We all know at this point that the Detroit Lions have built things the right way. If you remember back in 2021 when Lions coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes were first hired, both routinely echoed the same sentiment—they wanted to build a winner that is capable of competing each and every year. And as we know, the best way to do that is through the NFL Draft.
Fast-forward four years into the future, and Detroit has assembled one of the youngest and most talented rosters in the entire
league, with most of the heavy-lifting done via the draft. However, what would the rankings look like if someone were to focus on just the projected starters for the 2025 season? Three NFL analysts from ESPN—Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz, and Seth Walder—weighed in and had the Lions third out of the league’s 32 teams.
“I could’ve gone safety or offensive tackle,” said Clay when picking the Lions’ biggest strength. “But the Jahmyr Gibbs/David Montgomery duo is elite. Since 2023, Lions RBs have produced a league-high 5,960 yards and 57 touchdowns. That’s 718 yards and eight more touchdowns than any other team.”
You can read the entire article from the trio right here.
NFL Roster Rankings from 1 (Ravens) to 32 (Saints).
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) July 21, 2025
Me: Top strength and weakness for each team@SethWalder: X Factors@ASchatzNFL: Nonstarter to knowhttps://t.co/QD0kEWUAx2
And now, onto the rest of today’s notes:
- Lions’ cornerback D.J. Reed joined NFL on CBS to talk all things Lions.
- Dan Miller of Fox 2 Detroit sat down with Lions’ defensive tackle DJ Reader for a 1-on-1 interview ahead of his second season in the Motor City.
- The panel over at NFL on ESPN weighed in on the Lions’ offense under new coordinator John Morton.
- The back-to-back NFC North Champs.
The defending NFC North champs are back at it pic.twitter.com/dokzQnAk7Y
— NFL (@NFL) July 21, 2025
- Best duo in the game and it isn’t really a debate.
A rare thing pic.twitter.com/HLlNT2cwCz
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) July 21, 2025
More from prideofdetroit.com:
- 2020 Detroit Lions schedule: 5 things we’d like to see
- Notes: PFF drops Detroit Lions’ 2019 draft grade after Year 1
- Former RB coach: Lions’ Jason Huntley ‘was dynamic wherever we put him’
- Kenny Golladay named a top-10 WR in NFL
- Schedule leak: Lions to host Texans on Thanksgiving
- Open thread: How do you feel about NFL games in London?
- Ask POD: Detroit Lions schedule mailbag
