Latest news with #OnePride
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Most Important Lions of 2025: Healthy Derrick Barnes is a much-needed addition to the D
Here's the play where Lions LB Derrick Barnes gets hit low and exits the game with a knee injury. Pretty unfortunate. #OnePride It's been an eventful year for Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes. Most recently, he signed a three-year contract extension worth $25.5 million dollars with $16 million dollars guaranteed. Prior to that, he was playing some of the best football of his career and it was clear that he was building a defined role on the defense. However, there's some uncertainty on if Barnes will have limitations coming off an injury. Last season there were unfortunate circumstances with Barnes getting lost to the season with a knee injury. This occurred after a cut block in week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. The blocker hit Barnes low and at an awkward angle, and immediately Barnes was left grabbing his knee. Despite some hope that he could return, it was ultimately revealed late last season that Barnes wouldn't return. Now Barnes is back, playing under a new contract, and he's been a full go up to this point of the off-season. It's been said from Barnes that he 'expects to have the same role' for Kelvin Sheppard as he did for Aaron Glenn. Obviously, that is yet to be see,n but plenty of attention will be focused on Barnes and what he can do coming off a serious knee injury. It was clear last season that Barnes was missed for the Lions defense. Having a versatile defender that can align in the middle of the defense or stand up off the edge is important for any defense. That's no different in Detroit. Additionally, seeing the injuries sustained to Alex Anzalone and Malcolm Rodriguez left the Lions scrambling to find help at linebacker next to Jack Campbell. It's evident that having a healthy Derrick Barnes is important and him staying healthy is just as important. It's hard to find a player to fill his spot on a consistent basis. Meanwhile, he'll need to play up to his new contract. All the signs point to that happening this season, but if it doesn't, the Lions could be left scrambling to put the pieces together as the season goes on.
Bangkok Post
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Bangkok Post
A look back at Pride Month
Pride Month 2025 ends today with hope that people will develop a deeper understanding of the LGBTI community. Here are some outstanding events and activities that were held with a commitment to promote diversity, identity and equality in Thai society. Bangkok Pride Festival 2025 On June 1, Rama I Road was transformed into a rainbow street where a 200m-long "Identity Flag" was unfurled alongside the country's largest Pride Flag during Bangkok Pride Festival 2025. Held under the theme "Born This Way", this year's parade celebrated the passing of marriage equality law and a look towards the next goal -- full legal recognition of gender identity. Organised by Naruemit Pride, the celebration featured seven major themed processions, each representing one colour of the rainbow and concept, along with over 100 smaller parades. The parade stretched from National Stadium to Ratchaprasong intersection, covering more than 3km. It passed major landmarks like MBK, Siam Discovery, Siam Center, Siam Paragon, Pathumwanaram Temple and the Royal Thai Police Headquarters before ending at CentralWorld. The event was joined by 300,000 people including celebrities, performers and influencers. Marching alongside the LGBTI community were Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. One Bangkok, One Pride: Uniting Hearts, Celebrating Diversity One Bangkok became another landmark that celebrated the LGBTI community through a wide array of engaging activities during "One Bangkok, One Pride: Uniting Hearts, Celebrating Diversity", which kicked off on June 6 and ran until Saturday. Held in collaboration with Thailand Pride Organisation, the festival transformed One Bangkok Boulevard into a striking visual tribute to diversity, while the Storeys Square coming alive with a variety of entertainment and experiences, including live music by artists and DJs, Pride talks, special shows and movie screenings. Wrapping up the celebration was "One Pride, One Run" on Saturday. This 3.5km inclusive run aimed to celebrate freedom of identity and encourage participants to express themselves boldly through attire, bringing the Pride Month festivities to a vibrant close. Love Pride Parade, Bangkok 2025 EM District and the Mall Group concluded the month of Pride with the most dazzling and longest rainbow parade in Asia titled "Love Pride Parade, Bangkok 2025" yesterday. Marching along the 6km route from Suphachalasai National Stadium to EM District, the parade featured a procession of floats decorated in vibrant colours themed around pride in equality and equal rights. They were presented by government officials and representatives from finance, tourism, airlines, hotels, sports, fashion, entertainment and many other industries. One of them was "Journey On The Rainbow Sky", a customised float by Japan Airlines featuring popular actor Noppakao "Kao" Dechaphatthanakun. Also joining the grand parade were celebrities, actors, beauty queens, same-sex couples and influencers. Prior to the parade event, Emsphere hosted "Bangkok Pride Party 2025: Born This Way", a gathering of drag queens from across Thailand, on Friday. It was opened to party-lovers of all genders and those in the LGBTI community to celebrate gender equality. Iconsiam Pride Out Louder 2025 Seven cast members of the popular BL series Kee Meun Fah (Your Sky Series), came to meet fans and delivered special performances during an exclusive fan meet at Icon Cineconic in Iconsiam on June 6. A "Pride Message Wall" was set up for fans to express feelings about their favourite actors and Pride Month. The seven actors delivered their perspective on LGBTI issues and diversity in Thai society on stage. The event was a highlight of the "Iconsiam Pride Out Louder 2025" campaign which aimed to promote equality across all dimensions. A "Pride Out Wall" was also unveiled as an open space for everyone to share thoughts and hopes for the future of Pride while Iconsiam's Facebook Page presented exclusive articles on the history of Pride and inspirational stories of LGBTI icons. We All Pride Thailand 2025 @ Bangkapi Organised last Saturday by The Mall Lifestore in collaboration with the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, "We All Pride Thailand 2025 @ Bangkapi" was the largest Pride celebration on the eastern side of Bangkok. Presided over by Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, the event featured a spectacular Pride parade along Bangkapi's main streets, starting from the National Institute of Development Administration, passing through the Bangkapi District Office and local shopping centres and culminating in front of The Mall Lifestore Bangkapi. The vibrant parade featured five LGBTI drum majors and a marching band, thrilling spectators along the route. It showcased the beauty of diversity and inclusion, led by LGBTI artists, celebrities and beauty queens from across Thailand. The event was one of many special activities and rainbow-themed promotions presented as part of "The Mall Lifestore The Heart Of Pride" campaign, which wraps up today. Thailand LGBTQI+ Biz Forum 2025 "Innovating Inclusion: New Frontiers in LGBTQI+ Business Leadership" was the theme of "APCOM 6th Thailand LGBTQI+ Biz Forum 2025", which was held at Chamchuri Square, Rama IV Road, on June 13 and 14. Organised by APCOM Foundation, this year's forum emphasised the power of participation and shared leadership for all. It aimed to elevate dialogue and drive real action around economic empowerment, workplace equality and inclusive growth. It also explored wins, challenges and opportunities for LGBTI social and economic inclusion, which deal with Thailand's marriage equality law and the impact on the economy. Joining the forum was a diverse range of stakeholders, including business leaders, policymakers, development partners, and community advocates, to collectively advance equality for LGBTI communities in Thailand and across the Asia-Pacific region. Tinder Pride stickers Tinder, the world's most popular dating app, celebrated connections and all things LGBTI in Thailand and around the globe with a collection of Pride-themed in-app stickers that let members wear their pride loud and proud. The stickers are available in Thai language until tomorrow. Users can add, change or remove a sticker by heading to the Stickers section in the Edit Profile screen. The stickers show Tinder's continued commitment to being a space where everyone can be their authentic selves. Tinder keeps it real with over 50 gender identities and up to nine sexual orientations, giving members the freedom to express themselves -- however they want. The app makes it easier and safer for the LGBTI community to match, mingle and meet the one.
USA Today
13-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Top 10 injury news of the Lions 2024 season No. 8: Christian Mahogany's delayed debut
Top 10 injury news of the Lions 2024 season No. 8: Christian Mahogany's delayed debut Mahogany had mononucleosis that wiped out over half his rookie season Christian Mahogany among guards in Week 16: 🦁 76.2 PFF grade (T-9th) 🦁 82.5 pass-blocking grade (9th) 🦁 33 pass-blocking snaps 🦁 1 pressure allowed — PFF DET Lions (@PFF_Lions) December 24, 2024 Christian Mahogany was drafted in the 6th-round of the 2024 draft with the hopes he would challenge for a backup role at offensive guard behind the two entrenched starters Graham Glasgow and Kevin Zeitler. However, an unexpected illness delayed his debut in the NFL. Medical history Immediately before training camp started, Mahogany was diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis (aka mono). While mono is rarely a serious issue, it can keep a player out of action for a while due to splenomegaly. See my full article detailing the infection here. Impact on season The mono kept him out all of training camp and landed him on the NFI (non football injury) list to start the season. His practice window did not open until October 8 (week 5). His first appearance in a game wasn't until November 24 (week 12) when he played four special teams snaps. For a rookie to miss all of camp and a large portion of the early season, it seemed a long-shot for him to find an impactful role on the team due to both physical and mental preparedness. Thus, it was surprising that he made an appearance as the primary OG backup on December 5 (week 14) when starting RG Kevin Zeitler left briefly for a suspected eye issue. Two games later on December 22 (week 16) vs the Bears, Mahogany made his big debut when he started and played 100% of offensive snaps due to a Graham Glasgow injury. His performance was impressive - especially since he had missed so much time earlier in the year. Here he is at LG showing nimble feet in that game against the Bears... Very impressed from what I've seen from Lions LG 73 Christian Mahogany. Watch him on this zone run as he gets to the play side LB. Very good quickness and pad level to the second level. I believe he's supposed to block the backside LB but either way, he's impressive! #OnePride — Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) December 23, 2024 Mahogany followed up his regular season performance with another good starting performance in the playoffs when he played the entire game due to a Zeitler hamstring injury. Salary cap implications Going into the 2025 season, there are high hopes that Mahogany can take over a starting OG position. From a financial perspective, a 6th-round starter on the offensive line would be a huge benefit to the Lions salary cap. For comparison: Graham Glasgow signed a 3-year, $20 million contract to start at LG last offseason. Kevin Zeitler signed a 1-year, $6 million contract to start at RG last offseason. This offseason as an unrestricted free agent, he signed a 1-year, $9 million contract with the Titans. Trey Smith, OG of the Kansas City Chiefs, was recently franchise tagged at $23.4 million. Meanwhile, the 2025 cap hit for Mahogany will be less than $1 million as he enters the second year of his 4-year, $4.2 million rookie deal. With players like Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Branch, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta worthy of big extensions, every saved dollar matters. Outlook While the rookie debut was a good beginning, there are some question marks for Mahogany going forward. He only started two games all year so is far from proven yet. Medically, he has a history of a right ACL tear in 2022 and was playing with a right knee brace all last season for unknown reasons. The knee brace raises concerns there is a chronic knee issue that could cause problems over a long 17+ game season. Despite the concerns, there is plenty of optimism for Mahogany going into the next season. He was able to overcome an infection that sidelined him for months to become a quality, fill-in starter down the stretch. Last year's starting RG, Kevin Zeitler, left for the Titans in free agency this offseason opening the door for Mahogany to step through. This door was blown off the hinges when Frank Ragnow retired. During OTA two weeks ago, Mahogany was starting at the LG position with 2nd-round rookie Tate Ratledge at center and Glasgow at RG. Early indications are that Mahogany is in pole position to become a starter in 2025.
USA Today
30-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lions' two-headed monster ranked best running back room by SiriusXM NFL Radio
Lions' two-headed monster ranked best running back room by SiriusXM NFL Radio "They got a two-headed monster and it's almost impossible to stop..." The @Lions lead the way in MTC Running Back Room Rankings, listen below as @JimMiller_NFL & @PatKirwan_NFL explain what makes them so good. 📻 I #FlyEaglesFly I #RavensFlock — SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) May 28, 2025 Sonic and Knuckles are not only two of the most well-known video game characters, they are now how we refr to the dynamic duo of Lions running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. That pairing helped the Lions leap to the top of the list among running back rooms in the eyes of Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller of SiriusXM's Movin' the Chains. Kirwan noted the strong pairing of Gibbs and Montgomery and the incredible stat that Gibbs only played 55 percent of the offensive snaps last season -- Gibbs started just four games -- while Montgomery only played 34 percent of the snaps. Kirwan also gave some love to Craig Reynolds and his contributions on special teams -- only Sione Vaki and Ben Niemann played more special teams snaps than Reynolds -- as this discussion was about full running back rooms. Even with Saquon Barkley, the Eagles were ranked below the Lions at No. 2, followed by the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gibbs and Montgomery combined for 2,187 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in 2024. Gibbs had 1,412 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on just 250 carries, already solidifying himself as one of the top, if not elite, running backs in the NFL. That duo will be needed again if the Lions are going to make a run to the Super Bowl this season. That gauntlet includes the other teams in this top five except the Bills.
New York Times
04-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What I heard about the Lions' new coordinators and potential draft picks at the combine
Here are 25 thoughts from the 2025 NFL Combine. 1. After hearing from new coordinators John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard, it didn't take long to understand why they were chosen. Lions fans and media have labeled certain prospects as 'Dan Campbell guys.' That applies to coaches, too. These two are true Dan Campbell guys. Advertisement If I had to guess, there was intent behind one external hire and one internal. Sheppard has been here from the very beginning. He's the young, fiery, passionate coach who can command a room and act as an extension of Campbell, much like Glenn was. Morton is the veteran whose time with Campbell predates Campbell's Lions tenure. There's a clip from Hard Knocks a few years ago where Campbell asks his staff if they'd miss RB Craig Reynolds if Campbell cut him. Morton was the first coach to speak up in defense of Reynolds. Reynolds has been with the team ever since. When new Lions OC John Morton stuck up for Craig Reynolds on Hard Knocks in 2022 'I wouldn't cut him, he's everything we represent' We've got a good one 💙#OnePride — 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) February 12, 2025 I'm willing to bet that having both types of personalities — a veteran voice for the offense and a young and energetic leader for the defense — is something Campbell was looking for. 2. Let's start with Morton. I honestly didn't know what to expect personality-wise. But I came away impressed. He's rugged, he's authentic, all about ball. The thing that really piqued my interest was how both Campbell and Sean Payton noted his attention to detail. He's a grinder when it comes to situational football. He loves diving into tendencies and what the opponent does on third down, in the red zone, you name it. He just wants to put his players in a position to succeed. 'Super passionate,' Payton said of Morton in Indy. 'Man, he works his tail off. He's great with film study and ideas. He's one of those guys that'll bring you red zone, third down — like, a lot of information. …He'll do a great job.' 3. One thing that I might've overlooked about Morton is just how much he cherishes this opportunity. He was honest and candid about his stint as Jets OC. He said he wasn't ready for that job and alluded to how he's grown since then. You don't often hear that. I found it refreshing. Advertisement Morton said he knows more about the quarterback position now vs. back then. He said he didn't know any coaches on the Jets staff. In Detroit, he'll be surrounded by coaches he knows and trusts — most notably former Stanford head coach and new Lions passing game coordinator David Shaw, who came up in the NFL with Morton. Morton called Shaw his 'best friend.' He's returning to a group of players he's worked with before, and the Lions have only added talent since he left. He said he doesn't have ambitions of being a head coach and talked about becoming the OC of his hometown team. If this works out, Campbell will have hired a smart, veteran coach who could be in Detroit for the long haul. That's an incredibly valuable thing in a league where OCs are poached every offseason. 'It means the world,' Morton said. '…It's a dream, right? Not only am I an OC, but I'm in my hometown. I don't think that happens too much. So, I think it's really cool. I don't see it as pressure. I know what the people have been starving for. I mean, everybody is starving for a Super Bowl, but this town, I've seen the ups and the downs, from the very beginning from going to my first game at the Silverdome. …I know what it takes and it's my job to help us get there.' Dan Campbell on John Morton and the #Lions offensive staff. — Detroit Lions (@Lions) February 25, 2025 4. Then there's Sheppard, the in-house hire. I'm told Sheppard had interest from other teams to leave Detroit. Instead, not only did Campbell retain his top remaining defensive assistant, he gave Sheppard the keys to run his defense. It's an opportunity that pretty much everyone in the organization — even Holmes, who walked into Sheppard's office and asked him what he needs for his defense — believes he's ready for. I expect Sheppard to take over as Campbell's right-hand man, just like Glenn was in Detroit. Dan Campbell on DC Kelvin Sheppard. — Detroit Lions (@Lions) February 25, 2025 5. I asked Sheppard who his biggest coaching influences are. He mentioned Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo, former head coach and Ravens' safeties coach Chuck Pagano, Colts DC Lou Anarumo — who playfully interrupted Sheppard's sitdown interview with local media at the Indianapolis Convention Center — and former Lions DC Aaron Glenn. Campbell revealed this week that he and Glenn had been preparing Sheppard to take over for two years without ever telling him. However, the hints were there. They added responsibilities beyond coaching linebackers to his plate. They had him more involved in the game planning. Eventually, he picked up what they were putting down. Some coordinators want their position coaches to fall in line and focus on their own rooms. But if Lions fans remember Glenn for one thing, it should be how he brought others along as a coordinator. He was never threatened or worried about losing his job to a young guy like Sheppard. Instead, he paved the way for Sheppard. Sheppard said he wants to do the same. Advertisement 'I would say the last two years, to be specific, is just the game-planning aspect — and that really grew last year,' Sheppard said when asked where he's grown the most as a coach. 'AG allowing me to do the things he did weekly, things he allowed me to do for him. …I had a heavy hand in first-, second-down game-planning last year. Those are things that AG put on my plate going into the 2024 season, and he made no mystery why he was doing it. And again, that's something he didn't have to do. Just the trajectory and the outlook they had for me — and you know I had aspirations — but for other people to see that stuff for you and try to put you in position to get there, that's why I owe those guys everything.' 6. There is, of course, some risk with hiring an inexperienced coordinator on a Super Bowl contender. But Sheppard was a cerebral player, playing one of the most cerebral positions in the sport as a middle linebacker. He sees the game through that lens. He has a proven track record of developing linebackers and getting the most out of his position room. Now he has an opportunity to do the same with an entire defense — one that has far more talent than when Glenn first arrived. He has everything he needs to succeed as a first-year DC. 'Listen, Kelvin's been a guy that I've mentored for a while now,' Glenn said of Sheppard. 'He's tough. He's gritty. He understands ball from a number of different perspectives. And listen, I just totally have a lot of confidence in that man. And I think he's gonna do a hell of a job.' 7. It was a bit odd watching Holmes and Browns GM Andrew Berry conduct their news conferences right next to one another. But it was also fitting. ESPN's Kimberly A. Martin reported that the Lions had the most interest in pursuing Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett at the trade deadline. I don't doubt it. They needed help at edge after losing Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport, Garrett is a generational talent and the two GMs were already in talks about Za'Darius Smith. Worth the ask. However, Holmes was adamant that teams aren't just handing over their star pass rushers. That was reiterated by Berry's comments in Indy, continuing to tell inquiring minds that Garrett isn't available. We'll see how long that stance lasts. However, Holmes said the Lions probably won't be in the market to add a second star pass-rusher. They're trying to lock up one of their own right now. 8. The Lions are in the planning stages of a Hutchinson extension, as Holmes revealed last week. An extension would make sense sooner rather than later for Hutchinson. He's proved his worth to the organization and was the defensive player of the year frontrunner prior to his season-ending leg injury. The Cowboys are dragging their feet with a Micah Parsons extension, so if you can beat them to the market, you might save a penny (read: million) or two. We'll see how things unfold. 9. You can add Kerby Joseph to that list, if you haven't already. Holmes opened the floor for extension talks at his season-ending press conference. There's hope that a deal gets done this offseason. Even Joseph recently said he wants to be a lifelong Lion. Senior Director of Football Administration Charlie Adkins — hired from the Arizona Cardinals last offseason — is expected to play a big hand in Detroit's offseason extension discussions. If the two sides can't reach an agreement, Joseph will be set to enter free agency in 2026. Brad Holmes on Kerby Joseph: 'I don't know how you don't make the Pro Bowl with nine interceptions, whatever that is.' Adds: 'He's a Detroit Lion. He fits our culture. …We want to keep our good players here.' — Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) January 23, 2025 10. Adkins took over for Brandon Sosna — a respected voice in the Lions' front office prior to his departure last offseason. In his time with the organization, the Lions have extended LT Taylor Decker, RB David Montgomery and DT Alim McNeil. Sticking with Sosna for a moment, folks I talked to in Indianapolis had nothing but great things to say about him during his time with the organization. He was the chief negotiator for the Lions and helped them get deals with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell and Jared Goff across the finish line last ofseason. Sosna left in May to join the Washington Commanders as senior vice president of football operations. It feels like he's on the fast track for a GM gig here soon. The Holmes tree is growing. Advertisement 11. A year ago at the combine, I talked to folks within the organization who strongly felt Jack Campbell was due for a breakout year in 2024. His size, length, instincts and movement skills all made for an intriguing package, and when you pair those traits with his work ethic, it was only a matter of time before he figured things out. That ultimately proved true. Campbell had an excellent sophomore season, leading the Lions in tackles with 131 and always ending plays around the football. If you're into PFF grades, Campbell finished as PFF's 10th-best linebacker during the 2024 season. If there's a player worth betting on in 2025, it's cornerback Terrion Arnold. Like Campbell, Arnold was a first-round pick who, in the minds of some, didn't live up to the pedigree as a rookie. However, both Campbell and Arnold were put in difficult positions. 12. Campbell was asked to play out of position as a SAM linebacker before the team finally let him settle in at MIKE. Not to mention the mental requirements of the linebacker position. Arnold, meanwhile, led all cornerbacks in man coverage snaps as a rookie and was routinely put on an island. This style of play isn't for everyone. Fellow rookie and Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell played just 26 percent of his snaps in man coverage, per PFF. Arnold played 46.2 percent of his snaps in man. A workload that heavy could've ruined the confidence of other young corners, but Arnold is here because he's never lacking in that department. He is the most self-assured rookie I've ever covered. Here's what The Athletic's Dane Brugler — who had Arnold as the 10th-best prospect on his final 2024 big board –— told me when I asked for his opinion of Arnold's rookie season. 'There was always going to be a learning curve for him with the difference in the way they flag corners between college and the NFL,' Brugler said. 'That defense really asked a lot from him. But the way he is wired is what separates him. I'll be very surprised if he doesn't take a clear and obvious step forward in year two.' 13. During combine podium sessions with prospects, there were, like, a staggering number of prospects who mentioned Lions players among their favorites to watch or model their games after. I guess I shouldn't be surprised because, you know, 15-2 Super Bowl contender and whatnot. But it's still a reminder of how far this team has come. 14. At this point in time, if I were to throw a few names into a first-round hat for the Lions, you'd find the following players inside: Harmon, Boston College edge Donovan Ezeiruaku, Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama G Tyler Booker, Ohio State T/G Donovan Jackson, Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams, North Dakota State G/C Grey Zabel, Texas A&M edge Nic Scourton, South Carolina DB Nick Emmanwori and East Carolina CB Shavon Revel. Personally, I love their games. Think they fit what the Lions like, too. Advertisement 15. There's still room on the Jihaad Campbell bandwagon. He's one my favorite prospects in the entire class. He's versatile enough to rush the passer or drop into coverage. He's an awesome athlete with a 4.52 40 and a 9.95 relative athletic score. He was so fluid in his positional drills. Love everything about his game. He had a formal meeting with the Lions in Indianapolis. He's going to make a defense better from Day 1. 'I feel as though I'm Mr. Can-Do-It-All,' Campbell said at the combine. 'I'm a Swiss Army Knife.' 16. I was incredibly impressed by Ezeiruaku's football IQ. During his podium session, he spent time breaking down his pass-rush technique, and the detail he went into was unlike any of his peers who spoke. He has a deep bag of moves, and uses them based on what the tape tells him about the offensive lineman he's going up against. Here's him explaining the usage of his ghost move: Couldn't have been more impressed with ED Donovan Ezeiruaku during his podium session. Great clip here of him breaking down the 'why' of a ghost pass rush move Said his mentality is what separates him in a great edge rush class — I believe it — Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) February 26, 2025 Smart, productive and athletic. Stock solidified. 17. Scourton, only 20 years old, might've been the most mature prospect I heard from. He wore a medallion with a photo of his late uncle Harold inside — a man he called a father figure since his own was incarcerated. 'I'm originally from a small town in East Texas, man,' Scourton said. 'Nobody makes it out. And he told me, 'One day, you're going to be great.' I never believed it, but he did. He was a special guy.' Scourton said he plays for his community and doesn't take anything for granted. When he was done speaking, I walked over to my colleague Nick Baumgardner and we just sort of shared an unspoken look. I think the Lions are gonna love him. 18. Some will ding Booker because of his poor testing numbers at the combine. Don't be one of them. He's a Day 1 starting guard. And he's wired like this. 'The thing I love most about football is taking the love away from other people.' Alabama's Tyler Booker with the most trench guy answer possible when asked why he loves the game: — alex katson 🇯🇵 (@alexkatson) March 1, 2025 The offensive line route makes a ton of sense for the Lions. They could stand to get younger at the position. Christian Mahogany's rise is a good start. Adding someone like Booker, Zabel or Jackson would make a ton of sense. 19. Arguably, Emmanwori was the biggest combine winner. He's the definition of a freak athlete, scoring a perfect 10.00 relative athletic score. He's versatile enough to play safety, nickel or even operate in the box at times. He's not a perfect fit for the Lions, with Branch and Joseph at safety, but my goodness. If he's there at 28, not sure how you pass him up. Same for Georgia S Malaki Starks, if teams are dumb enough to let him fall to 28. The 2025 NFL Combine is in the books, and @dpbrugler joined me to break down everything you need to know. The latest top-3 buzz, projecting the top QBs, and who shined during workouts all week. Including an all-time showing by Nick Emmanwori. Full show: — Robert Mays (@robertmays) March 3, 2025 20. Harmon is one of several defensive tackles who could be available at 28. He's my favorite of some of the names you'll see. He's got a quick first step at 6-foot-5 and a half, 313 pounds. Extremely versatile. Productive in college and turned in the sixth-fastest 40 and the seventh-fastest 10-yard split. First-round talent. Another DT I like a lot: Williams from Ohio State. Excellent run defender. Crushed his position drills. I don't think 334-pounders are supposed to move like this. Feel like I'm higher on him than most. Tyleik Williams is showing out today — Billy M (@BillyM_91) February 27, 2025 21. A defensive tackle who will check every character box for the Lions is Maryland's Jordan Phillips. I asked Phillips what drives him and why he plays. Here's part of his answer: 'Football is the ultimate competitive team in sport. Going out there, playing hard for my teammates and us collectively getting that win — that's what makes me go hard every day.' No. 73 on Brugler's most recent big board. Wrestling background. Led all DTs with 29 bench reps. Lot to like. Squats 750 lbs. Benchs 495 lbs. Power cleans 395 lbs. @TerpsFootball DT Jordan Phillips is STRONG strong 💪 @StaceyDales 📺: 2025 #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork 📱: Stream on @NFLPlus — NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 27, 2025 22. It was disappointing to see Kenneth Grant unavailable for most of the defensive tackle testing. He said he planned to run a 4.9 40 at 332 pounds, maybe even a 4.8 40, but a hamstring injury limited him to bench reps. He said he wanted to hit 30-plus bench reps, then managed only 22 — the fewest among DTs. Then his day was done. Less than ideal, but he's got time to make up for it. Advertisement 23. Marshall edge Mike Green did not test and spent much of his podium session denying sexual assault allegations. 24. A couple of under-the-radar positions the Lions could be on the hunt for: a big-bodied receiver and a blocking tight end. They're doing their homework. 25. If you've made it this far, I appreciate you. There was a lot going on at the combine, but hopefully we covered enough ground here. Thanks for reading. (Top photo of Dan Campbell: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
