters on rookie deals for the next four (or more) seasons. This would be a massive win for the Lions with multiple contract extensions looming in the next two offseasons.

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