By Blessing 
Seventh-Round Steal? Lions Rookie Could Be a Surprise Spark in 2025
When the Detroit Lions entered the 2025 NFL Draft, they didn’t have glaring holes to fill. Their needs were mostly about building depth — particularly on the offensive and defensive lines, at wide receiver, and in the secondary. With the foundation of a strong roster already in place, Detroit used the early rounds to patch up those areas, selecting defensive lineman Tyliek Williams, offensive lineman Tate Ratledge, and wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
But once the late rounds rolled around, the Lions had the luxury to take chances — and they might have struck gold with one of their final picks.
That pick? Dominic Lovett, a former Georgia Bulldog who led the team in receiving yards and carved out a reputation on special teams. The Lions took him at No. 244 overall, citing his ability as a playmaker from the slot and his willingness to contribute on special teams as key factors in the decision.
At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Lovett isn’t the most physically imposing wideout, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for with explosiveness. His quickness in tight spaces and sudden change of direction give him an edge in short-yardage situations. That said, he’s far from a finished product. While Lovett boasts 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash — great for screens and slants — he’s struggled at times against press coverage and has had issues with drops. In fact, he recorded five last season alone.
Still, what might truly earn him a roster spot is his effort and versatility on special teams. With his speed and solid instincts for tracking the ball, Lovett could quickly find a home as a gunner on punt coverage — an underrated but crucial role.
The Lions know what they’re doing when it comes to talent evaluation, and if Lovett embraces the grind, especially on special teams, there’s a real shot he sticks around in Detroit.
And who knows? This seventh-round underdog might just end up putting the “Motor” in Motor City.