To conclude our 2025 Detroit Lions draft roundtable, our staff selected their favorite pick from the team’s seven selections. Lions general manager Brad Holmes has seemingly hit on at least two or three picks every single draft, and this one figures to be no different.
Before we get into our selections, catch up on our seven-part draft recap below:
Previous roundtables:
What was the Detroit Lions’ best pick of the 2025 NFL Draft?
Ryan Mathews: Tyleik Williams
In the immediate aftermath of the pick, I gave the Lions a ‘B’ grade for selecting Williams. A run-stuffing defensive tackle with very limited production as a pass rusher wasn’t the most exciting pick, but the further we get away from the draft, the more I’m excited to think about the future of Detroit’s defensive line with Williams and Alim McNeill in the middle.
Al Karsten: Tyleik Williams
Williams is a load up front, and drafting him sent a clear message: the Lions are committed to being one of the most physical teams in football. When you face Detroit, you’re stepping into the ring. Both trenches come with a lunch pail mentality and aim to wear you down before the clock hits zero. Williams may still be developing as a pass rusher, but his early-down presence will be felt immediately.
Morgan Cannon: Tyleik Williams
With star defensive tackle Alim McNeill expected to miss some time to start the 2025 season, I was relieved to see the Lions invest heavily along the interior defensive line with their first pick. Williams is widely considered the best run-stuffing defensive tackle in this class, and based on Brad Holmes’ comments, they clearly believe there is quite a bit of untapped potential in Williams’ pass-rushing abilities.
Erik Schlitt: Tate Ratledge
Ratledge has been on my radar since 2023 when I profiled him in my watchlist series. Over the past year, the more I studied his potential, the more I grew to appreciate what he could do for the Lions, and he continued to show up on my future watchlists. He’s a plug-and-play right guard for the next decade.
Hamza Baccouche: Miles Frazier
I picked Miles Frazier as my best value pick, and I’ll double down on him being my favorite pick overall. Just a tremendous value for a guy who has proven himself in the SEC and cut his teeth at four out of the five spots on the offensive line. That means double the opportunities to see the field as a rookie. If he’s good enough, this staff will find a way to get him reps regardless of the position.
John Whiticar: Tate Ratledge
The Lions needed to draft someone to challenge Christian Mahogany and Graham Glasgow for a starting spot, and they got one of the best possible fits. Ratledge brings the grit that the coaches and fans will love, and at that point in the draft, he was one of the last remaining Day 1 starting-caliber guards. He’s no lock to win a starting role, but I am very optimistic about Ratledge for the future.
Jeremy Reisman: Tate Ratledge
Figuring out their long-term situation at guard has been a running goal for the Lions in the past few offseason. Detroit finally accomplished it with a player who perfectly fits their scheme and their culture. Ratledge keeps the Lions’ biggest strength a strength. As long as the offensive line is strong, the Lions will be competitive, and now they have several spots on the front five locked up for the long term. This is how you produce sustained success.
Max Gerber: Tate Ratledge
While Ahmed Hassanein may be my favorite person in this draft class, Ratledge is by far my favorite pick based on what the team needs and how quickly he’ll be able to contribute on offense. He is a mauler on the offensive line and his violent play style will complement the rest of this elite unit nicely. Everything else about him just makes me confident he’ll be successful, as he was a team captain at Georgia, only allowed two sacks in his whole career, and is amazing in the run game. I just know Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery were ecstatic about this pick, too.
Brandon Knapp: Tate Ratledge
Tate Rutledge by a hair. It was between him and Hassanein but the fact Rutledge has that dirtbag mentality is what wins me over. He is going to be a menace on this offensive line whether that’s this year or next.
Poll
What was the Lions’ best draft pick in 2025?
0%
Tyleik Williams
(0 votes)
0%
Ahmed Hassanein
(0 votes)
0 votes total