When it comes to getting after the quarterback, the Detroit Lions have one of the finest in the business in Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson, who had 11.5 sacks, led the league in quarterback hits (23) and finished second to Micah Parsons (69) with 67 quarterback hurries last season.
The Lions aided Hutchinson in free agency by adding veteran Marcus Davenport, whom head coach Dan Campbell believes will be an excellent complement on the other side.
“Really what you’re getting is an athletic, explosive player with length,” Campbell said of Davenport during the League Meetings last week. “He plays hard, and I believe a lot of it is, ‘that is this guy opposite Hutch that can smash the pocket and close it down? And whether he makes it or sends it to Hutch was a big part of what this is.”
A healthy James Houston returning for Year 3 after missing almost the whole season with a fractured leg would benefit Detroit’s edge rush as well.
However, coaches and general managers frequently claim that teams can never have too many pass rushers, and this is also true in Detroit. Detroit was one among the league leaders in quarterback hurries last season, but their 41 sacks placed 23rd. Sacks are game-changing plays, and the Lions require more of them. Last season, Detroit forced 32 three-and-out drives, the third fewest in the NFL.
This draft is dominated by quarterbacks and receivers, and teams hoping to acquire more impact players on defense will profit from good defensive players being pushed back in the draft order. The Lions definitely hope this is the case, and they have alternatives when they are on the clock, which is presently at pick 29.
Edge class draft strength is depth. When the Lions drafted Hutchinson second overall a few years ago, edge rushers went first, second, and fifth. There are various debates among draft analysts about who the best edge rusher is in this year’s selection, but they may not make the top ten due to the quarterback and wide receiver classes.
Daniel Jeremiah, an NFL media analyst, ranks seven edge rushers among his top 50 talents in this draft class.
The Lions’ edge depth chart includes Hutchinson, Davenport, Houston, Josh Paschal, John Cominsky, and Mathieu Betts.
Lions draft priority: Moderate. With the arrival of Davenport, the Lions now have a rather diverse edge room. It is packed with length, power, speed, and versatility. Still, adding another dynamic edge player to that rotation may significantly increase sack productivity and Detroit’s ability to regularly affect the quarterback in the pass game while also setting an edge in the run.
Five edge rushers who could suit with the Lions:
1. Dallas Turner, Alabama.
6-3, 247; 4.46 40-yard dash (1.54 10-yard split).
The SEC Defensive Player of the Year is long and athletic, with explosive abilities. His 40-yard dash at the Combine demonstrated his speed, but his 40.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-7 broad jump revealed his explosiveness. This past season, he recorded 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He could be the first defensive player off the board, so Holmes will need to move up from 29th to secure his services.
2. Jared Verse from Florida State.
6-4, 254 lbs; 4.5 40-yard dash (1.6 10-yard split).
Verse has the size, length, and power to be a versatile pass rusher up front. He has 41 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, three passes defended, a blocked kick, and a forced fumble for the Seminoles last season. He has a great burst, good hands, and a nice set of pass rush maneuvers. When all is said and done, don’t be surprised if he tops all rookies in sacks by 2024.
3. Laiatu Latu, UCLA.
6’5″, 259. 4.64 40-yard dash (1.62 10-yard split).
A neck injury nearly terminated his career, but Latu passed his medicals at the Combine. He stated that teams had no issues after going through the medicals. He won the Lombardi Award (nation’s top collegiate OL/DL) and the Ted Hendricks Award (nation’s top DE) this season after leading the FBS with 21.5 tackles for loss and finishing fourth with 13.0 sacks. Latu routinely plays football on the other side of the line of scrimmage. That’s the finest way to define his abilities. He could be the most skilled rusher in the class, and he is extremely disruptive.
4. Chop Robinson, Penn State.
6-3, 254. 40-yard sprint time: 4.48 (1.54 10-yard split).
Why didn’t his exceptional athletic abilities convert into higher production at Penn State? That is the question NFL talent evaluators are asking themselves when they evaluate Robinson. He had 9.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons combined. Robinson is a twitchy and explosive rusher with a high upside once he expands his arsenal of rush moves and joins a team with a strategy for him.
5. Darius Robinson of Missouri
6’5″, 285. 4.95 40-yard dash (1.73 10-yard split).
Robinson, a physically intimidating rusher with good athletic abilities, began his career as a defensive lineman and went outside last year with great success, recording 14 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Teams will like Robinson’s versatility, which includes the ability to rush, run, and move inside. He has the length, measurables, adaptability, and high upside that teams look for in young pass rushers.
Sleeper: Mohamed Kamara (Colorado State)
6’1″, 248 lbs; 4.57 40-yard dash (1.58 10-yard split).
Production. Production, Production. Kamara had 33.0 tackles for loss and 21.5 sacks during the last two seasons at Colorado State. He’s more power than finesse, with an unstoppable engine. His measurables will not impress teams, but he has regularly demonstrated his ability to be disruptive on the edge. Production is important.
Leave a Reply