Dan Campbell’s dream draft board might already be taking shape, thanks to the return of the “Grit Index”—a metric Pride of Detroit uses to sort through prospects who play with the kind of toughness and character the Lions crave. This year’s update digs into quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends, ranking them by grit on a 0-100 scale across five tiers.
So who stands out? Let’s get into it.
Quarterbacks:
The QB spot’s a bit of a weird fit for this index since most scouting language already leans gritty. Luckily, the Lions aren’t in the market for a signal caller, giving the Index time to recalibrate for 2026.
Running Backs:
Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo is the clear Tier 1 king here, no surprise. But Ohio State’s backfield tandem—TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins—landing in Tier 2 might raise eyebrows. Their explosive RAS scores (8.87 and 9.90) make them hot names this draft season. Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai also scored high after catching eyes at the Combine, and Kalel Mullings impressed enough to top Tier 3. One downer? Texas RB Jaydon Blue, who played under Lions RB coach Tashard Choice, didn’t get much love from evaluators.
Wide Receivers:
Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka might just be Amon-Ra St. Brown 2.0—a Tier 1 grit monster with elite athleticism (9.72 RAS). Lions fans should keep an eye on Elic Ayomanor and Isaac TeSlaa (both Tier 2). Ayomanor has ties to Detroit via David Shaw, while TeSlaa is a Michigan native who just visited Allen Park. Tier 3 is stacked too, headlined by Matthew Golden and featuring names like Tetairoa McMillian and Tory Horton. Jayden Higgins landing in Tier 4 was a bit surprising given his physicality and blocking skills.
Tight Ends:
This is where the grit didn’t shine quite as bright. A bunch of gritty in-line guys like Alabama’s Robbie Ouzts and CJ Dippre landed in Tier 4 due to lack of data, not lack of toughness. Thomas Fidone and Jackson Hawes sit in Tier 3, though some argue they deserve better.
Next up in the Grit Index series: the offensive linemen—arguably the true grit grinders of any draft.
Built for the Lions: The 2025 Draft’s Top Grit-and-Grind Playmakers
