🦁 Inside the Den: Lions’ Draft Room Drama and Surprises Revealed

For Detroit Lions fans, the NFL Draft isn’t just a formality — it’s the Super Bowl of hope. And if you’ve been following the team’s rise, you know the 2025 draft was anything but boring. Lucky for us, One Pride Productions just dropped a gem: a one-hour episode of Inside the Den, taking us behind the scenes of all the war room drama.

It’s filled with revealing moments, subtle flexes, and some brutally honest vibes. Here are the most striking takeaways from Detroit’s draft-day docu-drop.

🎯 1. James Pearce? That Was a Bullet Dodged

The Atlanta Falcons snagged Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. at pick No. 26, just two spots before Detroit was on the clock. What came next in the Lions’ war room?

Celebration. Yes, celebration.

They didn’t groan. They didn’t scramble. They looked relieved. A subtle round of fist bumps made it clear: Pearce was never their guy — for football or locker room reasons.

In the cutthroat world of draft boards, that moment spoke volumes. Detroit didn’t just dodge a pick they weren’t sold on — they avoided a potential headache with a smile.

🔥 2. Ratledge & Williams Crushed the Interview Room

Let’s talk about Georgia guard Tate Ratledge and Ohio State defensive lineman Tyleik Williams.

During their combine interviews, both prospects left strong impressions on Detroit’s staff. Not just because they had the size or technique — but because they had football IQ and no-nonsense attitude.

Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard flat-out told Williams:

“You were my favorite defensive player in the draft.”

Meanwhile, owner Sheila Hamp noticed Ratledge’s versatility — especially the possibility he could shift to center. That might have felt minor at the time… until Frank Ragnow announced his retirement. Talk about foresight.

🤫 3. Miles Frazier Was the Silent Win

In the sixth round, Detroit picked up LSU’s Miles Frazier, an interior offensive lineman Brad Holmes had rated much higher.

Holmes had a third-round grade on him. They got him in the sixth.

He barely reacted when they made the pick — just a calm, knowing nod. But that’s classic Holmes: no theatrics, just precision. Frazier could easily be one of those “how did the rest of the league miss this guy?” kind of steals.

🧠 4. The Holmes-Campbell Combo Is Built on Alignment

When you watch the back-and-forth between GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell, it’s clear — these two trust each other.

Whether it was drafting Ratledge for a future center role or juggling whether to take Ahmed Hassanein or Dan Jackson late in the draft, their dialogue was smooth. Holmes even said:

“I might take both.”

And that’s exactly what he did. The sixth and seventh rounds were full of these smart, calculated risks that show a front office thinking three moves ahead.

Final Word

Inside the Den isn’t just fan service. It’s an unfiltered look into how this team thinks, plans, and drafts. The Lions aren’t winging it — they’re building something.

The 2025 draft showed just how much trust, preparation, and clarity exists inside Detroit’s war room. If you weren’t taking the Lions seriously before, it’s time to start.