Listed as a 6-foot-4, 245-pound two-star prospect on his high school recruiting profile as a senior at Birmingham Brother Rice, Luke Newman made himself into a pro offensive line prospect.

And now he’s been picked.

Newman was selected in the sixth round by the Chicago Bears, taken with the 196th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-4, 315 pound offensive guard, who played last season at Michigan State after four successful seasons at Holy Cross, will join former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in the Windy City, part of the crew — along with former Lions guard Jonah Jackson — protecting last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams.

Newman started 49 consecutive games over his final four seasons of college ball, including 37 at left tackle for Holy Cross, and 12 for Michigan State last season, as a grad transfer. He led MSU with 739 offensive snaps, and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten, grading out as the No. 9 offensive guard in the league by PFF during the regular season. Earned FCS All-America honors from different publications each of his final three seasons at Holy Cross.

The Bears have had some experience with Brother Rice players along the line. A fifth-round pick out of Missouri in 2021, Larry Borom played four seasons for the Bears — starting 27 of 47 games — before signing with the Miami Dolphins in March.

Local players who could hear their name called in NFL Draft

Buffalo Bills draft West Bloomfield grad Maxwell Hairston in first round of NFL Draft

The Detroit Lions have been quite active throughout the duration of the 2025 NFL Draft, having pulled off three trades.

Finally, the team addressed the defensive end position. In the sixth round, Detroit targeted Boise State edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein.

Last season at Boise State, Hassanein recorded 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in helping the Broncos reach the College Football Playoff.

According to NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler, “Overall, Hassanein is a try-hard edge rusher with plenty of redeeming qualities that will endear him to coaches. He lacks high-level athletic traits, though, and will be low on an NFL depth chart until he improves his predictability as a pass rusher. Given his meager football experience, NFL teams are intrigued by his untapped upside.”

In the first-round, the Lions selected defensive tackle Tyleik Williams from Ohio State. An anchor for the Buckeyes’ national championship team, he projects as an immediate rotational contributor on the defensive line against the run with pass-rush developmental upside.

Holmes was active in trading up on the second day of the draft. He first traded up three spots with the Denver Broncos to acquire Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge. After Kevin Zeitler’s departure, Ratledge appears to be a potential competitor for a starting spot right away.

In the third round, Holmes traded up 32 spots with the Jacksonville Jaguars to select Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. A Hudsonville native who wore a custom Lions jersey to his top-30 visit with the team, TeSlaa is a big and fast wideout with the potential to contribute either in the slot or out wide on the perimeter.

Detroit’s first Day 3 selection came in the fifth round, as Holmes swapped two picks to move up 11 spots and select LSU offensive lineman Miles Frazier with the 171st pick of the draft.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

The Detroit Lions began Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft with five draft selections overall. With two picks in the sixth-round and three in the seventh, it could be assumed the scouting department was comfortable with their evaluations and prospect rankings.

After targeting a defensive tackle, offensive lineman and wide receiver, Detroit decided to trade up again to pick No. 171 to select guard Miles Frazier out of LSU.

Detroit dealt with New England and parted ways with picks No. 182 and No. 228 to move up 11 spots.

Frazier was considered to be a top-100 prospect by several pundits, including NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah.

According to NFL draft analyst Lance Zeirlein, “Four-year starter who classifies as a physical short-area guard with satisfactory height, weight and length. Frazier has knock-back pop and is capable of mauling in tight spaces. His short pulls and lead blocks around the end are solid. Difficulties with reach blocks and second-level cut-offs on stretch plays could cause zone teams to scratch him. He possesses adequate range and foot quickness in protection and is fairly clear-eyed to recognize gaming fronts. His hand placement is average and he’s tight in his knees, which could be a concern for his anchor. Frazier has things to clean up but carries pro measurables and a play demeanor that gives him a shot to become a starter.”

The Lions began the draft by selecting Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams with the 28th overall pick. Holmes told reporters that he entertained the possibility of trading back, but ultimately elected to stay in place and make the pick.

Holmes was active on the draft’s second day, completing a pair of trades to move up in the draft. First, he traded up three spots with the Denver Broncos to acquire Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge.

Then, he traded the 102nd overall pick along with a pair of 2026 third-round picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 70th overall pick, the 182nd overall pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. With that pick, the Lions drafted Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

ALLEN PARK — Tate Ratledge thinks he’s going to fit right in with the Detroit Lions, and it’s not because of his tattoo.

That part is simply a coincidence.

Ratledge, who has a lion inked on his right forearm, sees similarities between the program he’s leaving — Georgia, which has won two of the last four national titles — and the franchise he’s joining. Lions head coach Dan Campbell and Georgia headman Kirby Smart both “believe in physical football players, tough football players (and) smart football players,” and Ratledge, an offensive guard who stood out as a starter for the Bulldogs over the last three seasons, fits that description.

“I’m here to do whatever helps the team win,” Ratledge told reporters through a Zoom meeting Friday evening, shortly after the Lions selected him with the 57th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. “I’m a team player through and through. If they need me to go kick out to tackle, I’ll go kick out to tackle. If they need me to be an X receiver and run go balls, I can do that. … I just want a chance to compete, and a chance to go out there and do my best every day.”

The Lions moved up three spots to secure Ratledge, trading Nos. 60 and 130 to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Nos. 57 and 230. They leapt over the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens in the process. The Raiders and Ravens went on to select TCU receiver Jack Bech and Marshall pass rusher Mike Green, respectively.

It was the first of two trades on Friday for the Lions, who later moved up for Arkansas receiver Isaac TeSlaa.

Ratledge (6-foot-6½, 308 pounds) made 34 starts in his tenure at Georgia, with each coming at right guard. He’s credited with allowing two sacks and 18 total pressures over 1,180 career pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus, and his grade as a run blocker in 2024 (74.7) ranked 32nd among the 315 guards who received at least 150 run-blocking snaps.

The Lions already have veteran Graham Glasgow and 2024 sixth-round pick Christian Mahogany on the roster, but Ratledge figures to compete with them for a starting role. Glasgow, 33 years old in August, appeared in 16 of Detroit’s 17 games last season. Mahogany, meanwhile, got one start in the regular season and another in the playoffs, impressing in the limited sample size.

“I’m in the spot right now where all I can do is ask for a chance to compete,” Ratledge said. “I think I have a lot of those traits to go to a winning program, coming from one, knowing what it takes; knowing what has to be done to win. Right now, I’m in the position where all I can ask for is a shot to compete. Go in there, compete and give it my all every day and try to make that team better.”

Last year, general manager Brad Holmes affectionately said Mahogany has “got some dirtbag in him.” The phrase was meant as an ode to the mean streak and toughness Mahogany plays with, and Ratledge falls in that same bucket.

Ratledge doesn’t think it’s possible for an offensive lineman to play at a high level without having some “dirtbag” to him. That’s music to the ears of Campbell and Holmes.

“Just like Mahogany fit what we were looking for, Tate fits what we’re looking for — whether he’s got his mullet or not,” Holmes said. “He plays the game the right way. He’s tough; he’s physical; he’s a lot more athletic than you may think, and he’s got a lot more versatility than people may realize. That’s really when he really, really rose through the process for us. Those guys fit. They’re smart; they’re tough; they’re gritty, and they play our style of ball.”

Ratledge’s mullet, which has already begun to develop a cult-like following, was born as a joke during the COVID-19 pandemic. His father gave him the haircut in their front lawn, and he decided to keep it after an “eight-month awkward phase.”

A Georgia native who was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2020, Ratledge had been at Georgia for the last five seasons. The Lions never had him in for a visit in Allen Park, but the team met with him while at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. Ratledge remembers speaking with offensive line coach Hank Fraley and having “extensive” conversations about the system and “just knowing football.”

“I’ve always been a fan of Coach Campbell and the way he runs his program, just seeing what he has to say, how he runs his team, the way his offensive line plays,” Ratledge said. “Just everything about the way he runs his team, I feel like, is a great fit.”

ALLEN PARK — Some people were born to be Detroit Lions. Isaac TeSlaa is one of them.

The Lions traded up twice on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, using their second move to go up 32 spots in Round 3 and grab TeSlaa, a wide receiver from Arkansas who grew up in Hudsonville and has been a fan of the Lions since he was in diapers.

Detroit sent multiple Day 2 picks to get TeSlaa (6-foot-4, 214 pounds) on Friday night, giving up both of next year’s third-round picks and this year’s third-rounder (102 overall). In return, the Lions received pick Nos. 70 and 182 in this year’s draft and a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft.

“I don’t know if I have words … I’m still processing it right now. Obviously, it’s been not only a dream to play in the NFL, but to play for my hometown team, the team I’ve been rooting for since I was a baby, so, it’s just an incredible feeling,” TeSlaa told reporters via Zoom.

TeSlaa, 23, attended Unity Christian in Hudsonville. He began his college career at Hillsdale (Great Midwest Athletic Conference) before transferring to Arkansas in 2023. Over 25 games for the Razorbacks, he caught 62 passes for 896 yards (14.5 average) and five touchdowns.

He first got on the radar of Lions general manager Brad Holmes during the Senior Bowl. Holmes immediately noticed TeSlaa’s blocking, saying he “was just being a pest and he was pissing off the (defensive backs).”

“Obviously, it made me just want to completely watch the tape when you see a guy that’s just big, long, smooth strider, can accelerate, can run, he’s a hands catcher, can play special teams, can block,” Holmes said. “He can do a lot of things.”

He’s an uber-athletic receiver with inside-outside ability and said he models his game after Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua. Based on NFL Combine measurements, TeSlaa ranked No. 1 in athleticism score, per Next Gen Stats. He received a 9.97 Relative Athletic Score, which ranks 11th out of 3,441 receivers from 1987 to 2025.

“He’s gonna need to develop, but he’s got the tools to play outside and win outside. He’s gonna have to learn getting off press (coverage) and all that stuff, just like they all do, but he’s got all the physical tools,” Holmes said. “He’s got the intangible makeup to be able to overcome that.”

The Lions hosted TeSlaa on a top-30 visit — and TeSlaa showed up in a customized Lions jersey (No. 10) with his name on the back. Holmes thought it was a bit “cheesy” until TeSlaa told him he’s owned the gear since eighth grade.

Just how deep does TeSlaa’s fandom go? He was in attendance at Ford Field when Lions Hall-of-Famer Calvin Johnson set the single-season receiving record in 2012.

“I remember growing up watching Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford, all those guys,” TeSlaa said. “It’s cool to be a part of that team now.”

Two of the picks used to move up for TeSlaa were compensatory picks awarded to the Lions after former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was hired as head coach of the New York Jets. Detroit also moved up three spots in Round 2 to draft Georgia guard Tate Ratledge, sending pick Nos. 60 and 130 to the Denver Broncos for Nos. 57 and 230.

Following the pair of trades, the Lions are set to have four picks on the final day of the draft: Two in Round 6 (Nos. 182; 196, via Tampa Bay) and three in Round 7 (Nos. 228, via Dallas; 230, via Denver; and 244). With still one day remaining, Holmes has now traded up in the draft 11 times since 2021.

Entering Day 3, the Lions have yet to address edge rusher, their biggest position of need entering the weekend and arguably one of the deepest positions of the entire draft.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a disappointment (to not add an edge rusher) because we got all guys that we love,” Holmes said. “Like I told you guys before the draft, we could have drafted an edge rusher that plays that position. We could have done it, and y’all would have been happy, right?”

Holmes continued, “All I hear is ‘Edge rusher, draft an edge rusher.’ So I’m like, ‘Well, are you assuming that the guy’s really good?’ Well, that’s a whole different story. Can you get in a position to get one of those? I don’t need to get into specifics, but there’s times where we made attempts to get one, and (he) just got picked before, we couldn’t get up (in a trade). It takes two to trade. Or we just had another player higher, but we did the same thing that we do every draft. We picked the highest-rated player regardless of position.”

At Hillsdale, TeSlaa was named the 2022 Great Midwest Athletic Conference offensive player of the year and was First Team All-G-MAC after hauling in 68 catches for 1,325 yards (19.5 average) and 13 touchdowns.

TeSlaa joins a receiving room that features two-time All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Ronnie Bell, Tom Kennedy and Kalif Raymond.

The Detroit Lions have been able to target players who have the potential to contribute quickly to a roster that is seeking to win a division title for the third consecutive season.

General manager Brad Holmes made the decision to move up again, this time dealing with the Jaguars. The Lions acquired the 70th pick, the 182nd pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for the 102nd overall pick and two 2026 third-round picks.

In the third-round, Detroit selected Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa with their third selection in the 2025 NFL draft.

TeSlaa grew up in Hudsonville, Mich., and began his collegiate career at Hillsdale, a Division II in Michigan. He transferred to Arkansas prior to the 2023 season and totaled 62 catches for 896 yards and five touchdowns. Last season, he hauled in 28 passes for 545 yards and three scores.

TeSlaa was the quarterback for the Unity Christian squad that beat Portland, 42-7, for the 2018 Division 5 football state championship, running for 111 yards and two scores, throwing for 70 and a score, and picking off two passes.

According to NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein,”TeSlaa is a big slot receiver whose stock might be on the rise after his performances during Senior Bowl week. He can mismatch smaller cornerbacks with his frame and play strength and is a reliable pass catcher when contested. He builds up speed as a vertical slot but isn’t sudden enough to simply uncover as a possession slot against tight man. TeSlaa’s ball skills and ability to work down the field from the slot should carry backup value for teams in the market for help at receiver.”

Detroit fortified its defensive line with the selection of Tyleik Williams out of Ohio State with its first selection, as Holmes drafted him 28th overall. Williams could be an instant contributor with Alim McNeill expected to miss the start of the regular season.

In the second round, the Lions added offensive line help by selecting Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge. With Kevin Zeitler departing, the Lions have an opening at right guard and Ratledge could compete for a starting job immediately.

The Lions traded up to acquire Ratledge, sending picks 60 and 130 to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the 57th and 230th (seventh-round) overall selections.

Barring any trades, the Lions will make their next selection in the sixth-round (No. 182).

 

Lions 2025 Draft Selections

Round 1, pick 28: Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State

Round 2, pick 57: Tate Ratledge, OL, Georgia

Round 3, pick 70: Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas

Remaining Picks

Round 6, pick 182

Round 6, pick 196

Round 7, pick 228

Round 7, pick 230

Round 7, pick 244

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

The Detroit Lions entered the second evening of the 2025 NFL Draft having clear needs at defensive end and along the offensive line.

In the second round, Detroit made the decision to trade up to the No. 57 position. In a deal with the Broncos, the Lions traded pick No. 60 and No. 130 in exchange for pick No. 57 and 230.

With their second selection, general manager Brad Holmes targeted offensive lineman Tate Ratledge.

Last season for the Georgia Bulldogs, the talented offensive lineman had a 74.4 overall offensive grade and a 74.7 run-blocking grade via Pro Football Focus.

According to NFL draft analyst Dane Brugler, “Overall, Ratledge is a self-described ‘dirtbag’ with the contact power, competitive edge and functional movement skills to match up against NFL defensive linemen. He should compete for a starting role as a rookie and has the necessary tools for a decade-long pro career, if he stays healthy.”

The Lions return four of their five starters, with the exception being Kevin Zeitler. The veteran guard departed Detroit to sign a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans.

Ratledge could compete for a starting job immediately along with Christian Mahogany, who started two games last season as a rookie.

Detroit took the opportunity on the first day to address the need along the interior of the defensive line. The expectation is Alim McNeill will miss the start of the regular season and will not be rushed back to action.

On the first night of the draft, Holmes claimed the class of edge rushers was solid and there could be a player available near where the team was selecting in the second-round.

Detroit added defensive line help with its first selection of the 2025 NFL draft, adding Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams with the 28th overall selection. Williams profiles as an early down run-stuffer with the potential to develop as a serious pass-rush threat.

Barring any trades, Detroit will make their next selection later in the evening in the third-round (No. 102).

 

Lions 2025 Draft Selections

Round 1, pick 28: Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State

Round 2, pick 57: Tate Ratledge, OL, Georgia

Remaining Picks

Round 3, pick 102

Round 6, pick 196

Round 7, pick 228

Round 7, pick 230

Round 7, pick 244

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

ALLEN PARK — Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson doesn’t want to set the bar too high for the Detroit Lions’ newest draft pick.

But he kind of did anyway.

After Lions general manager Brad Holmes compared Tyleik Williams, the 28th pick in Thursday night’s NFL Draft, to Alim McNeill, Johnson said Williams’ traits remind him of someone else: Future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he’s Aaron Donald, but his movements skills, like to be able to change directions — Aaron Donald’s really good at doing what we call a jab-olé, inside-outside, and then he can go power,” Johnson said Friday on a conference call with local reporters. “I think Tyleik’s got the same kind of movement because he can go power, he can go finesse if given the opportunity.

“Aaron Donald’s in a league by himself. I don’t want to put that pressure on Tyleik going into the league. But there are some things that he does — Aaron Donald does real easy, and Tyleik has that same kind of movement skills. But Aaron Donald’s a really special player. I don’t think there’s many guys like him.”

Put another way: You can go a long time without seeing a 6-foot-3, 334-pound tackle who moves quite like Williams does. Which is why, even though Williams was more of a run-stuffer in college, there seems to be a high level of confidence from all parties that he’ll be able to become a legitimate pass rusher in the NFL.

“Two things that jump right off the bat is his initial quickness off the ball, and for a big guy to be able to bend and turn corners like he does, it’s just unprecedented. You just don’t do that very easily,” Johnson said, adding that his first impression of Williams was watching him run a 4.9-second 40-yard dash at 340 pounds.

“His get-off is real wicked, and he’s got strong, violent hands, and he understands the pass sets and the run sets. I think that’s really important recognition of what he sees, and Tyleik is really one of the best players I’ve seen to be able to do that. … But his twitch, man, it’s God-given. He had it and he used it to his advantage.”

Amidst yet another round of discussions about whether Holmes could have gotten his first-round pick (in this case, Williams) later in the draft, Williams said the Buffalo Bills’ front office told him they were going to take him with the 30th pick if he was still on the board.

“They kind of told me if I was there, they wanted me,” Williams said.

Besides his athleticism being off the charts for a man of his size, Johnson called him a “very high-character guy” who will endear himself to teammates through his personality and the way he studies the game.

“He has a way of picking up (the offense’s) signals. Zoro could be left, or Cowboy could be right. He would understand exactly where the ball is going. He’d start telling the guys, ‘It’s going right, it’s going right. It’s going left, it’s going left,’” Johnson recalled. “He would come to the sideline and say, ‘Coach, here’s their signals. Here’s their calls. Here’s their run-game calls.’ … He wants to know where the ball is going.”

In an era where college players transfer schools like they’re changing lanes on the freeway, Williams played all four seasons for the Buckeyes, finally achieving the ultimate goal of winning the national title this past January.

While there couldn’t have been many Lions fans who were happy to see Williams’ Buckeyes win the national title, his championship pedigree is undoubtedly a bonus for his next team, which is also on the cusp of greatness. Williams brought it in the postseason, recording 13 pressures over four College Football Playoff games with 14 tackles (three for loss).

“I’ve been through hard games — of course, it’s not the same as the NFL,” Williams acknowledged during his visit to Allen Park on Friday. “I’ve played Texas, Notre Dame, Oregon — I’ve played all those top teams who have these top players. I’ve gone against these guys my whole college career and I’ve had great games against all of them.”

Johnson said Williams got better as the lights got brighter.

“That’s the thing about Tyleik I love about him. He’ll come to the sideline and he’ll have a moment when I see it, and say, ‘It’s time to go, man, it’s time to open the game,’” Johnson said. “He’s done it in so many different big games.”

Williams must admit that feeling welcome in the state of Michigan will take some getting used to. After spending four seasons at Ohio State, Williams is ready to leave behind his disdain for that state up north.

“I’ve learned to hate this state for the last four years, but getting drafted here, I’m just happy. I can put all that behind me. Of course, it’s still the team up north — I’m still not going to say it,” Williams said.

“But I’m just happy I’m here.”

By all accounts, the Lions should be extremely happy he’s here, too.

ALLEN PARK — As the first round of the NFL Draft rolled on, Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph was busy making his own dreams come true on the second floor of the team’s facility in Allen Park.

He officially put pen to paper on a contract that made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history. Naturally, he couldn’t stop smiling.

“It’s a great day,” Joseph said while strolling to the podium in Detroit’s media room, donning a custom suit with his nickname, “Zuper,” on the lining.

Three years ago this weekend, Joseph heard his name called as a third-round pick out of Illinois. All he’s done since then is lead the NFL with 17 interceptions, the most in the league during that span. The lucrative four-year, $86 million deal, which keeps Joseph in Detroit through 2029, is well deserved.

But while he tends to make those interceptions look easy, getting here was anything but.

“It didn’t happen quick. It wasn’t quick. I would say it took its time, but it was perfect timing, honestly. I knew it was going to take a minute, but I knew I just had to stay the course like how I’ve been doing all my life,” Joseph said. “Just staying down, being humble, keeping my faith. As I always said, God got me. So whenever I have hard times, I just pray, man. And I just keep my faith. Me doing that got me to this opportunity right here.”

Joseph was drafted when the Lions were coming off a 3-13-1 season. Over the last three years, he’s been a pivotal piece of two division titles and an NFC Championship appearance. His timely turnovers have swung many games over his career, particularly last season, when he led the league with nine picks and earned First Team All-Pro honors.

As he fielded questions Thursday night, he proved once again that he is a Lion through and through.

“Honestly, the money never motivated me. I do this because I love it,” Joseph said. “Of course, it’s a bonus. Don’t get me wrong. It comes with it, but I really play this game because I love it, man. I just have a certain passion for this game. I feel like I could never let go.”

Dating back to last offseason, the Lions have inked several homegrown talents to top-of-market deals (or close to it): Offensive tackle Penei Sewell (four years, $112 million), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (four years, $120 million) and defensive tackle Alim McNeill (four years, $97 million).

Now, Joseph turns his attention to bigger goals, both personal and team-oriented. If the Lions do achieve the ultimate prize during Joseph’s tenure, he’s going to be a big reason why.

“I want to be the best. I need to be the best. I need to put on that gold (Hall of Fame) jacket. I feel like it’s just everything I’ve worked for all my life,” Joseph said. “I just feel like that gold jacket, you mix that with a Super Bowl … that’s just a great little mix right there. You can never take that away from me. So that’s just two things that I really want to go for.

“The Super Bowl for my team, as a teammate, and as a player for the Lions, and just to put on that gold jacket one day and be recognized for all my talent.”

He’s certainly off to a good start.

Ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft (April 24-26 in Green Bay), we’ll be taking a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions‘ roster and how the team’s needs can be met on draft weekend. Today: Secondary.

Current roster outlook

The Lions have steadily fixed their secondary over the last few seasons. After years of it being a deficiency, the safety tandem of All-Pro Kerby Joseph and Pro Bowler Brian Branch proved to be one of the best, if not the best, in the NFL last season.

Joseph became eligible for a contract extension this offseason and is entering the final year of his deal; next offseason, Branch will be in the same position. Should Detroit bring them both back, it’s possible that the duo will end up as some of the highest-paid safeties in the league (with each deal worth upward of $20 million annually).

Though that position looks strong, Detroit bid farewell to Ifeatu Melifonwu in free agency. When healthy, Melifonwu’s combination of size and speed made him a dangerous player in three-safety looks, with his blitzing ability among the best on the team, so there’s a role up for grabs there. Entering the draft, the Lions’ safety depth is comprised of Loren Strickland, Erick Hallett II and Morice Norris. It’d be prudent to start backfilling at this position at the draft to make some decisions down the road a bit easier.

At cornerback, the team is in good shape. Terrion Arnold, the No. 24 pick in last year’s draft, steadily improved over his rookie season and is a top candidate to take the biggest leap in 2025. Opposite of Arnold, the team ensured the departure of Carlton Davis III wouldn’t sting too badly by signing veteran DJ Reed, a player of similar caliber, from the New York Jets in free agency.

The Lions added another cornerback in last year’s draft, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., with the 60th pick. He was a standout in training camp but dealt with injuries all of last season and missed out on a starting opportunity in Week 2 that could have led to a prominent role in the defense for the rest of his rookie campaign. Rakestraw is expected to challenge Amik Robertson, who’s entering the final season of his two-year agreement, for the starting nickel cornerback job next season.

Khalil Dorsey, one of the team’s best gunners on punt coverage, is also back for another season and will serve as a reliable depth option alongside returning defensive back Stantley Thomas-Oliver and two free agency signings, Avonte Maddox and Rock Ya-Sin.

Level of need: Low-medium

Detroit has up-and-coming talent all over its secondary, but will face some extreme financial commitments because of it in the next few seasons. If the Lions hope to get cheaper in the defensive backfield, it’d be wise to start adding that talent in the near future. Given the track record of Lions general manager Brad Holmes, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Lions add a cornerback or safety (or both) early in this draft.

At the top

This year’s cornerback group features the draft’s most tantalizing prospect, two-way star and reigning Heisman winner Travis Hunter (Colorado). It’s expected that he’ll be gone within the first few picks, most likely to the Cleveland Browns at No. 2. Behind him, Jahdae Barron (Texas), who picked off five passes last year, and Will Johnson (Michigan) are projected to be the next two cornerbacks off the board, with both of those guys having the potential to be top-15 picks.

From there, the top of the board has a lot of variance. West Bloomfield’s Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky) has been climbing up draft boards since the NFL Combine and could sneak into the back half of the first round. Shavon Revel (East Carolina), who had his 2024 season ended by a torn ACL, is also a late climber with first-round potential. Other potential first-rounders include Trey Amos (Ole Miss), Azareye’h Thomas (Florida State) and Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame).

At safety, there are really only two prospects with first-round buzz entering next week: Malaki Starks (Georgia), who fits the do-it-all mold of a player like Branch, and Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina). Most mock drafts have Starks as the first safety off the board, with some even believing he could be a top-10 pick. But as we’ve seen with top safeties over the years, it also wouldn’t be surprising to see him slip to the end of the first round, making him available for the Lions, or into Day 2 altogether. Emmanwori (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) is one of the draft’s best athletes; he recorded a 4.38 in the 40, a 43-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot-6 broad jump and makes good use of it in his versatile game.

Teams who could be after a DB in Round 1

Cleveland Browns (No. 2), New York Jets (7), Carolina Panthers (8), New Orleans Saints (9), San Francisco 49ers (11), Miami Dolphins (13), Arizona Cardinals (16), Cincinnati Bengals (17), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (19), Green Bay Packers (23), Minnesota Vikings (24), Los Angeles Rams (26), Baltimore Ravens (27), Washington Commanders (29), Buffalo Bills (30)

Crystal Ball: Star-studded 2019 opener provided clear 2025 draft preview

Down the board

If the Lions happen to address other positions on the field during the draft’s early stages, there will be several intriguing options to help aid the defensive backfield in Days 2 and 3.

The consensus is that Xavier Watts (Notre Dame), tied for second in interceptions (six) last year, is the third-best safety in the draft; he’s an option for the Lions on Day 2. Penn State has a pair of safeties that are expected to be gone by the middle rounds, Kevin Winston Jr. and Detroit native Jaylen Reed (Detroit King). Andrew Mukuba (Texas) was one of the best coverage safeties in the nation last season (tied-fourth with five interceptions) and has Day 2 potential. Lathan Ransom (Ohio State) and Malachi Moore (Alabama), two other middle-round guys, were solid run defenders and could help fill the void left by Melifonwu (not that Detroit will be trying to find a one-for-one replacement for that “need”). R.J. Mickens (Clemson) is an attractive late-round option with good coverage ability.

Among the cornerbacks expected to be available on Days 2 and 3, Cobee Bryant (Kansas) stands out as a player with the mental makeup Detroit is looking for; he’s a willing run defender and snagged four interceptions last season. Nohl Williams (Cal), who led the nation in interceptions (seven), and Jacob Parrish (Kansas State) could easily find their way to Detroit in the earlier rounds.

Denzel Burke (Ohio State) was at one time thought of as a possible first- or second-rounder in last year’s draft, but after returning for a title-winning season with the Buckeyes, his stock has slipped; he enters the draft as a late-Day 2, early-Day 3 guy. Western Michigan is putting a lengthy cornerback into the draft in Bilhal Kone (6-foot-2), who had six pass breakups and an interception last year.

Time to target

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Lions grab a falling safety at the back end of the first round, but if Detroit does add to the secondary, our best guess is that it’ll come on Day 3 (or even late on Day 2), when there will be plenty of gems to mine. Cornerbacks (and to a lesser extent, safeties) tend to be similar to receivers in the sense that there’s always a “voluminous” (as Holmes would put it) supply of potential contributors down the board.

The very best thing about high school sports is making memories that last for years, and the very best games are the ones that come up in conversation, over and over again down the road.

The 2019 season opener between then-No. 1 West Bloomfield and No. 3 Oak Park was one of the latter: It may have been sloppy at times, and mistake-filled as openers often are, but it was also a classic defensive slugfest between two behemoths, one where the difference might have been a star play made by one of the star players.

West Bloomfield’s Donovan Edwards broke free for an early 60-yard touchdown run on his third touch of the game — using the breakaway speed that the world would see over and over again in later years, during his years at the University of Michigan — setting up an eventual 20-14 win by the Lakers.

But he was hardly the only star in a game chock full of them.

And, five years on, a ton of those players — coveted by college recruiters and scouts back then, and NFL personnel nowadays — will be some of the same names called during next week’s NFL Draft.

“I was just talking about that game the other day … (Tyrone) ‘Rudy’ Broden has been home, working out in the weight room almost every day, you know, getting ready for the Draft and stuff. And I was talking to him about that game, and he said, ‘No, coach, I was gone that year,’” said Zach Hilbers, then an offensive assistant for the Lakers, and now the head coach at his alma mater.

“I guess, like, if you think back to that game, we knew they were really good. And you know, a lot of our attention went to (Justin) Rodgers, but they had some other D-linemen that were really good, too. … We just knew it’d be a battle, and it was a really close, low-scoring, just back-and-forth battle. If I remember right, Maliq Carr caught like a third-and-15 plus — we blew a coverage and he caught like a 85-yard touchdown, and we got lucky. It got called back because they had an alignment penalty or something that had nothing to do with the play, you know, and that was kind of like a springboard for us to take the lead after we got the ball back after that. But it was just, it was a good game, like, a really high level, good game.”

Broden (No. 49 in Michigan’s class of 2019 per 247Sports, signed with Bowling Green) is indeed one of the top-level recruits who missed that game by a smidge — along with Oak Park’s D’Wan Mathis (No. 9, Georgia), and West Bloomfield’s Lance Dixon (No. 5, Penn State) and Tre Mosley (No. 14, Michigan St.) — graduating the year before.

But there was still a megaton of talent left on the field for that Aug. 30 meeting, a lot of which helped the Lakers to the 2020 Division 1 state title a year later, a ton of which made impacts at the college level.

And a ton who you could quite conceivably hear announced as draft picks next week, or see in training camps as undrafted free agents.

“Surreal. It’s more than cool. And it’s l surreal because it’s why you get into teaching and coaching is to see kids reach their dreams. And in this case, as we’re talking football, this is the pinnacle, the ultimate of it,” Hilbers said. “I don’t know, it’s almost overwhelming. So I’ve been trying to reach out to all of them and talk to them. And Rudy’s been to the school a ton, which is makes it easier. But like, you know, it’s nuts, it’s crazy, especially when you — I have a cool picture of Max (Hairston) and Donovan from middle school basketball that’s hilarious. It’s just hilarious how little they look.”

Rogers was the No. 1 player in the state’s 2019 recruiting class, landing at Kentucky before finishing his college career at Auburn, taken in the seventh round of last year’s NFL Draft by the Cowboys.

Oak Park’s Carr (Purdue) and corner Enzo Jennings (Penn State) were ranked Nos. 3-4 in the 2020 class, followed immediately by Lakers safety Makari Paige (Michigan). The Lakers also had linebacker Cornell Wheeler (No. 22, Michigan), DE Sterling Miles (No. 44, Cincinnati).

Edwards (Michigan) was the No. 1 player in the state’s 2021 class, while corner Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky) was No. 19. Oak Park countered with Rayshaun Benny (No. 7, Michigan), Davion Primm (No. 26, Michigan State), Jaylin Mines (No. 30, Toledo) and Marlon Dawson (No. 39, Miami, Ohio) in the 2021 class.

All of them played in that 2019 opener.

Now most of them are preparing for a shot at the NFL.

—————

2019 Oak Park-West Bloomfield game

(All rankings from 247Sports)

WEST BLOOMFIELD

Maxwell Hairston (No. 19 player in MI in class of 2021) — CB — Kentucky (2025 draft eligible)

Donovan Edwards (No. 1 player in MI in c/o 2021) — RB — Michigan (2025 draft eligible)

Makari Paige (No. 5 player in MI in c/o 2020) — S — Michigan (2025 draft eligible)

Cornell Wheeler (No. 22 player in MI in c/o 2020) — ILB — Michigan/Kansas (2025 draft eligible)

Sterling Miles (No. 44 player in MI in c/o 2020) — DE — Cincinnati/EMU

CJ Harris (No. 50 player in MI in c/o 2020) — QB — Ohio/California

Beau Davis (No. 87 player in MI in c/o 2020) — DE — Southeast Louisiana

Jordan Hoskins (No. 80 player in MI in c/o 2021) — LB — Missouri St./E. Tennessee St./Lincoln University

Gavin Hardeman (No. 89 player in MI in c/o 2021) — S — Air Force

Travis Reece (No. 92 player in MI in c/o 2021) — LB — Davenport/Central State

 

OAK PARK

Justin Rogers (No. 1 player in MI in c/o 2020) — DT — Kentucky/Auburn (2024 draft, Cowboys, pick 244)

Maliq Carr (No. 3 player in MI in c/o 2020) — TE — Purdue (2025 draft eligible)

Enzo Jennings (No. 4 player in MI in c/o 2020) — S — Penn State

Tremayne Oliver (No. 65 player in MI in c/o 2020) — DE — Northwood

Rayshaun Benny (No. 7 player in MI in c/o 2021) — DL — Michigan

Davion Primm (No. 26 player in MI in c/o 2021) — RB — MSU/Morehead St.

Jaylin Mines (No. 30 player in MI in c/o 2021) — S — Toledo/Iowa Central CC

Marlon Dawson (No. 39 player in MI in c/o 2021) — LB — Miami (Ohio)/Iowa Central CC

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Lions made several signings in the first wave of NFL free agency that bode well from a culture and talent standpoint.

Cornerback DJ Reed, nose tackle Roy Lopez and linebacker Grant Stuard all fit the profile of talented players who represent the right things, Lions coach Dan Campbell said at the NFL’s annual league meetings this week.

“For what they’re asked to do, they’re all three competitive, productive players. And I think that’s just, man, it’s the way they play the game. They don’t back down from anybody,” Campbell said.

Reed was the headliner of Detroit’s free-agent class. After three seasons with the New York Jets, he signed a three-year, $48 million contract with Detroit to uphold the expectations for a man-heavy scheme with corners who get busy in the run game. Reed was a replacement for Carlton Davis III, who left for the New England Patriots on a deal that paid him slightly more (three years, $54 million).

“He’s got cover ability. He can play man-to-man. … But he’ll bite on the perimeter, right? He’ll come up. He’ll tackle. He’ll squeeze the edges. He’ll mix it up, and then he’ll challenge you at the catch point,” Campbell said. “Man, he’s feisty. He’s competitive.”

Campbell said he fell in love with Reed’s competitiveness while watching crossover tape last year. His favorite moment was actually one where Reed got beat and recovered, showing a never-say-die attitude on his way to getting back in the play.

“You get beat at corner, that’s part of this league. He gets beat, he puts his foot in the ground, and I mean, he is on an all-out — he doesn’t have time to think about recovering. He is just on beeline to try to angle this guy off,” Campbell said. “I thought that was one of the most impressive things. Man, this guy doesn’t go in the tank, he’s not worried about what it looks like. He’s just trying to compete and win. And he lines up and he’s back for more.

“That says it all. He’s got the attributes. He’s got the skill level. But man, he’s feisty. He’s competitive. He doesn’t get down, man.”

Campbell didn’t have to watch crossover tape to become familiar with Lopez. He saw Lopez’s ability firsthand when the Lions traveled to play the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3 last season. He was impressed with how the 6-foot-2, 318-pound former wrestler competed against second-team All-Pro center Frank Ragnow, calling Lopez a “down and dirty” player.

“He’s taking on the double-teams. He’s keeping people off the backers. He can get an edge on you,” Campbell said of Lopez, who signed a one-year deal with Detroit in March. “And he’ll just do it time in, time out, again over and over. One of the things that impressed me about him was when we played him. I mean, him going against Frank all day. We ran the heck out of the ball, but man, that guy held his own now and we’ve got a pretty damn good center. That was impressive.”

Campbell brought Stuard’s name up earlier in the session, following a question about how the Lions continue to refine their culture with free-agent additions. At the time of his signing, Stuard said the selling point for coming to Detroit was playing against the Lions last season. He remembered thinking, “Man, if there’s a whole building of people like that, I’d love to be there.”

“If you’ve got some tools and you’ve got some talent but you’ve got a little bit of a chip on your shoulder and you’re a guy who believes you can do it in this league, and it doesn’t matter if you have the big name or the flash or the most money, then you belong here because you can play,” Campbell said. “It’s one of the reasons we brought in Stuard, too. It’s a guy that flies under the radar.”

Campbell added: “Stuard can do it all, man. He’s a guy that’s been counted out, but just continues to make plays in this league. He’s a dynamic special-teams player, in my opinion, and he can play defense.”

Campbell is taking a wait-and-see approach to determining whether the Lions’ defense will be better than the one that started last season.

“We’ll find out on the grass,” he said. “I have no idea until we get on the grass. I’ll be able to tell you that (in) probably September. I don’t know, maybe late September.”

The Detroit Lions have clear expectations for defensive tackle Brodric Martin heading into the upcoming 2025 NFL season.

In 2024, injuries slowed the progress of a developmental player who was expected to build upon his rookie campaign. After suffering a knee injury in the preseason finale, Martin was sidelined until late-November.

Upon returning, Martin appeared in just two games and played only 28 defensive snaps. In his two NFL seasons, the Western Kentucky product has played in five games and totaled four tackles.

Heading into his third season, general manager Brad Holmes expects the 25-year-old to be more consistent.

“Look, he’s got to be consistent,” Holmes said. “Obviously, you guys all know I was very clear and transparent that he was more in the developmental project bucket when we took him. But, now it’s time for him not to just — because he brought flashes in the preseason. When he came from his injury, he brought flashes, but, you know, he had some low points as well.

“So, we need to see more of the consistency of the flashes, and he just needs to be a consistent player,” Holmes explained further. “And he knows that. We’ve had transparent conversations, and so he knows that he needs to be a consistent player. He’s got all the ability, he’s got all the physical tools to be a consistent player.”

Alim McNeill will not be available for Detroit to start the 2025 season, as he works his way back from a torn ACL suffered in December.

In free agency, the team added Roy Lopez and could add more defensive tackles in the NFL draft.

Derrick Harmon and Kenneth Grant have recently been mocked to the Lions in many of the latest projections.

For Martin, taking strides forward will be paramount for a defensive line in need of depth and productivity on a team playing a first-place schedule.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

The Detroit Lions have retained more of their defensive line depth.

Pat O’Connor, whom the team added during the summer prior to last season, has re-signed with the team ahead of the 2025 season. O’Connor was a big part of the team’s interior defensive line rotation last season, as injuries necessitated him having an increased role.

O’Connor did not make the team initially out of training camp, but remained with the team on the practice squad. By midseason, he was on the active roster and contributing on the defensive line.

The Eastern Michigan product was originally drafted by the Lions in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft. However, he did not make the team, and eventually landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

O’Connor played his way into a role with Tampa Bay, spending six seasons with the team including the 2020 campaign in which the team won the Super Bowl.

In his career, O’Connor has appeared in 80 games. He played in 12 games last year for Detroit, totaling 18 combined tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. The Eastern Michigan product had 10 pressures and a 55.3 pass-rush grade per Pro Football Focus.

Unfortunately, O’Connor’s season came to an end after he suffered a calf injury in the regular season finale, and he was deemed inactive for the team’s playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.

The Lions also re-signed Levi Onwuzurike last week as part of the initial wave of free agency. A 2021 second-round pick, Onwuzurike returns to Detroit on a one-year, $5.5 million contract.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

Brandon Graham has called it a career.

The Detroit native and Philadelphia Eagles legend announced his retirement Tuesday. Graham, who attended Crockett High School and played four seasons at Michigan from 2006-09, helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LII and Super Bowl LIX.

Graham turns 37 next month.

“I gave everything I had — everything I had in this,” Graham said in a news conference. “I don’t have no regrets. That’s one thing I tell them young boys: I don’t have no regrets. First, I just wanted to say, 15 years ago I walked into this city as a young man with dreams, big dreams, a little bit of nervousness and a whole lot of fire in my heart. I had no idea back then what this journey would bring. … Today, as I sit here, I just want to thank God because I know He was the main reason. … I am overwhelmed with gratitude.”

Graham was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He struggled to find his footing early and battled an injury in 2011 before he established himself in Year 3. Graham recorded 487 total tackles (126 for loss), 76½ sacks and 22 forced turnovers in his career.

While at Michigan, Graham tallied 29.5 sacks. He also led the Big Ten in tackles for loss in 2008 (20) and 2009 (26).