ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions brought in seven new faces in the 2025 NFL Draft, two (and a possible) of whom could be immediate contributors. Like last year, general manager Brad Holmes made several trades — this time on both Day 2 and Day 3 — to grab key pieces for the offense. And in case you haven’t heard by now: yes, the Lions selected an edge rusher. They also picked up two beefy, violent offensive linemen, two wide receivers — one a native Michigander — a depth piece at safety, and, last but not least, one of the best defensive tackles in this year’s draft with their No. 28 overall pick. Here’s a rundown and additional information on each of the seven draftees: Round 1, Pick 28: Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams For the fourth straight year, the Lions added to their defense in the first round, selecting a different position each time. With the amount of injuries Detroit suffered along the defensive line last season — coupled with the departure of Za’Darius Smith — it was assumed Holmes would be targeting an edge rusher early in the draft. Instead, he addressed the interior, selecting Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams. According to Holmes, the position was a significant need, and with premier talent coming off the board, they decided to select a player they had ranked very high. “They basically told me if I’m there, it’s a possibility they’re going to take me,” Williams said Friday. “So, I had my phone right next to me, ringer on, all the way up, kept checking it. I was nervous, but when I got that call, it was just — I don’t even know how to describe it, the feeling you get, that rush you get of answering that call.” Williams describes himself as a film junkie, always studying tape to find any edge against opponents. After deciphering what they’re doing, he shares that intel with his group to put everyone in the best position to succeed. There were questions about Williams as a pass rusher, but he said the scheme at Ohio State didn’t fully highlight his ability — a point his former position coach Larry Johnson also backed. However, as a run-stopper, Williams is elite. Pro Football Focus gave him an 88.6 run defense grade and a 7.8% run stop rate. Williams shared he was led to believe the Buffalo Bills would have taken him at No. 30 if the Lions hadn’t. “Got a few calls when it got close to our pick,” Holmes said. “Didn’t feel great, just kind of how (the board) was thinning out for us specifically. That’s the fascination of the NFL, right? It’s 31 other different boards, and you have no idea. You can do all the research in advance and all that stuff, but at the end of the day, you truly don’t know. That’s what makes it fun. You’ve just kind of got to try to make the most responsible decision that you can.” Instead, the Lions landed a player they say reminds them of current standout Alim McNeill — now Williams’ teammate. “He’s a great player. I have no complaints being compared to him,” Williams said. “I think he’s a great player, and I think me and him together will gel well and make a lot of plays.” Round 2, Pick 57: Georgia G Tate Ratledge When we identified the 10 best fits for the Lions on Day 2, Tate Ratledge was among them. However, what wasn’t predicted was Detroit moving up several spots to grab him. While there were questions about why they didn’t grab one of the available edge rushers, securing a mauler like Ratledge made perfect sense. The loss of Kevin Zeitler still loomed, despite their faith in Christian Mahogany. And while Graham Glasgow remains in tow, injuries hampered him last season, leaving his future uncertain. Adding someone as physical and violent with his hands as Ratledge — someone who doesn’t mind having some “dirtbag” in him, as Mahogany does — can only help the Lions’ line remain elite. “As far as (the Lions’) offensive line goes, like you said, they’ve had one of the best offensive lines in the league for a while now,” Ratledge said. “They’ve got great players up there (with) the way they play; they’re physical, they’re tough (and they) play fast. It’s tape I watch a decent bit, just watching them play and seeing how they play and seeing what I can learn from it.” Aside from helping Georgia capture two College Football Playoff national titles, Ratledge tested as a top-tier athlete, posting an unofficial Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.97 out of 10.00 — ranking fifth among 1,583 offensive guards from 1987 to 2025. Round 3, Pick 70: Arkansas WR Isaac TeSlaa While the Lions re-signed Tim Patrick this offseason, there was still a void at wide receiver. They have done a great job developing talents like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, but were still seeking a third option to elevate the group even further. Meet Isaac TeSlaa. The Lions traded up to No. 70 to select the 6-foot-4, 214-pound Hudsonville native, who made a name for himself at Hillsdale before transferring to Arkansas. TeSlaa turned heads at the NFL combine, clocking a 4.43 40-yard dash with a 39.5-inch vertical. While Patrick proved reliable last season, TeSlaa’s intangibles could help make the Lions’ receiver room one of the league’s most dangerous in coming years. “Obviously, I have a big frame, speed, size, everything, so that’s an outside receiver, but I can also be moved to the slot. I feel like I bring a lot of versatility,” TeSlaa said. “There’s always room to grow. I think you would talk to anyone in the NFL, even the best of the best. They tell you there’s room for improvement. So for me, that’s my mentality — just coming in, doing everything I can do, and just continuing to improve every single day.” Round 5, Pick 171: LSU OL Miles Frazier The Lions continued to bulk up front by drafting LSU’s Miles Frazier. At 6-foot-5, 324 pounds, Frazier boasts both size and impressive agility. Pro Football Focus gave him a pass-blocking grade of 88 and a true pass set pass-blocking grade of 88.7. His lack of length makes him a better fit at guard, but he’ll need to get stronger to push for a starting role. A positive Lions fans will love: Frazier did not allow a sack over the final 20 games of his collegiate career. It’s unclear yet where Frazier fits into Detroit’s rotation, but Holmes said offensive line coach Hank Fraley plans to cross-train him — and Ratledge — at multiple positions, including center. “He’s going to cross-train all of those guys, so if they’ve only been at guard, he’s going to put a ball between their legs and see if they can snap,” Holmes said. “But again, if they can — Hank’s not going to put somebody in a tough position either, so he’s going to be able to assess if they have the right makeup and mentality and communicative skills. That’s a big part of it. It’s not about just being able to snap; you have to have elite communication skills, not just as a starter, but even as a backup.” Round 6, Pick 196: Boise State EDGE Ahmed Hassanein “Here, Lions fans. Are you happy?” is probably what Brad Holmes was thinking when he turned in the card for Ahmed Hassanein. In all seriousness, the Lions needed depth at edge rusher, and landing someone of Hassanein’s caliber this late could end up being a steal. The 6-foot-3, 267-pounder is raw but filled with untapped potential, having only played football for about six years. His tape shows a player with a high motor and athleticism that new defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers can mold into a valuable rotational piece. “We acquired him because he plays with his hair on fire, and as, let’s call it, developmental as he is, he just plays hard,” Holmes said. “I think I said the other night, what do you have to do at that position? You’ve got to set edges and win rushes. And when I say win rushes, it’s not just getting a sack. You can win rushes just by harassment, and power, and collapsing the pocket, and just sheer effort.” “We just liked the upside of him,” Holmes continued. “We like his football character, his work ethic, his passion. He was so fired up on the phone to get here. That’s the type of stuff you want to hear.” Across his last two seasons at Boise State, Hassanein tallied 33 tackles for loss, 22 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Round 7, Pick 230: Georgia S Dan Jackson Safety depth wasn’t discussed much this offseason, but it was a quieter area of need for the Lions. Holmes addressed it in Round 7 by going back to the Georgia well, selecting Dan Jackson. We had mocked Jackson as a Day 3 target for Detroit during our draft preview. Last season, Jackson posted 47 solo tackles, three passes defended, two interceptions, and a forced fumble — earning third-team All-SEC honors. Given how loaded Detroit’s safety room is, Jackson’s best chance to stick may come through special teams under coordinator Dave Fipp. “We’ve always had a liking for Dan Jackson just in terms of being a heady safety and who’s gotten his hands on the football,” Holmes said Saturday. “A lot of it is above the neck, but he’s actually faster than what a lot of people think.” Round 7, Pick 244: Georgia WR Dominic Lovett The Lions returned to the Georgia pipeline one more time, closing out their draft by selecting receiver Dominic Lovett. After trading up to grab TeSlaa, it was interesting to see them add another wideout — especially a slot receiver — this late. Lovett is a quick, shifty player known for his blocking, underneath work, and yards after the catch. While it’s premature to call him the next Amon-Ra St. Brown, the profiles share similarities. Like Jackson, Lovett’s best chance to contribute early will likely be on special teams. “My role that I would say with that is just, whenever you put me on the field, I just plan to make an impact any way I can, any way possible,” Lovett said. “Whether it may be on special teams, whether it may be on a third down, first down — I’m okay with being a team tool guy, wherever they need me to be." “So, I would say gunner, kick returner, punt returner, R5, L1 — wherever you want to put me, I’m okay with that. I just want to be on the field.” “He’s another one that’s kind of been a fan — I’ve been a fan of his for a long time, we all have,” Holmes said Saturday. “One thing about him is that, yes, he has speed, he can do a lot of stuff from the slot, but he’s a really good special teams player. So we’re fired up to get him.”