By Blessing 
After an impressive 2024 season, the Detroit Lions are gearing up for the 2025 NFL Draft, holding the No. 28 overall pick. Whether general manager Brad Holmes stays put, trades up, or moves back remains uncertain and will only be revealed on draft night. Until then, the big question is: Who will the Lions target if they stick with their pick?
On Monday, Mike Tannenbaum released his latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft, and in it, he predicts Detroit will continue strengthening one of its strongest position groups.
Detroit Lions Draft Malaki Starks at No. 28
Tannenbaum projects the Lions selecting Malaki Starks, a standout safety from Georgia. Here’s what he had to say about the pick:
> “This would be a classic Detroit pick — productive player with versatility from a big school. The Lions do have Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph patrolling the third level at safety, so Starks could sink down over the slot for now; he occasionally played there at Georgia. And after all the injuries we saw in Detroit last season, giving the defense more options wouldn’t be the worst move. Starks had six interceptions and 15 pass breakups over three college seasons.”
Final Thoughts
Detroit’s secondary is already in great shape, but adding a playmaker like Starks would give them even more depth and flexibility—something that became crucial during last year’s injury-plagued season. Brad Holmes has built a reputation for finding smart, high-upside players, and if Starks ends up in Detroit, it could be another savvy move that helps take this defense to the next level.