My past two articles highlighted high draft prospects with severe and moderate levels of medical concern. Today, I’ll review players with mild concerns that have often been projected to the Lions in the first two rounds. Mild concerns have a chance to be easily and fully cleared by medical, but could elevate into more severe concerns if anything unexpected is found.

If even a mild concern is too hot to handle, see my earlier article showcasing six players with minimal to no concerns for the Lions to choose from.

All ages are at the start of the 2025 season. Credit www.sports-reference.com for games-played data.

MILD CONCERN

Tyleik Williams DT, Ohio State – age 22

Latest DraftWire projection: #36

Williams has been pretty healthy during his college career playing 13 games each of the past three seasons. However, he went down during his pro day in late March while running the 40. Here is the video showing him grabbing at the left distal hamstring near the posterior knee.

Most likely this is a routine hamstring strain, but medical will need to make sure it’s not a knee issue or a severe surgical hamstring like the Lions saw with Michael Badgley last year. The Lions are showing interest as they are scheduled to bring Williams in for a Top-30 visit. The medical evaluation at that time will be important.

Grey Zabel OG, North Dakota State – age 23

Latest DraftWire projection: #18

Zabel did not run the 40 at combine or pro day due to a groin injury suffered at the Senior Bowl. If this is a simple, mild strain, then it’s not a problem. But groin pain can be caused by surgical core muscle injuries or even hip joint and spine problems. The Lions had him in for a Top-30 visit, so medical has had a chance to directly evaluate.

Also of possible mild concern is his age which is 1-2 years older than others in his range. While his age shouldn’t affect anything during his rookie contract, it could affect a potential second contract which would start at age 28 after the 5th-year option. Giving a big extension to a player in his late-20’s is added risk over a player in his mid-20’s. Not necessarily a bad problem to have as it means the draft pick hit, but it’s a problem that can be avoided by drafting a younger player. Given their tenuous job security, most general managers probably aren’t thinking that far down the line, but Brad Holmes might.

Landon Jackson EDGE, Arkansas – age 22

Latest DraftWire projection: #47

Jackson had ACL and ankle injuries in high school but has proven to be reliable in college by playing in every regular season game the past three seasons. The ACL isn’t a concern at this point unless there is associated cartilage damage.

The main concern here is a neck injury suffered in his final regular season game which caused him to be stretchered and taken by ambulance to the hospital. Long-time Lions fans will have traumatic flashbacks to Mike Utley (1991), Reggie Brown (1997), and more recently Saivion Smith (2022).

Fortunately, it seems that the hospital visit was precautionary, and there is no indication of a serious issue. However, a thorough neck/spine evaluation will need to be done by medical. It’s reassuring that he was healthy enough to play at the Senior Bowl in February and test at the combine.

Mike Green EDGE, Marshall – age 22

Latest DraftWire projection: #20

Despite elite talent, two sexual assault allegations may cause Green to slip into the late first round. He missed the combine testing due to a hamstring and skipped the 40-yard, vertical, and broad at his pro day. A “hamstring” could be cover for something else, so medical needs to investigate whether there is anything else going on.

His college career displayed excellent reliability. After missing the 2022 season due to a sexual assault allegation and a transfer, he has played in every game since.

Walter Nolen DT, Ole Miss – age 21

Latest DraftWire projection: #21

In 2023, he was carted off with a leg injury. In 2024, he was helped off with a left leg injury. There are no details of either injury. To his credit, he did not miss a game in those two seasons, which suggests minimal severity, but the incidents warrant further investigation. Here is a recent article suggesting that “maturity” concerns may be a factor in the injuries.

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: NFL draft prospects with medical concerns – Mild level

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My past two articles highlighted high draft prospects with severe and moderate levels of medical concern. Today, I’ll review players with mild concerns that have often been projected to the Lions in the first two rounds. Mild concerns have a chance to be easily and fully cleared by medical, but could elevate into more severe concerns if anything unexpected is found.

If even a mild concern is too hot to handle, see my earlier article showcasing six players with minimal to no concerns for the Lions to choose from.

All ages are at the start of the 2025 season. Credit www.sports-reference.com for games-played data.

MILD CONCERN

Tyleik Williams DT, Ohio State – age 22

Latest DraftWire projection: #36

Williams has been pretty healthy during his college career playing 13 games each of the past three seasons. However, he went down during his pro day in late March while running the 40. Here is the video showing him grabbing at the left distal hamstring near the posterior knee.

Most likely this is a routine hamstring strain, but medical will need to make sure it’s not a knee issue or a severe surgical hamstring like the Lions saw with Michael Badgley last year. The Lions are showing interest as they are scheduled to bring Williams in for a Top-30 visit. The medical evaluation at that time will be important.

Grey Zabel OG, North Dakota State – age 23

Latest DraftWire projection: #18

Zabel did not run the 40 at combine or pro day due to a groin injury suffered at the Senior Bowl. If this is a simple, mild strain, then it’s not a problem. But groin pain can be caused by surgical core muscle injuries or even hip joint and spine problems. The Lions had him in for a Top-30 visit, so medical has had a chance to directly evaluate.

Also of possible mild concern is his age which is 1-2 years older than others in his range. While his age shouldn’t affect anything during his rookie contract, it could affect a potential second contract which would start at age 28 after the 5th-year option. Giving a big extension to a player in his late-20’s is added risk over a player in his mid-20’s. Not necessarily a bad problem to have as it means the draft pick hit, but it’s a problem that can be avoided by drafting a younger player. Given their tenuous job security, most general managers probably aren’t thinking that far down the line, but Brad Holmes might.

Landon Jackson EDGE, Arkansas – age 22

Latest DraftWire projection: #47

Jackson had ACL and ankle injuries in high school but has proven to be reliable in college by playing in every regular season game the past three seasons. The ACL isn’t a concern at this point unless there is associated cartilage damage.

The main concern here is a neck injury suffered in his final regular season game which caused him to be stretchered and taken by ambulance to the hospital. Long-time Lions fans will have traumatic flashbacks to Mike Utley (1991), Reggie Brown (1997), and more recently Saivion Smith (2022).

Fortunately, it seems that the hospital visit was precautionary, and there is no indication of a serious issue. However, a thorough neck/spine evaluation will need to be done by medical. It’s reassuring that he was healthy enough to play at the Senior Bowl in February and test at the combine.

Mike Green EDGE, Marshall – age 22

Latest DraftWire projection: #20

Despite elite talent, two sexual assault allegations may cause Green to slip into the late first round. He missed the combine testing due to a hamstring and skipped the 40-yard, vertical, and broad at his pro day. A “hamstring” could be cover for something else, so medical needs to investigate whether there is anything else going on.

His college career displayed excellent reliability. After missing the 2022 season due to a sexual assault allegation and a transfer, he has played in every game since.

Walter Nolen DT, Ole Miss – age 21

Latest DraftWire projection: #21

In 2023, he was carted off with a leg injury. In 2024, he was helped off with a left leg injury. There are no details of either injury. To his credit, he did not miss a game in those two seasons, which suggests minimal severity, but the incidents warrant further investigation. Here is a recent article suggesting that “maturity” concerns may be a factor in the injuries.

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: NFL draft prospects with medical concerns – Mild level