With the 2025 NFL draft now in the books, experts have been weighing in on just how good or bad teams did. When it comes to one outlet and the Detroit Lions, general manager Brad Holmes had two of the biggest reaches of the event.
According to Pro Football Focus, those reaches came in the form of the Lions' first-round pick, defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, and third-round pick, wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
PFF points to Williams' lack of pass-rushing prowess as a reason why the outlet thinks the Lions took the Ohio State product too early.
"DJ Reader will be 31 years old when the 2025 season begins, and Alim McNeill is recovering from a late-season ACL tear that will likely limit his availability for 2025," PFF said. "The Lions had a need on the defensive interior, and Williams fills it — albeit a bit earlier than expected. He is an excellent run defender, posting an 88.6 PFF grade in that regard last season, but his pass rushing leaves a lot to be desired, as his season-best PFF pass-rushing grade in college was just 64.1."
When it comes to TeSlaa, who wasn't on anyone's radar when the Lions drafted him following a huge trade up that involved three third-round picks, including two in 2026, the lack of college production is the reason he makes the list.
"TeSlaa is another player PFF’s big board is higher on than the consensus board. He didn’t see many targets the past two years of college after transferring up from the Division II ranks. While he possesses the ideal size, his lack of production against better competition indicates he needs more time to develop," PFF said.
It's amazing to see general manager Brad Holmes get the kind of doubt he does. After all, Holmes has proven to be great at drafting players, as evidenced by the slew of big extensions the Lions have paid their homegrown players recently.
Does that mean that Holmes should be immune to criticism? Of course, not. But, he does deserve the benefit of the doubt more than most, something Lions fans definitely give him at this point.
If there's one area to doubt Holmes in, it's along the edge, where the Lions have a dire need that they didn't even try to address until the sixth round. But we tend to believe Holmes isn't done yet, so we'll hold off judgement for now.
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