The Detroit Lions face crucial needs to address following their underwhelming playoff exit last season, with the lack of depth at pass rush being a significant concern. The Lions struggled when star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a season-ending fractured leg in October, with no other player able to match the 7.5 sacks that Hutchinson had accumulated up to that point. Although the Lions attempted to find a consistent pass rusher to line up opposite Hutchinson through free agency and the NFL draft, the team has yet to discover a standout among the group. That could change in a few weeks, with one insider predicting the Lions will utilize their top draft pick on one of the most promising players in the year’s crop.
Lions Finally Find Help
The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy predicted that the Lions would use their No. 28 overall pick on Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, who is coming off a remarkable final college season. “[Ezeiruaku] was extremely productive in his final year at Boston College with 16.5 sacks,” Pouncy wrote. “He possesses long arms and should be able to hold his own in the run game. Most importantly, he can win a one-on-one quickly. The Lions should be looking to collect pass rushers, especially after their depth was tested last season. Here’s a young player who can help.”
Pouncy noted that the lack of depth was glaringly obvious last season, with Josh Paschal only serving as a rotational piece last season, Marcus Davenport only playing two games, and the soon-to-be free agent Za’Darius Smith “closer to the end of his career than the beginning.”