The first wave of NFL free agency is over, and the Detroit Lions got involved, but not to the degree that many Lions fans hoped they would. It's probably because they feel pretty good about their team, and the rest of the sports world does, too. 

Updated 2025 NFL Unit Grades pic.twitter.com/j4lMPpAQvd

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) March 15, 2025

Still, the Lions' signings and the signings that the Lions did not make shifted plans for the 2025 NFL Draft. Here's how we see things going in our post-first wave of free agency mock draft:

Trade

It still just doesn't make a lot of sense for the Lions to pick at 28 unless the perfect player falls to them. At this point, I could see a trade up before I see them stay at 28. What makes the most sense is that the Lions trade down and get some extra picks. In this case, the Saints called and this is the deal we worked out: 

Lions get: 40th pick and 71st pick

Saints get: 28th pick and 244th pick

The Lions now have two seconds and two thirds. Let's jump into the picks. 

40th pick: Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Ole Miss

I’ve mocked him to the Lions a few times since the season. If he keeps falling, I’m going to keep taking him. He’s one of those guys that you feel like teams should be higher on in the draft and you might find out that they will be when it comes time to pick. 55 pressures and 11 sacks last year is just good to overlook at 40.

60th pick: Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue

Now that Kevin Zeitler is gone, it looks like the Lions could go all in on Christian Mahogany in his spot. There are still questions with Graham Glasgow on the other side. Mbow presents a guy who has success at both right guard and right tackle at Purdue. The Lions can move him into that right guard spot and then kick Mahogany over to the left to take over for Glasgow. Then you can move Mbow to the right tackle if you ever need to. I actually got a little giddy making this pick in the simulator. 

71st pick: Chris “Pooh” Paul, LB, Ole Miss

Here’s my guy. He’s at the top of my list for Detroit. I know the Lions have a lot of linebackers already, but that hasn’t stopped them from talking to a few. That includes Paul having a formal meeting at the Combine and a meeting at the Shrine Bowl too. This is your future guy in the Anzalone spot right here and he can take over as early as 2026 after Anzalone’s contract runs out at the end of this season. 

102nd pick: Jonas Sanker, S, Virginia

Now that Ifeatu Melifonwu has left for Miami, the Lions are going to need some safety depth in his place. Loren Strickland and Morice Norris can be something, but that might be a ways off. Sanker is someone who can come in and be a part of the rotation immediately. He’s also someone the Lions have already met with too. 

130th pick: Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois

How many times have I mocked Bryant to the Lions? When I went to get this picture, I typed in a P and it autofilled in his name. The reason is the same. This guy is the exact type of receiver the Lions need and he’s the type of player they love. A guy who loves to block maybe more than he loves getting the ball. 

196th pick: Jackson Hawes, TE, Georgia Tech

While the Lions did just sign Kenny Yeboah, they still don’t have what Hawes can bring to the table and that’s really good run blocking. Hawes can straight up knock guys on their butts and and he wants to do it. At the combine he talked about wanting to punish people on the field and how that was his main goal. Sounds like a certain tight end turned head coach.

228th pick: O’Donnell Fortune, CB, South Carolina

The Lions cornerback room is looking good in 2025 with D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, Amik Robertson and Ennis Rakestraw, but they could use a solid depth guy. Fortune fits that role as a guy who could also find himself in a bigger role after some developmental time.

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Franchise-altering decisions.