Tim Twentyman

NFL Draft week is finally here, and that means Lions general manager Brad Holmes and the 31 other general managers around the league are making their final preparations for the three-day event kicking off with Thursday night's first round in Green Bay.

The Lions currently have seven total picks, one in each of the first four rounds, one in the sixth and two in the seventh. This is probably the most complete roster Holmes has had entering the draft, which means he has options. He could move up to make a play at one of the elite players on his board. Maybe he finds there's a group of players similarly graded, and he gets an offer to move back, gain an asset or two, and still come away with a player they like early in Day 2.

If Holmes stays put at No. 28, here's a look at 10 players who could be on the board late in the first round that make sense for the Lions:

1. OLGrey Zabel, North Dakota State

Zabel is one of my favorite prospects in the class because of the versatility he could offer teams upfront and that might take him off the board before he can get to No. 28. Zabel was an All-American left tackle but has also started at right tackle and both guard spots. He focused on playing some center in the pre-draft process too. He's tough, technically sound and excels as a run blocker.

2. EDGEShemar Stewart, Texas A&M

Stewart has the frame (6-5, 267) and athletic traits teams love to deploy on the edge. There's some question marks about his sack production (4.5 sacks the last three seasons combined), but his tape shows a far more disruptive player. He led the Aggies in pressures last season with 39. Stewart could really benefit from playing across from and learning from one of the best pass rushers in the business in Detroit'sAidan Hutchinson.

3. DTDerrick Harmon, Oregon

Harmon is an athletic big man who generated a ton of disruption for the Ducks in his lone season as a starter in 2024 after transferring from Michigan State. Harmon led all FBS interior defensive linemen with 55 pressures last year, which was 12 more than the next-closest player. He racked up 45 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks to go along with all those pressures last season.

4. LBJihaad Campbell, Alabama

Campbell played the MIKE and WILL roles at Alabama and also lined up on the edge and was productive there. He could be a player who has three-position (WILL, MIKE & SAM) potential in Detroit's defense. Campbell led Alabama in tackles (117), tackles for loss (11.5), sacks (five) and forced fumbles (two). Holmes must love Alabama prospects having drafted CB Terrion Arnold, RBJahmyr Gibbs, DB Brian Branch and WRJameson Williamsin the last three drafts.

5. WR Matthew Golden, Texas

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said this offseason he'd like to add some young talent to the wide receiver room. Detroit returns their top four receivers from last season, but the long-term future of the position needs to be addressed. Golden is a speedster (4.29 seconds in 40-yard dash) who averaged at least 20.0 yards per catch in 10 of 16 games in 2024. He's also a terrific kickoff returner (25.8-yard average with two touchdowns).

6. EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia

Williams was used up and down Georgia's defensive front from the three to five technique and even standing up as an outside linebacker. He's got terrific length (6-5, 267) and bend to go along with long arms (34 3/8). He was a consistently productive player on a deep Georgia defense recording 67 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 14.0 sacks and three forced fumbles over the last three seasons.

7. S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame

The Lions don't have a lot of experienced depth behind startersKerby Josephand Branch, and they like to use the versatility and skillset of a third safety in sub-packages. What stands out about Watts is the ball production. He tied for second in the FBS with six interceptions last season and that was after tying for the lead in 2023 with seven. He's got terrific ball skills, range and instincts.

8. IOL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

A three-year starter for the Buckeyes, Jackson played both left guard and left tackle. There will be some teams that view him as a tackle and others at guard. His ability to play both should be attractive to a lot of teams. He's got a ton of experience playing in 53 career games. He is athletic and strong, which will translate to wherever he plays at the next level.

9. T Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon

The Lions have a terrific tackle tandem returning in the All-ProPenei Sewelland Pro Bowler Taylor Decker. But consider this, Decker will be 32 years old in August and swing tackle Dan Skipper will be 31 in September. Conerly anchored an Oregon offensive line that was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation's most outstanding offensive line unit, and allowed just one sack in 494 pass-rush reps while surrendering just nine total pressures.

10. DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

Nolen combines terrific size, strength and quickness for a player who was a game-wrecker at times for the Rebels last season. He's a penetrator with strong hands and finished top three among FBS defensive tackles with 14.0 tackles for loss in 2024. He also chipped in 6.5 sacks and got his hands on three balls in the passing game. Him and Alim McNeill together could be scary.