In his first mock draft for 2025, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah had the Detroit Lions taking Marshall edge rusher Mike Green at pick No. 28.
"It will be huge for the Lions to get Aidan Hutchinson back next season. Green would be a perfect complement with his speed and quickness off the edge. This team values production off the edge and Green had a ton of it during his college career."
Some other mock drafts have had the Green at No. 28 to the Lions, including Jeremiah's NFL Network colleague Bucky Brooks in his first 2025 mock.
As a redshirt sophomore this past season, Green led the FBS in sacks (17.0), sack yardage (144) and tackles by a defensive lineman (84). Those 17 sacks were a Sun Belt single-season record, and he also finished second in the FBS in tackles for loss (23).
Any idea about Green being simply a small school stud can be set aside by his games this past season against Virginia Tech (two sacks, two tackles for loss, eight pressures) and Ohio State (one sack, one tackle for loss, 83.9 Pro Football Focus pass rushing grade).
What Green measures and performs like at the Senior Bowl this week feels important as he begins to prove his draft stock and tries to dismiss whatever concerns are out there. He came in at a little over 6-foot-3, but more importantly he weighed in at 251 pounds. That's still probably a little lighter than a team like the Lions would like in an edge rusher, but it points to his ability to add weight as he moves through the pre-draft process and then enters an NFL workout program.
Lions' potential first-round target putting out audition tape at Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl practice drills are an opportunity to go 1-on-1 against other top prospects with the eyes of NFL personnel on you. It's easy to overrate those kind of things, but a good showing is certainly better than the alternative.
By all accounts Green has done very well in 1-on-1 drills during Tuesday and Wednesday practice sessions down in Mobile.
On Wednesday, lined up on the left edge, Green went up against Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly. Conerly is a projected first-round pick, so it would be a good test for Green.
A pair of first rounders going 1-on-1 in Oregon OT Josh Conerly and Marshall Edge Mike Green. Conerly looks smooth here and I’m a huge fan of his athleticism and bend but truth be told, Green bulldozed him one rep earlier! #SeniorBowl #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE #nfl #NFLDraft2025… pic.twitter.com/7vIrMTdfyQ
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) January 29, 2025
As Todd McShay hinted at, Green "bulldozed" Conerly on a rep before the clip he posted. Bulldozed is one word to describe it.
Mike Green. SIR. pic.twitter.com/v1CZAAzn0H
— Jordan Dajani (@JordanDajani) January 29, 2025
Green doing what he did to Conerly demands the viewing of more angles.
Mike Green from Marshall just killed a man pic.twitter.com/haPwjla8T7
— Justin Penik (@JustinPenik) January 29, 2025
🚨🚨🚨WOW!!! Marshall EDGE Mike Green!! Draft stock 📈📈📈 @MikeGarafolo @nfldraftscout pic.twitter.com/KSPIf6cN7x
— Larry Rudolph QBC Media (@qbcountry_media) January 29, 2025
Of course Lions fans have quickly weighed in about Green after what he did to Conerly, who again is not a stiff.
BH bring this man to Detroit https://t.co/UJYrm6w56l
— Honolulu Blues (@HonoluluBlues_) January 29, 2025
Yeah… is there any way the Detroit Lions can draft Mike Green NOW? 😳🔥
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) January 29, 2025
via @JustinPenik pic.twitter.com/lk71RCFuIY
Green's interview with the NFL Network crew on-site in Mobile showed he's wired like a Lions' player. As for what he can do on the field, the clip of him destroying a first-round offensive tackle prospect in a practice rep might as well lead his audition tape for Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell.