We're officially at that strange point in the NFL offseason where teams that have nothing to play for in February are left with...scraps, let's say.
The Detroit Lions are in that pool alongside 29 other teams ahead of Super Bowl LX, so there's plenty being written about their 2025 draft, their 2025 free agent signings, and what's left for the team to do in order to get back into contention status in 2026. Another interesting exercise? Re-litigating the 2025 NFL Draft, but with the goal of mocking an entire re-draft.
ESPN's Lions beat reporter Eric Woodyard joined other writers in attempting to re-draft the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, with some pretty zany choices preceding the Lions' pick. Abdul Carter to the Jets, Jaxson Dart going 3rd overall instead of Carter, and Tyler Shough landing with the Browns at 2nd overall.
Detroit's was a far less chaotic. To Woodyard, the only sensible "re-draft" the Lions would do is simply swapping their first and second round picks for one another.
Lions writer re-orders 2025 NFL Draft based on impact from season
Tate Ratledge, by far, had the most interesting rookie season of anyone in the Lions' 2025 draft class. He was a potential candidate for being swapped into the center position instead of Graham Glasgow, but eventually landed back in his rightful spot at right guard. He was cleary most comfortable there, ending up one of the top-graded right guards in the NFL in his rookie year.
Tyleik Williams had a much more understated impact on the Lions' defense, but that doesn't mean he wasn't good. On the contrary, Williams finished up with four passes defended and a sack in 10 starts. He showed off the ability to use his huge frame to stop the run on multiple occasions, but even Williams would tell you he could improve in one key area: as a pass rusher.
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"One thing Williams and I talked about after the season was his focus on being more of an impact player in the pass game. If he adds a little more impact in that aspect of his game, he'll be well on his way to being the player the Lions knew he could be when they took him in the first round of last year's NFL Draft," wrote team reporter Tim Twentyman of the rookie in his evaluation of the entire class.
Both picks are clearly working out for Detroit. Neither look like busts, and both had health on their side in Year 1. That was huge with how many injuries completely depleted the Lions by the end of the year. Expect to see a huge leap from both lineman headed into 2026, and to see a bit of a blurred line in their respective value from draft night.