After months of discussion and speculation, we’re finally about to get some answers.

The 2025 NFL Draft begins Thursday night in Green Bay, and the Detroit Lions are currently slated to make seven selections across the event’s three days. They’ll assumingly pick up a handful of undrafted free agents, too, as general manager Brad Holmes works to put the finishing touches on Detroit’s 90-man roster.

Before the fun starts, though, here are six thoughts from our Lions beat writers, Nolan Bianchi and Richard Silva:

1. Lack of consensus could create trade-up opportunities

There are no quarterbacks after Miami’s Cam Ward — the projected No. 1 pick to the Tennessee Titans — who are guaranteed to land in the first round. The closer we get to the draft, the less it feels like Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) is going to be a top pick. Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) could sneak up into Round 1, but in some ways, this feels similar to the 2022 draft, where analysts were projecting Round 1 quarterbacks just for the sake of doing so — positional value and all that jazz.

At edge rusher, another premium position, it seems every prospect has a pretty glaring flaw — whether it be size, lack of college production or off-the-field issues. The top receivers all have a high degree of volatility from board to board. The consensus top prospect, Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), reportedly has red flags regarding his love of the game and practice habits. A good amount of the top tackle prospects project as guards at the next level.

All of this is to say that it feels like a year where teams in the middle of the first round could be looking to add extra capital by trading back. When there are great prospects at premium positions, that usually lends itself to teams trying to trade up (albeit at a pretty steep price).

We know Holmes has a ton of conviction on the players he drafts, and he can definitely find one of them at pick No. 28. But it also feels like there’s a good opportunity for a team like Detroit to trade up at a low cost.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the weakness of the draft has created a situation where teams looking to trade back are currently being offered “70 cents on the dollar.” I feel confident Holmes, who’s traded up nine times in the draft and moved back just four, will be trying to leverage that to his advantage. The Lions will have two third-round picks in their pocket next year from Aaron Glenn behind hired as the Jets’ head coach, so perhaps that extra ammo encourages Holmes to move some of it.

— Bianchi

2. Injuries don’t scare Lions

If there’s one thing Holmes does to draw the ire of some Lions fans, it’s gambling on players with injury histories. This approach is evident in free agency, with a couple of the latest examples including defensive end Marcus Davenport and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley; they appeared in two games apiece last season.

But the risks pay off sometimes. Defensive tackle DJ Reader tore his quad in December 2023 ahead of his signing with the Lions, and he was valuable as a run stuffer last season. Wide receiver Tim Patrick hadn’t appeared in a regular season game in more than 2½ years before he tallied 394 yards and three touchdowns as a big-bodied complement to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams in 2024. Williams, himself, had some injury concerns coming out of Alabama in 2022 — he tore his ACL in the national championship — but that didn’t stop Holmes from trading up 20 spots to secure the speedy wideout.

A couple of potential first-round prospects who could slip due to injuries this year include offensive tackle Josh Simmons (Ohio State) and cornerback Will Johnson (Michigan). Simmons missed the back half of his senior season with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, and Johnson dealt with turf toe during the season and missed Michigan’s pro day with a hamstring injury.

Another cornerback I’ve got an eye on is Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame). He suffered a season-ending hip injury in October that required surgery, but he was one of the best cornerbacks in the country when on the field from 2022-24. Morrison is expected to come off the board on Day 2.

— Silva

Time and time again, Holmes has proven that he’s not afraid to buck consensus in the draft. He did it with his first three picks in 2023, taking a running back (Jahmyr Gibbs) at No. 12, a linebacker (Jack Campbell) at 18, and by drafting tight end Sam LaPorta over Michael Mayer.

Which is why, with the whole world assuming he’ll be taking a trench player in Round 1, I’ve got my eye on the “Day 2” crop of receivers. The Lions could absolutely go up for, say, Matthew Golden (Texas) in Round 1 — especially given the trade market we just mentioned. But if they stand pat and Golden is gone, I think there’s still a fairly decent chance they grab a receiver at No. 28.

Could the Lions stop the slide of a falling Luther Burden III (Missouri) or Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)? Maybe. But I’m looking closer at players like Jayden Higgins (Iowa State) and Elic Ayomanor (Stanford), who profile as X receivers at the next level and haven’t gotten a lot of Day 1 buzz.

— Bianchi

4. No panic after Day 1

Using the 28th overall pick to find an edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson is a popular guess being made by those trying to predict the first round, but Holmes is against simply drafting for need, and he won’t ignore a player who’s rated higher on his board, even if the immediate fit isn’t clear.

There’s no reason to panic if the Lions choose another position in the first round. The draft is deep with quality options at edge — The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has 17 edge defenders in his ranking of the top 100 prospects — and the Lions are in a good spot to land one of them at No. 60. Landon Jackson (Arkansas) profiles as a good scheme fit due to his size and power, and Jack Sawyer (Ohio State) was uber productive while serving as a team captain with the Buckeyes.

Oluwafemi Oladejo (UCLA) is another prospect who could be of interest on Day 2. He led the Bruins in pressures (33), tackles for loss (14) and sacks (4½) last season, and his 23 run stops were tied for the eighth most among edge defenders who played in the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten or SEC.

— Silva

5. Don’t sleep on tight end

The Lions hit a home run with their selection of LaPorta in 2023. It’s hard to believe that he — along with the rest of Detroit’s draft hits that year — is already less than one full year away from being eligible for a contract extension. Time flies when you’re winning games.

We’ve said it over and over, but the Lions will eventually have to make some tough decisions when it comes to their homegrown talent. This offseason, the conversation around those tough decisions have primarily centered around Williams, due to the expensive nature of his position, Holmes being non-committal about wanting to get him on a second contract, and the fact Detroit already has $30 million annually going to St. Brown.

But what about next year? Gibbs, LaPorta and versatile defensive back Brian Branch are all on track to earn top-of-market deals, and for all we know, Campbell could take a massive leap in his own right. Paying all four of them what they’re worth might be tough. One way the Lions could alleviate the strain is by backfilling with a strong contender to take over for LaPorta, who’s set to earn somewhere in the neighborhood of $19-20 million if he resets the market.

While Tyler Warren (Penn State) will probably be out of reach, I can’t help but wonder what the Lions might be able to do with a talent like Colston Loveland (Michigan) if he falls to the middle of the round and Holmes pulls the trigger on a trade. Loveland isn’t the best blocker in his class, so he doesn’t necessarily complement LaPorta’s skillset all that well. But as his eventual replacement, he’s certainly intriguing as a pass catcher who can go out wide and play the X in certain looks.

On Days 2 and 3, there are a handful of tight ends who could add a lot to the Lions’ offense as early as next season. Mason Taylor (LSU), Elijah Arroyo (Miami) and Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green) were all fairly productive in college — Fannin led the nation in catches (117) and yards (1,555) and bring some immediate pass-catching chops.

While I don’t think the Lions will force a tight end for the sake of doing so — that goes against Holmes’ entire draft philosophy — I do think selecting one could pay dividends down the road.

— Bianchi

6. Holmes doesn’t sit idle

We know this about Holmes: He’s not one to sit still.

Holmes has maneuvered the draft 13 times over the last four years. If he sees a player he’s enamored with slipping into range, he’s willing to give up future capital to get him. If he’s not interested in the options available, he won’t force himself into making a pick without first seeing if a trade partner exists.

The area I’m watching is between picks Nos. 136 and 190. The Lions don’t have their fifth-round selection, dealing it to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Za’Darius Smith last season. Are you confident Holmes is going to watch 54 players get picked and not be involved? I’m not.