League Sources Reveal: Lions Targeting Elite Defensive Linemen with First Two Picks
This year’s NFL Draft could get interesting for the Detroit Lions.
After putting together one of the best offensive seasons in NFL history, it is expected that the team is going to focus heavily on their defense over the course of the offseason.
After they got shredded by Jayden Daniel in the playoffs and allowing 30 or more points in four of their last six games, it just makes sense that would be where they look to improve in free agency and the draft.
However, one NFL writer thinks the Lions are going to go in a very different direction early in the draft.
ESPN’s Ben Solak predicted that the Lions would take a page out of last year’s draft playbook during the 2025 NFL Draft.
During last year’s draft, they spent their first two picks on cornerbacks, selecting Alabama’s Terrion Arnold in round one and Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in round two.
This year, Solak thinks they could do the same thing, but this time with offensive linemen.
“The Lions are getting older along the offensive line, with three of five starters over the age of 30 and center Frank Ragnow now a long-term health question mark. I expect Detroit, which double-dipped at cornerback at the top of the 2024 draft with Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw, to do the same at offensive line. The Lions will target one on the interior, and another to be the future at left tackle behind Taylor Decker. Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota) and Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona) fit their style.”
Depending on how things play out for the Lions this offseason, they could end up needing at least one offensive lineman. Starting right guard Kevin Zeitler will be a free agent.
Starting left guard Frank Ragnow is seen as a potential cut candidate because his play began to diminish and the Lions can save $5.6 million in cap space if they move on from him.
If one of them returns for 2025 then the Lions could potentially turn to Christian Mahogany, who was solid in two starts as a rookie.
If neither returns then the Lions will need to find a replacement, potentially in the draft.
That should be the only scenario where the Lions are looking at linemen early in the draft.
Yes, bringing in young talent on the O-line that will be waiting to take over when their aging veterans are ready to move on would be the smart thing to do for the future.
The problem is that the future shouldn’t be on the minds of the Lions’ front office right now.
The Lions have an opportunity to win right now.
Giving the team a better chance to do that should absolutely be the priority right now.
If the team wants to take chances on linemen late in the draft like they did with Mahogany, they should absolutely go for it, but the early rounds need to be focused on winning over the next few seasons before age and salary cap start giving the Lions difficult decisions to make.
The Lions should learn from an NFC North rival on this one. The Packers once decided to spend the early rounds focusing on the future after going 13-3, winning their division, and making the NFC Championship Game.
They spent their first two picks on future replacements for their Hall of Fame QB and 1000-yard running back.
As a result, the team never got over the hump and even made another Super Bowl despite Aaron Rodgers putting together two MVP seasons.
The Lions shouldn’t make the same mistake and start looking toward their offensive line’s future early in this year’s draft.
