Kory Woods’ final mock draft: Lions land disruptive Michigan defender

ALLEN PARK — The 2025 NFL draft is just days away, and there have been some unsubstantiated rumblings about the Detroit Lions potentially moving one of their top offensive talents.

Add in the fact that general manager Brad Holmes rarely tips his hand when it comes to draft strategy, and it makes projecting who might land in Detroit a difficult task.

The Lions have several needs — namely at edge rusher, offensive guard, interior defensive line and wide receiver — all of which have viable options in the first round.

Let’s take one final swing at predicting who they might grab.

Below is MLive Lions beat writer Kory Woods’ final mock draft:

No. 1: Tennessee Titans — Miami (Fla.) QB Cam Ward

I’ve mocked Ward landing here in my previous two drafts, so let’s make it a cool 3-for-3. With a new coach and front office, why not draft your new franchise staple by taking not only the best quarterback on the board but a potential future star in the league?

No. 2: Cleveland Browns — WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

It’s really hard to get a read on which direction the Browns are heading. After locking up Myles Garrett for the foreseeable future, Cleveland could look to make their defense even stronger with Hunter in the secondary while also adding a player who can help the offense — if they let him.

No. 3: New York Giants — EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State

Whether the reports about the Giants looking to move Kayvon Thibodeaux are true or not, this franchise taking a dominant pass rusher just feels right. There’s no apparent concern about Carter’s medicals, and they’re solid (for now) at quarterback.

No. 4: New England Patriots — T Will Campbell, LSU

It’s possible the Patriots could go wide receiver here, as I’ve had them do in previous mocks. But even with Bill Belichick long gone, building in the trenches and keeping the franchise quarterback upright still screams Patriot Way. Campbell is the best tackle on the board.

No. 5: Jacksonville Jaguars — DL Mason Graham, Michigan

No need for Jacksonville to overthink a perfect match. Graham instantly upgrades the defensive line and could help establish the unit as one of the league’s toughest with limitless potential.

No. 6: Las Vegas Raiders — RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

After solidifying the quarterback position with the Geno Smith acquisition, Jeanty might be too much of an offensive talent for Pete Carroll and company to pass up. He feels like a safe pick to have the biggest immediate impact on the franchise.

No. 7: New York Jets — WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

The Jets already have their big-time playmaker on defense in Sauce Gardner. Now they need one on offense. After making a big-time commitment to Justin Fields as their new man under center, a nice gift would be a big-bodied receiver in McMillan, who averaged 16.1 yards per catch last season at Arizona.

No. 8: Carolina Panthers — EDGE Mike Green, Marshall

Carolina needs help off the edge, so why not select a guy like Green who tallied 23 tackles for loss and led the nation with 17 sacks? There could be questions about the level of competition he faced, but the tape doesn’t lie — he’s a stud.

No. 9: New Orleans Saints — QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

There are rumors floating that the Saints are high on Jaxson Dart, but that could just be a smokescreen to see if anyone is willing to trade up to No. 9 to take him. That said, if they stay put, I believe Sanders is too much of a talent to pass on.

No. 10: Chicago Bears — T Armand Membou, Missouri

Ben Johnson knows how important it is to keep his quarterback upright from his time in Detroit. With Jeanty going to the Raiders, I see Johnson continuing to overhaul the offensive line with a player of Membou’s upside.

No. 11: San Francisco 49ers — T Kelvin Banks, Texas

It’s better to find a Trent Williams successor now than later. Banks is versatile, and learning from one of the game’s best would allow a smooth transition in the trenches once their all-time great departs.

No. 12: Dallas Cowboys — WR Matthew Golden, Texas

CeeDee Lamb shoulders a lot of responsibility in this Cowboys offense. To take some pressure off him — and a returning Dak Prescott — taking a player like Golden, who can terrorize defenses and find the end zone, works for everyone.

No. 13: Miami Dolphins — CB Will Johnson, Michigan

With the Dolphins giving Jalen Ramsey permission to seek a trade, Johnson falling in their lap at this spot is not only a steal but could be a match made in heaven for both parties involved.

No. 14: Indianapolis Colts — TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

Indianapolis could go in a ton of directions here because they need a little bit of everything. But maximizing the potential of Anthony Richardson should be a priority. Warren is the best player on the board to help get that done.

No. 15: Atlanta Falcons — EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

The general consensus is that the Falcons need a pass rusher, and Stewart’s raw skill set and off-the-chart testing at the combine make him too good of a prospect for them not to take a chance on.

No. 16: Arizona Cardinals — CB Jahdae Barron, Texas

Adding to the secondary is a must for Arizona, and Barron — who brings a lot of versatility to the position — would be a nice complementary piece next to Garrett Williams.

No. 17: Cincinnati Bengals — DL Derrick Harmon, Oregon

I’m sticking with Harmon landing in Cincy for the same reason as in my last mock: they need the help after losing D.J. Reader. And with reports that they’re open to moving Trey Hendrickson, they need a playmaker in the trenches since Myles Murphy has yet to produce.

No. 18: Seattle Seahawks — OL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

The Seahawks’ offensive line needs help, and Zabel’s versatility — with experience at left tackle and center — gives them multiple ways to use a prospect who projects as a longtime starter.

No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers — LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama

I’m sticking with Campbell to Tampa Bay. He’s an explosive player with a loaded skill set. He shined during his final season at Alabama with 117 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.

No. 20: Denver Broncos — RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

I had the Broncos going wide receiver here in my previous two mocks, but under Sean Payton — and with a talent like Bo Nix — I believe they can find a wideout later. What they need now is a stud in the backfield, and Hampton could prove to be the missing piece that opens up the offense.

No. 21: Pittsburgh Steelers — QB Jaxson Dart, Mississippi

Regardless of what happens with the Aaron Rodgers situation, the Steelers need a long-term answer at quarterback — not a 41-year-old. They could add to their defense, but with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields out the door, they need someone they can groom.

No. 22: Los Angeles Chargers — TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

I’m sticking with Loveland to Los Angeles and the reunion with his former coach. Justin Herbert needs playmakers, and Jim Harbaugh might be able to create some magic with this pairing.

No. 23: Green Bay Packers — CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina

Who knows what Jaire Alexander’s future in Green Bay looks like? Taking a flier on Revel, a player whose talent is off the charts, makes sense. There are concerns about his knee injury, but they don’t necessarily have to throw him into the fire right away.

No. 24: Minnesota Vikings — S Malaki Starks, Georgia

In any other draft, Starks might be a top-10 pick. Him falling to No. 24 is a steal. The Vikings land a talented ballhawk and a sure-fire tackling machine who could help immediately.

No. 25: Houston Texans — OL Tyler Booker, Alabama

No need to overthink this one. After the interesting decisions the Texans made this offseason, a player like Booker falling to them on a rookie deal is hitting the jackpot for their offensive line.

No. 26: Los Angeles Rams — CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky

The Rams are rumored to be interested in a reunion with Jalen Ramsey. If that doesn’t happen before the draft, I see them adding a player like Hairston, who tested as the fastest corner at the combine and whom some draft experts regard as a top-three prospect at the position.

No. 27: Baltimore Ravens — EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

Rumblings have linked former Lions pass rusher Za’Darius Smith to Baltimore. But if Ezeiruaku is still on the board at No. 27, that could change. He brings youth and production, logging 16.5 sacks last year at Boston College.

No. 28: Detroit Lions — DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan

I know what you’re thinking: Why not Georgia’s Mykel Williams or Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. here, knowing the Lions need an edge rusher? I get it. But Williams playing through an injury last year is a concern for me, and there are red flags about Pearce’s commitment to football.

Add in the fact that Alim McNeill probably won’t be ready by the start of the season and will need to be eased in when he returns, and boom — you land with Kenneth Grant, an absolute force in the middle of the defensive line.

At 6-foot-3, 331 pounds, Grant is a superb athlete with a quick first step and the ability to get to the quarterback. Strength-wise, he simply overpowers linemen. He has a high motor and was versatile enough to play multiple spots along Michigan’s line.

For a man his size, Grant has excellent closing speed and an arsenal of moves with quick hands to free himself up and consistently pressure offensive lines. The cherry on top: he’s stout against the run. His pad level needs work, but under Kacy Rodgers, that could be fixed before the season ends.

No. 29: Washington Commanders — EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

Adding a prospect who led the SEC in sacks doesn’t sound like a bad idea for a team that not only needs his talent but can afford to take the time to help Pearce reach his full potential.

No. 30: Buffalo Bills — CB Trey Amos, Mississippi

I see the Bills taking the best cornerback available at this spot, and Amos definitely fills a need.

No. 31: Kansas City Chiefs — OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State

Yes, we all saw the Super Bowl. Yes, we know the Chiefs need help on the offensive line to protect Patrick Mahomes. Simmons still being on the board makes this an easy pick for Kansas City.

No. 32: Philadelphia Eagles — EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia

When Josh Sweat walks out the door, what does Howie Roseman do? You guessed it — replace him with another Georgia product. Williams brings tremendous upside and could flourish in Philly’s elite defensive rotation.