Lions attack trenches in Mel Kiper's final mock draft for 2025

The NFL Draft is so close we can taste it.

Soon, draft analysts will post their final mocks ahead of the first round on April 24.

The great Mel Kiper of ESPN did just that on Tuesday, even with two weeks left until the draft.Kiper went two rounds deep for this mock, meaning the Lions ended up with two selections in this exercise.

Here's a quick look at those two picks.No.

28 - Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston CollegeEzeiruaku has been a fairly popular pick in the first round for various mock drafts.

Kiper's final mock is no different.

The Lions need help at the edge position and Ezeiruaku brings plenty of production to the table.

He registered 16.5 sacks last season, second only to Marshall's Mike Green (17)."The Lions' defense was hammered by injuries last season.

Even before the injured reserve started filling up, though, the edge rush depth chart was concerning.

Aidan Hutchinson -- who is coming off a leg injury -- needs a running mate.

The only other Detroit edge rusher with more than three sacks last season was Za'Darius Smith (four), who was acquired at midseason and released this spring."Ezeiruaku jumped to No.

21 in my recent Big Board update, meaning he'd not only take care of that pass rush need but also do so at value.

His 65 pressures led the FBS last season, and he turned them into 16.5 sacks."No.

60 - Anthony Belton, OL, North Carolina StateAt the end of the second round, the Lions come back and address the interior offensive line with Anthony Belton.

The former member of the Wolfpack played almost exclusively at left tackle while at NC State but can be used on the inside in the NFL.

The Lions will have a competition at right guard between Christian Mahogany and Kayode Awosika.

Belton could make that a three-horse race."The Lions lost Kevin Zeitler in free agency, and some combination of Kayode Awosika and Christian Mahogany is currently in line to take over at right guard.

Belton (6-foot-6 and 336 pounds) has played all but 11 of his 2,146 career snaps at left tackle.

However, he could slide inside in the pros -- and the Lions might opt for that in Year 1."This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions attack trenches in Mel Kiper's final mock draft for 2025.

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