Lions Expected to Select Former Big Ten Sack Leader in First Round
The Detroit Lions possess one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, yet they remain an intriguing team to follow this offseason.
With an excellent cap situation and several clear needs, they will be active in free agency.
The Lions have gaps at edge rusher, cornerback, and possibly along the offensive line, so they must be busy during free agency to address these areas.
Even with a strong free-agent haul, they may still need to address one of these positions in the draft, which is exactly what is forecasted in a recent mock draft.
In the most recent mock draft by Athlon Sports, Luke Easterling predicted that the Lions would use the 28th overall pick to select Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton.
Scourton earned All-SEC First Team honors in 2024, though it wasn’t his most productive season.
He recorded only five sacks in his single year at A&M, a dip in production after his breakout season at Purdue, where he led the Big Ten with 10 sacks in 2023.
Like many players in this draft class, Scourton’s stock is primarily driven by his potential.
He’s a gifted athlete with strong earlier production and significant room for growth, especially since he won’t turn 21 until late August.
The Lions were also predicted to target more SEC talent in the next round of the mock draft.
In the second round, the projected pick was Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos, who also earned All-SEC honors but with stronger statistics.
He allowed just 51.6% completion against him and intercepted more passes than touchdowns allowed.
Amos would provide a safer pick to complement the risk of selecting Scourton in the first round.
If the Lions can manage it, they should likely target an experienced edge rusher in free agency before considering a high-upside player like Scourton in the later first round.
If not, Scourton’s sophomore season stands out among edge rushers expected to be available late in the first, making him and Amos an exciting duo to enhance the team’s roster.