7 Round Detroit Lions mock draft with a blockbuster trade up in the first round

Last week, we wrote about how it makes too much sense that the Detroit Lions will trade up in the 2025 NFL Draft. The question has been, if they do indeed do it, how far would they go up? Today, we’re going to give our own answers to that question, and we don’t think that answer is too far off. Let’s jump into it.

Alright, here we go. The Lions roster is built so well right now, but there’s reason to think that they’re a big piece or two away. So let’s go get that piece. We’re going all in on this one. Here’s the trade:

Lions get: 4th pick
Patriots get: 28th pick, 60th pick, 2026 first-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick

All the way to the top of the draft. It’s the move to make if you ask us. Here’s the pick:

4th pick: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

Here’s the guy that Lions fans have been dying for. The near sure thing opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Carter is the consensus top edge rusher in this year’s draft, and you could see in 2024 why everyone agrees.

Carter finished second in the nation in pressures with 66 and had 13 sacks as well. He also forced two fumbles and had two pass breakups. This guy is a game-changer for the Lions and can hit the ground running.

102nd pick: Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois

I will mock Pat Bryant to the Lions until I either mock it into existence or I sadly wind up being wrong about it. I’m just that sure of the fit here. Solid receiver who fits the culture and is an elite blocker. Dan Campbell type of guy all the way.

130th pick: Dylan Fairchild, OL, Georgia

While the Lions just brought back Kayode Awosika, that’s not going to stop them from finding another guard who can be part of the future of their offensive line.

Fairchild is a pretty solid steal for the Lions in the fourth round if you ask us. He allowed just seven pressures and a sack last year. He’s a really good pass blocker who could use a little work in run blocking, buy isn’t bad there by any means.

196th pick: Junior Tafuna, DL, Utah

I walked away from the NFL Combine in early March feeling like Tafuna was the most grown up player at the entire thing. That’s not to say that everyone else was immature or something, I just got vibes from him that he had it all together.

He’s pretty good on the field, too. You’re not going to get much pass rush out of him, but he’s a good run stopper and an excellent tackler. He’s also mentored by former Lions Pro-Bowler Luther Elliss. So there’s some connection there.

228th pick: Malachi Moore, S, Alabama

There’s no way that Brad Holmes is walking out of this draft without an Alabama guy, right? He’s had at least one in the last three drafts. With Ifeatu Melifonwu in Miami, the Lions are going to need some safety depth, and Moore can fit right in with his old teammates Brian Branch and Terrion Arnold.

244th pick: Lan Larison, RB, UC-Davis

Normally, I think it would be fair to look at this really good FCS RB/WR and think he could be a priority free agent, but his name is getting out there more and more as we get closer to the draft, and the Lions aren’t the only ones who are interested in him. So when you have one of the final picks in the draft, why not grab him before he hits the open market?