Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Detroit Lions Day 3 Mock Draft
Georgia linebacker Chaz Chambliss (32). Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Detroit Lions are gearing up for the final day of the 2025 NFL draft.

Through three selections, the team's most glaring unaddressed need remains the EDGE position. General manager Brad Holmes was adamant that the team will not reach to make a selection at that position, but there are still some intriguing options that remain on the board heding into Day 3.

Holmes made two trades to move up on the second day of the draft, which has led to the team not currently being on the clock. As a result, if Holmes does not make another move up the board, it could be a long wait until Detroit makes its next selection.

Here are two scenarios the Lions could follow on the draft's final day. The first is to simply stand pat and make their current selections, while the second sees them package picks to make a pair of moves up.

Staying put

Round 6, pick 182 — Fadil Diggs, EDGE, Syracuse

Diggs may not have the star upside that some have, but he projects as a very solid player due to his athletic traits and versatility. He plays very physical at the line of scrimmage, while also showcasing solid bend around the edge and some finesse when needed.

The defender ran a 4.57 40-yard dash at the Combine and broad jumped 10'1", showcasing the caliber of athlete he is. Additionally, he could be a strong fit for the Lions due to the fact that he was voted a team captain twice during his time at Texas A&M before entering the portal prior to the 2024 season.

Round 6, pick 196 — Ben Yurosek, TE, Georgia

Yurosek had a strong career at Stanford prior to transferring to Georgia for his final season. With the Bulldogs, he wasn't as actively involved in the passing game but still managed to make an impact as a run-blocker.

Detroit appears to be lining up contenders for a competition at the depth spots behind Sam LaPorta, so adding a young tight end with this kind of upside could be very enticing. Yurosek appears to still have some potential that Detroit's coaching staff could tap into.

Round 7, pick 228 — Teddye Buchanan, LB, California

One of the top performers at the Combine, Buchanan took advantage of his opportunity to showcase his talent to scouts who may not have been familiar with his ability. Having started only one season at Cal, he's not a household name but has some intriguing qualities that point to professional success.

The Lions do have questions about the future of the linebacker room, as Jack Campbell is eligible for an extension while Alex Anzalone and Malcolm Rodriguez are two of the players in the final year of team control. As a result, it would be beneficial for the team to add depth in that area.

Round 7, pick 230 — Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA

Frazier is a long and lean cornerback at 6-foot-2. He can be a burner, with 4.36 speed in the 40 at the combine, which will allow him to stay in phase with the league's fastest receivers. While he was productive at the Group of Five level, he did struggle when his team took on Texas.

The defender had six interceptions last season and was very productive with the ball in the air. His tackling is reliable but not flashy. With his combination of size and speed, it may be worth overlooking some inconsistencies to take a chance and develop him.

Round 7, pick 244 — Lan Larison, RB, UC Davis

The Lions brought Larison in on a top-30 visit, indicating that there may be some interest in adding to the running back room. However, Larison has drawn comparisons to Taysom Hill and could be utilized a number of ways in Detroit's offense.

At UC Davis, he showcased elite elusiveness with the ball in his hands. He was a solid route-runner out of the backfield, and was a threat to score whenever he got the ball. He won't threaten to take carries from Jahmyr Gibbs or David Montgomery right away, but there's a lot of upside within this player.

Moving up

Round 4, pick 112 — David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas

Lions trade picks 182 and 230 to the New Orleans Saints for pick 112.

If the Lions make a package to move up significantly, it may wind up being early. With their next pick not currently coming until the sixth-round, they package two picks to go up and add one of the most productive defenders regardless of level in David Walker.

Last season, Walker recorded 23.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. He's not as big as some of the other highly rated prospects, but he's athletic and can use his physicality to bull-rush pas offensive tackles.

Round 5, pick 150 — Chaz Chambliss, LB, Georgia

Lions trade pick 228 and a 2026 sixth-round pick (from Jacksonville) to Miami Dolphins in exchange for pick 150 and a 2026 seventh-round pick.

Chambliss was one of the earlier reported players to have set up a top-30 visit with the Lions. While he doesn't have the flashy production that his first-round pick teammates had, there is an absolute level of consistency that is obvious when evaluating him on tape.

Chambliss led the team with 6.5 sacks. While he doesn't have the athletic traits or necessarily the tantilizing potential that his teammates have, he does have the potential to grow into a very steady player. He'll also help on special teams, which would benefit the Lions right away.

Round 7, pick 244 — Caden Prieskorn, TE, Ole Miss

Rounding out the draft haul is a Michigan native who was a prolific receiving threat at times in Ole Miss' explosive offense. Prieskorn transferred from Memphis to Ole Miss prior to the 2023 season, catching 57 passes over two years and becoming a security blanket for Jaxson Dart.

The Lake Orion native would bring competition in the same vein as the aforementioned Yurosek, with his 6-foot-5 frame being an enticing factor. Prieskorn doesn't have star upside, but he could become a reliable secondary option at the position.

More from Lions OnSI:


This article first appeared on Detroit Lions on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

NFLPA reportedly under federal investigation
NFL

NFLPA reportedly under federal investigation

The ongoing saga with the NFL Players Association has taken another turn, as the organization is also reportedly the subject of a federal investigation. ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. and Kalyn Kahler reported on Friday that there is an ongoing criminal investigation involving the NFLPA regarding potential misuse of funds and self-enrichment of union officials. A senior union attorney sent a memo to NFLPA officials this week informing them of the federal probe. The document states that the NFLPA is "now on notice of financial actions that may be criminal" and that the union faces "immediate threats requiring prompt actions," according to ESPN. While the document did not specify which individuals are part of the criminal investigation, the notice was sent days after executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. and director of strategy J.C. Tretter resigned from their positions with the NFLPA. Howell was accused of misusing union funds and faced other troubling allegations. Tretter resigned because he felt like he was left to take the heat for the scandal that has been unfolding, though he has denied any wrongdoing. The NFLPA is searching for an interim executive director. ESPN reports that the memo sent to union officials this week warns that potentially hiring an outside executive director might not be a wise move without knowing exactly how deep "the problems may be." Howell was the executive director of the NFLPA for two years.

Aaron Boone Makes Feelings Clear After Yankees’ Big Trade
MLB

Aaron Boone Makes Feelings Clear After Yankees’ Big Trade

The New York Yankees didn't come into the season with the strongest third base situation, and it only got worse over time. They converted traditional second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the hot corner after getting him at the Trade Deadline last season and installed a timeshare with him, DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Oswaldo Cabrera there in 2025. However, the latter player broke his ankle on May 12, and the Yankees released the now 37-year-old LeMahieu on July 10. Chisholm was primarily back at second at that point, so this left Peraza and Jorbit Vivas as their only true remaining third basemen. With Peraza hitting .147 and Vivas hitting .164, it was clear what the team's biggest need was. That's why it acquired veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies on Friday. New York manager Aaron Boone gave his thoughts about the 30-year-old before Friday's bout with the Philadelphia Phillies, via SNY. "I know there's real offensive potential there. I know he's had real offensive success, as well as some struggles there over the last calendar year or two," he said. "It seems like over the last month he's really started swinging the bat like he's capable of. He can impact the ball, he can control the strike zone, he's had some swing-and-misses that have probably hurt him a little bit." "But then he can really defend over there," he continued. "The handful of times that we've played against them that I watch him, you're like, 'That's what it should look like over there.' He moves really well and has that prototypical good third base thing." McMahon is slashing .217/.314/.403 with 16 homers and 35 RBI over 100 games this season. He also has a .978 fielding percentage and six errors. Right-handed pitcher Will Warren (6-5, 4.91 ERA) will start for the Yankees against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker (3-5, 3.75 ERA) on Friday.

Top NHL Analyst Provides Update on Canucks Possible Offer Sheet for Two Star Players
NHL

Top NHL Analyst Provides Update on Canucks Possible Offer Sheet for Two Star Players

Top NHL analyst Stephan Roget of 'Canucks Army' believes the Canucks could definitely offer sheet Mason McTavish or Marco Rossi, but they likely won't. Offer sheets remain one of the less common NHL deals, so a midsummer offer sheet from the Vancouver Canucks would remain highly unlikely. The player must be a restricted free agent (RFA) to be offer-sheet eligible, and come mid-July, there are not many remaining who are. Two of them are strong possibilities for whom the Canucks would consider making an offer sheet: Anaheim Ducks' Mason McTavish and Minnesota Wild's Marco Rossi. And offer sheets are a two-part process. Your team has to first make an offer. And then there has to be acceptance of a player before his current team is in a position to counter. That is uncertainty enough. Any offer sheet from the Canucks would have to be at least $11.7 million per year The Canucks would only be able to give Mason McTavish or Marco Rossi at the absolute highest compensation level, above $11.7 million annually. That would cost four protected first-rounders across five drafts to the Canucks. While both Rossi and McTavish would certainly appreciate an offer of this nature, whether either is truly worth this kind of investment of this size, especially for Vancouver, a club not comfortably in a playoff position, is questionable. 'As it stands, the Canucks are still eligible to make offer sheets to McTavish and Rossi - but only certain offer sheets. 'Whether it's realistic to expect a mid-summer offer sheet from the Canucks, is no'. - Stephan Roget Bottom line: While theoretically, a Canucks summer offer sheet is conceivable, too high a price, in cap space and future equity, makes it extremely unlikely, per NHL analyst Stephan Roget of 'Canucks Army.'

Surprise Chicago Bears WR balling out at training camp
NFL

Surprise Chicago Bears WR balling out at training camp

The Chicago Bears have a rookie wide receiver turning heads at training camp. It’s not Luther Burden III, as the No. 39 pick in April’s draft has missed the first three practices of training camp for a soft tissue injury that had him out of practice since rookie minicamp in May. Burden was expected to fight for the WR3 job this summer. The Chicago Bears have a rookie WR turning heads Undrafted rookie free agent JP Richardson could be making his case for a 53-man roster spot. Per multiple beat reporters, the TCU standout has impressed through the first three days of camp. “Undrafted free agent wide receiver JP Richardson has put together three solid days of camp,” wrote Courtney Cronin of ESPN. “The TCU product hauled in two catches with the third-team offense on Friday after making a one-handed catch down the sideline on the first day of practice.” Richardson caught 175 passes for 1,940 yards and 11 touchdowns during his four years in college. He spent two seasons at Oklahoma State before transferring to TCU. Richardson has yet to work with Caleb Williams Per Zack Pearson of Bear Report, the six-foot, 180-pound receiver has been a top target of backup quarterback Tyson Bagent. Richardson has yet to show what he can do with Caleb Williams. “A player I keep finding myself noting in my notebook is undrafted wide receiver JP Richardson,” Pearson wrote. “He’s been getting open frequently and quarterback Tyson Bagent continues to find him on the field. Richardson hasn’t gotten any reps with the first or second team yet, but that could change.” Richardson will be a player of interest to watch when the Bears play in the preseason. Chicago will host the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 10 to kick off the preseason.