The Lions added a slew of talent in the 2025 offseason to support their Super Bowl aspirations. Here are the five players you should know:
The Detroit Lions won a franchise-record 15 games in 2024 before bowing out in the divisional round to the Washington Commanders, ending the team's Super Bowl hopes.
A big reason for the Lions' sudden playoff exit was the loss of key defenders through injury, most notably edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson and defensive tackle Alim McNeill. As a result, many NFL experts figured the Lions would try to add a star pass rusher through a trade or free agency, as well as shore up some defensive depth through the draft.
As it turns out, the Lions hit some of those expectations, but also went in unexpected directions when adding players for the 2025 team.
Here are five of the most important new faces you'll see suit up for the Lions in 2025:
OG Tate Ratledge (69)
Age: 24.
Acquired: 2025 draft, second round (No. 57 overall).
The buzz: Ratledge was a two-time national champion and two-time All-American at Georgia, where he anchored one of the most fearsome offensive lines in the country. The Lions made him their second-round pick in the 2025 draft, expecting his versatility to be an asset to a new-look offensive line.
Ratledge has quickly ascended the depth chart, with coach Dan Campbell recently saying he looked like a "starting NFL guard" well before his first regular-season snaps. If the Lions can retain their success on a remade offensive line, Ratledge will likely play a huge role in that success.
Did you know? Ratledge is big on turkey hunting, and he's aiming for a "grand slam" (killing all four subspecies in four different parts of the country) in the next offseason.
CB D.J. Reed (4)
Age: 28.
Acquired: Free agency from Jets.
The buzz: Reed went from a fifth-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2018 to a standout cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets from 2020-24, forming a 1-2 punch with Sauce Gardner that put up a top-five pass defense over the 2024 season.
Looking to add a veteran at the cornerback position, the Lions made Reed their top acquisition of the offseason, signing him to a three-year, $48 million deal on March 10. He'll team up with second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold in a Lions' secondary that also features Pro Bowler Brian Branch and All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph.
Did you know? Reed has a French bulldog named Simba who has one blue eye and one green eye.
LB Grant Stuard (15)
Age: 26.
Acquired: Free agency from Colts.
The buzz: The fifth-year linebacker had been a special teams mercenary for the Indianapolis Colts, but he also saw his first action as a starter in 2024, with five starts and 40 tackles.
The Lions, who signed the long-haired linebacker to a one-year deal over the offseason, might also use Stuard on special teams — even as a kick returner. He has already shown that skill in training camp, mixing speed with the fearlessness required of the position.
Did you know? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Stuard the last pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, aka "Mr. Irrelevant," at No. 259 overall – the "honor" landed him an UberEats commercial spot that year.
WR Isaac TeSlaa (18)
Age: 23.
Acquired: 2025 draft, third round (No. 70 overall).
The buzz: The native Michigander has already won big at Ford Field, leading Hudsonville Unity Christian to an MHSAA Division 5 state championship in 2018 (as a quarterback in the Wing-T offense, no less).
The wide receiver then took an unconventional route to the NFL, starting his college career in-state at Division II Hillsdale College before transferring to Arkansas. TeSlaa has already stood out with touchdowns in three preseason games, one on a last-minute drive to end the first half against the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 16.
Did you know? TeSlaa says he can backflip and can do an impression of the Sesame Street character Elmo.
DT Tyleik Williams (91)
Age: 22.
Acquired: 2025 draft, first round (No. 28 overall).
The buzz: Williams is an All-American and national champion out of Ohio State who the Lions made their top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. At only 22 years old, he's expected to play a big role on the Lions' defensive line, which is returning stars such as Hutchinson and McNeil.
But Williams might soon become a star in his own right, already taking reps with the first team during training camp and showing the talent that made him a first-round pick. He might not rack up the sack numbers like Hutchinson, but the Lions see a player who could be a big factor in getting pressure and stopping the run.
Did you know? Williams calls himself a "big gamer," though he prefers gaming on a PC instead of on a console.
Other notable new additions
- QB Kyle Allen: Free agent from the Steelers.
- OL Miles Frazier: 2025 draft, fourth round.
- DE Ahmed Hassanein (61): 2025 draft, sixth round.
- S Dan Jackson: 2025 draft, seventh round.
- DT Roy Lopez: Free agent from the Cardinals.
- WR Dominic Lovett (19): 2025 draft, seventh round.
- DB Avonte Maddox (29): Free agent from the Eagles.
- CB Rock Ya-Sin (23): Free agent from the 49ers.
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' new players: Get to know the five big-name additions
Category: Football