The Detroit Lions may have addressed a position of need in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft when they targeted the defensive tackle spot, but they chose a player very few had projected in the first round when they added Ohio State run-stuffer Tyleik Williams into the fold.
The Lions now face the even more formidable challenge of finding starting-level talent on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft. At least Brad Holmes has the luxury of a few needy areas that stand far and wide over the rest in terms of how badly improvements are needed.
While the idea of grabbing another pass rusher who can help the Lions become a bit less reliant on Aidan Hutchinson makes a ton of sense, depending on one of the best players at that position to slide all the way down to No. 60 overall might not be the best overall strategy.
The Lions seem like a perfect team to target interior offensive linemen at this point in the draft, as the loss of Kevin Zeitler in free agency and the continued aging of Graham Glasgow could make the guard spot an area that this front office puts in their crosshairs after beefing up the defense with Williams.
Lions may target interior offensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft
The interior offensive line crop on Day 2 is looking much thinner than many anticipated it would look. The proverbial Big Three prospects of Alabama's Tyler Booker, North Dakota State's Grey Zabel, and Ohio State's Donovan Jackson were picked on Thursday but the Cowboys, Seahawks, and Vikings, respectively.
One player who stands out as someone who could be an immediate playmaker for Detroit is Purdue's Marcus Mbow. While he played tackle in college, his strong pass-blocking skills suggest he could be an ideal Zeitler replacement on the right side.
Some of the other names Detroit could look at with the No. 60 pick include Arizona mauler Jonah Savaiinaea and Georgia's Tate Ratledge, who played right guard exclusively for the Bulldogs last year. Fellow Georgia standout Jared Wilson may have played center in college, but his athleticism could stand out at guard.
Detroit adding Williams shows that Holmes was willing to address his defensive line troubles without some of the top names on the board. The offensive line is still very much a work in progress on the interior, which could influence their Day 2 strategy.