Lions barely show up in rankings of top-100 picks from NFL draft

The Detroit Lions were able to fill a few needs during the 2025 NFL Draft in hopes of making a run to the Super Bowl this season.

General manager Brad Holmes has been terrific in the draft since arriving in Detroit in 2021, as he has found multiple cornerstone players on Days 2 and 3, including wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, tight end Sam LaPorta, and many more.

Though Holmes has built up the reputation of being an elite drafter, it doesn't look like ESPN's Matt Miller is a huge fan of the Lions draft class. In a recent article listing the top-100 picks of the 2025 draft, Miller had just two Detroit selections on there, which were guards Tate Ratledge and Miles Frazier.

Ratledge, who was taken in Round 2 and played for the Georgia Bulldogs, came in at No.58 on Miller's list, while Frazier, who was selected in Round 5 and played for the LSU Tigers, was slated at No.99.

"The Lions lost right guard Kevin Zeitler in free agency and smoothly replaced him with Ratledge. This pick also represented good value since four guards were already off the board, and Ratledge was likely the only remaining starter," Miller wrote about Ratledge.

"Frazier's experience at tackle and exposure at guard in the predraft process have me believing he could start at right guard in the pros. But the Lions drafted Tate Ratledge early, which means Frazier could be a swing lineman," Miller wrote about Frazier.

Ratledge and Frazier may be future starters for the Lions. The pair started multiple years in college at their respective SEC schools and were dependable players throughout their collegiate careers.

As for the rest of the Lions draft, it's understandable why Miller left them off the list. Taking Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in Round 1 filled a need, but there were better players on the board. The trade-up and selection of Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa in Round 3 was also questionable.

However, the Lions' sixth-round choice of Boise State edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein was brilliant and should've received a mention on Miller's list.

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