The Detroit Lions made one of the most controversial picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Detroit has consistently approached things in a unique manner with GM Brad Holmes at the helm. The Lions have reaped significant rewards by placing their faith in Holmes’ assessment rather than the national media and popular mock drafts.
Nothing demonstrates this better than the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions were criticized for mishandling that draft, especially their first-round selections of Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell.
It wasn’t long before everyone in the NFL recognized their mistake and commended Holmes for another outstanding draft class.
I mention this not to imply that Holmes fully mastered the 2025 draft class. However, I want to emphasize that Holmes has undoubtedly earned the benefit of the doubt. His history is self-evident, as he and Dan Campbell have quickly transformed the Lions. Detroit may have experienced their finest season in franchise history in 2024.
That being said, the Lions committed several important errors during the draft. However, will they ultimately be a financial burden for them throughout the regular season?
In the following section, we will examine the three significant errors the Lions committed in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Was Tyleik Williams deserving of a first-round selection?
The Lions began the draft by selecting defensive tackle Tyleik Williams from Ohio State in the opening round.
Williams became the fifth offensive lineman chosen in the first round. The choice was unexpected for several reasons.
Initially, numerous NFL fans and analysts dedicated considerable time to promoting an edge rusher in the opening round. In the end, this selection was destined to face criticism unless it was an edge rusher.
Secondly, Williams was somewhat of a stretch at the end of the first round.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein assigned Williams a second-round rating and likened him to Lions offensive lineman Alim McNeill.
Williams will provide an instant boost in run defense, an aspect that Detroit highly values. Nonetheless, he is seen as a potential pass rusher. In this regard, he resembles McNeill as he leaves college.
To be fair to the Lions, they successfully developed McNeill and extracted significantly more from him.
Must Williams achieve that ceiling for this selection to be successful?
The Lions gave up far too much for Isaac TeSlaa.
Detroit’s third-round selection faced widespread criticism for a few reasons.
Initially, hardly anyone knew about TeSlaa until the Lions chose him. He didn’t appear from thin air, yet he wasn’t held in high esteem during the pre-draft evaluations. That is constantly a formula for making fans angry.
Secondly, the Lions invested a significant amount to acquire him.