Lions NFL draft grades: Mel Kiper Jr., other experts weigh in on Detroit's 2025 class

The Detroit Lions' 2025 NFL draft is officially in the books after completing Day 3 on Saturday and the team has come away with seven new players. And, in the aftermath of the draft, the Lions began inking undrafted free agents, also.

The Lions did manage to address multiple needs during the draft, with the team adding a pair of guards, a defensive lineman, two wideouts and an edge rusher, although the EDGE pick came a lot later than many expected.

“We did the same thing that we do every draft: We picked the highest-rated player regardless of position,” Holmes said after Day 2. “So that’s what we did this whole way through. That’s what we’re going to do again tomorrow.”

Detroit finally settled on Boise State edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein, who was very impressive in his first media availability. However, it goes without saying that the Lions need more than just a sixth-round pick. We'll see if Holmes has anything planned to remedy that situation in the near future.

Now, here's a look at the Lions' full 2025 NFL draft class, as well as the team's reported undrafted free agent signings, which have not been made official.

Lions 2025 NFL draft results

Lions UDFA signings (reported)

• OL Mason Miller, North Dakota State (source)
• TE Caden Prieskorn, Ole Miss (source)
• RB Anthony Tyus III, Ohio (source)
• WR Jackson Meeks, Syracuse (source)
• S Ian Kennelly, Grand Valley State (source)
• WR Jakobie Keeney-James, UMass (source)
• OL Leif Fautanu, Arizona State (source)
• CB Gavin Holmes, Texas (source)
• S Ian Kennelly, Grand Valley State (source)

As is the case every year, experts have put out their grades for every team's entire NFL draft haul. Here's how experts graded the Lions.

Lions NFL draft class grades

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: 23rd out of 32

Iyer: "GM Brad Holmes has hit the past few offseasons out of the park and operated well in 2025 free agency. Williams and Ratledge were solid picks for needs, but there were some questionable reaches save for Hassanein, the ideal lunchpail grinder for Dan Campbell to develop opposite Aidan Hutchinson."

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: C+

Kiper Jr.: "I had the Lions taking an edge rusher in Round 1 in all four of those mock drafts I mentioned. Twice it was James Pearce Jr., then it was Oluwafemi Oladejo, and finally it was Donovan Ezeiruaku. Part of that is because of the value -- there are really solid pass rushers to be had late in Round 1, where Detroit was poised to make its first pick. Part of that is because it's a severe need for this roster. Aidan Hutchinson led the Lions in sacks last season, racking up 7.5, doing so in just five games. When he broke his leg in mid-October, the pass rush struggled the rest of the season; no other player had more than Za'Darius Smith's four sacks. Oladejo and Ezeiruaku were both on the board at No. 28, as was Mike Green. Yet, Detroit looked elsewhere, taking defensive tackle Tyleik Williams. He can fire into the backfield as a run stopper, but he lacks pass-rush juice (2.5 sacks in 2024). I had him ranked 44th overall and sixth among DTs in the class, though we watched four interior D-linemen get taken before the Lions' first-round pick. I'm not worried about the value. I'm more concerned with the missed chance to find Hutchinson a running mate on the edge.The edge rusher didn't come on Day 2, either. The Lions tackled a need, though. They traded up from No. 60 to No. 57 to take guard Tate Ratledge. He's going to fit nicely in Detroit and push to start at right guard (Christian Mahogany and Kayode Awosika are the main competition). The trade up cost the Lions their fourth-round pick, but they had a hole. Miles Frazier -- their fifth-rounder -- will also provide depth. He is a top-10 guard and just missed my top 100 overall. The lone edge rusher selected by Detroit was Ahmed Hassanein in Round 6. He's productive, with 22 sacks, 97 pressures and 33.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. He's just touching the surface of what he can be. It's just not the splash I was expecting. Detroit's most questionable move, though, was trading up from No. 102 to No. 70 to take receiver Isaac TeSlaa. Good player, but he was ranked No. 149 overall on my board. I count 12 receivers ranked above him who were still available -- and nine of them still would have been there at the Lions' original slot. To make the aggressive move up the board, Detroit forked over two 2026 third-rounders."

Chad Reuter, NFL.com: B

Reuter: "The Lions chose to take the talented Williams over an edge rusher, offensive lineman or receiver in Round 1. Time will tell as to whether they found value in hard-nosed guard Ratledge in Round 2 and receiver TeSlaa in Round 3, with the latter player secured via an unusual trade in which Detroit moved up in the round by shipping Jacksonville a pair of 2026 Day 2 picks, getting a sixth-rounder this year and next year in return. Frazier adds competition behind Ratledge and Graham Glasgow on the interior offensive line, probably becoming a starter in 2026. The Lions finally landed a fiery, competitive pass rusher (Round 6's Hassanein) and an athletic, hard-hitting safety (Jackson). Lovett can help TeSlaa add depth to a thin receiving corps."

Nate Davis, USA TODAY: B (ranked 18th of 32)

Davis: "It’s gotten to a point where GM Brad Holmes and HC Dan Campbell are almost above reproach as it pertains to their roster-building acumen. Did DT Tyleik Williams seem like a bit of a reach at the end of Round 1? Maybe … but you tell Holmes and Campbell they’re wrong. Second-round G Tate Ratledge seems made to order for this culture while patching a hole."

Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: B

Trapasso: "Every Lions draft seemingly gets a giant Dan Campbell stamp of approval every year. Williams in Round 1 was much earlier than I'd pick a run-stuffing nose tackle. The Lions did need more beef up front. Rateledge and Frazier are nasty, athletic guards, and TeSlaa makes the middle of the field even more dangerous when facing the Lions. He's a big slot with serious vertical juice who catches everything. Hassanein was a sneaky-good add late because of his burst and bend around the corner. I would've liked to see the Lions address defensive end earlier, though -- Aidan Hutchinson still needs help!"

MORE DETROIT LIONS NEWS

Could Lions UDFA signing signal Za'Darius Smith reunion?

Lions draft pick Ahmed Hassanein absolutely crushes his first press conference

Lions make NFL and franchise history with Ahmed Hassanein draft pick

Lions' D.J. Reed has 7-word message for Shedeur Sanders after draft slide finally ends