The One Player We’re Ready to Guarantee the Detroit Lions Will Pick in the 2025 NFL Draft After the Combine

The Detroit Lions’ resurgence over the past few seasons has been nothing short of impressive. With Dan Campbell’s aggressive mentality, Brad Holmes’ shrewd decision-making, and a roster brimming with youthful talent, the Lions are a team on the rise. As they look ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft, Detroit’s front office faces a unique challenge: balancing their already-strong roster with the need for long-term stability and depth. One thing is clear: after the NFL Scouting Combine, there is one player we can guarantee the Lions will select in the first round of the 2025 Draft, barring any unforeseen changes in their strategy.

Setting the Stage: The Detroit Lions’ Current Situation

Before diving into who that player will be, it’s important to understand where the Detroit Lions stand at this moment in their development. The Lions are not a rebuilding team, but rather a squad that’s evolving. They’ve had some rough years in the past, but with a roster that’s matured and a coaching staff that’s proven itself capable, they’re now a legitimate contender in the NFC. They made significant strides in 2023, showing resilience, skill, and teamwork. The pieces are in place for Detroit to become a perennial playoff contender — and, potentially, even a Super Bowl-caliber team.

Brad Holmes, the general manager, has been at the forefront of this transformation, carefully assembling a roster filled with key young players. The Lions’ draft strategy in the last few years has focused on building up their trenches, acquiring talent that will help stabilize their offense and defense for years to come. After their successful 2024 season, they are well-positioned to focus on complementary pieces that could put them over the top.

The Lions’ biggest needs heading into the 2025 draft will likely be at cornerback, wide receiver, and linebacker. While the team has key pieces at various positions, there’s still room for improvement in certain areas that could make a significant difference in their playoff aspirations.

The Combine’s Impact: Separating the Pretenders from the Contenders

The NFL Scouting Combine is one of the most significant events in the lead-up to the draft. It’s where NFL teams can assess a player’s athleticism, intelligence, and competitiveness under pressure. The Combine isn’t the be-all and end-all of player evaluations — it’s just one part of the process, albeit an important one. Teams will also rely on game tape, interviews, and pro-day performances to complete their assessments.

For the Detroit Lions, the 2025 Combine will be crucial in narrowing down their draft targets. While it’s impossible to predict exactly who they will select, certain players will emerge from the event with such strong performances that they make themselves a “guaranteed pick” for the team. This player will be someone who addresses a clear need, impresses the Lions’ front office, and fits into the vision that head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have for the team’s future.

The Player We’re Guaranteeing: Jalen Carter – Defensive Tackle, Georgia

After reviewing various potential candidates, one player stands out as someone we can confidently expect to be selected by the Detroit Lions in the 2025 NFL Draft: Jalen Carter, defensive tackle from the University of Georgia.

Carter is a player who has long been on the radar of NFL scouts and general managers. Even before the 2025 season and the Combine, he was widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the country. Carter is a disruptive force in the middle of the defense and has the potential to completely reshape the interior of a defensive line. His blend of size, athleticism, and motor makes him one of the most exciting prospects in recent memory.

Why Jalen Carter Makes Sense for the Lions

There are a number of reasons why Jalen Carter is a perfect fit for the Detroit Lions, both in terms of need and style of play. Here are some of the key factors that make him a logical pick for the Lions:

1. Filling a Critical Need

As of the 2024 season, the Lions have a solid defensive line, but their interior defense remains a weakness. They have talented edge rushers like Aidan Hutchinson, who has shown the ability to generate pressure from the outside. However, they lack a consistent presence in the interior, which can often be just as crucial for creating pressure and stopping the run.

Carter’s ability to disrupt plays in the middle of the defensive line would immediately upgrade the Lions’ defense. His size and power would allow him to clog up running lanes and create opportunities for edge rushers to clean up plays. The Lions need someone who can take on double teams, collapse the pocket, and stop the run — and Jalen Carter is tailor-made for this role.

2. Elite Athleticism and Versatility

Jalen Carter is a phenomenal athlete, even by NFL standards. At 6’3” and 310 pounds, he moves like someone much smaller. His explosiveness off the ball, agility, and quickness are all exceptional for a player of his size. Carter can get low to the ground and use his leverage to gain an advantage against offensive linemen, which allows him to shed blocks with ease. Whether it’s a bull rush, a swim move, or a quick change of direction, Carter’s athleticism is off the charts.

What makes Carter even more intriguing for the Lions is his versatility. He has the ability to line up in multiple spots on the defensive line, whether as a traditional 3-technique tackle or a 1-technique nose tackle. This versatility is a huge asset in the modern NFL, where teams often use different defensive fronts and sub-packages. Dan Campbell’s aggressive, multiple-defense scheme would take full advantage of Carter’s ability to line up in different positions and disrupt plays in a variety of ways.

3. Impact Against the Run

A major weakness for the Detroit Lions defense in the past has been their ability to stop the run. Despite a strong pass rush, the Lions struggled at times to prevent opposing offenses from running the ball effectively. Jalen Carter’s strength and ability to anchor against double teams would instantly improve Detroit’s ability to stop the run.

Carter is a powerful player who can clog up the middle of the field, making it difficult for running backs to find lanes. His quickness off the line of scrimmage also allows him to penetrate into the backfield, disrupting plays before they even get started. His presence would make life much harder for opposing offenses to run against the Lions, forcing teams to become more one-dimensional and rely on their passing game — something that works in Detroit’s favor given their talented secondary.

4. Leadership and Character

While the Combine will provide plenty of data on Carter’s physical abilities, it’s important to remember that the Lions are also looking for players who will be leaders in the locker room and on the field. Carter is known for his competitive nature and leadership qualities, which make him a great fit for the Lions’ culture under Dan Campbell.

Throughout his college career at Georgia, Carter was a key leader on one of the most dominant defenses in the nation. His work ethic and intensity are widely respected by coaches and teammates alike, and he has consistently demonstrated a desire to improve. This kind of mindset is precisely what the Lions need to continue building a winning culture in Detroit.

5. A Perfect Fit for Dan Campbell’s Tough, Physical Style

Dan Campbell has built the Lions’ identity around toughness, grit, and physicality. His players are expected to bring relentless effort every time they step onto the field. Jalen Carter fits this mold perfectly. He has a non-stop motor and plays with an edge that would make him a natural fit for Campbell’s system.

Carter’s ability to disrupt offensive lines with power and quickness makes him a dangerous weapon in any defensive scheme. His passion for the game and his toughness align perfectly with the kind of player Campbell loves to have on his roster. Carter wouldn’t just fill a position of need for the Lions; he would also embody the gritty, hard-nosed mentality that the team is striving to cultivate.

 Jalen Carter is the One Player the Detroit Lions Will Guarantee to Pick

The Detroit Lions are a team on the rise, and their 2025 NFL Draft pick could be the final piece that propels them to the next level. While there are many players who could potentially fill the Lions’ needs, one name stands out as a guaranteed selection: Jalen Carter, defensive tackle from Georgia.

Carter brings an ideal combination of athleticism, strength, versatility, and leadership that the Lions need to upgrade their defense. His ability to dominate the interior of the defensive line would help shore up a critical weakness for Detroit, while his toughness and motor align perfectly with the Lions’ physical style of play.

After the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, it will become even more apparent that Jalen Carter is the player the Lions should — and will — select with their first-round pick. He is the missing piece of the puzzle for Detroit’s defense, and his selection will help push the Lions toward becoming a Super Bowl contender.