The Detroit Lions are in need of more pass rush in 2020. Does that need combined with the pressure to win now make A.J. Epenesa a sleeper pick?
One area where the Detroit Lions were severely lacking in 2019 was pass rush. That’s despite paying a king’s ransom for former New England Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers last offseason. But is pass rusher such a massive need that the Lions will use their top draft pick in 2020 to address it?
Although the Lions signed Flowers to a contract which will pay him a whopping $90 million over five years, Detroit understood that the highly-sought-after free agent only averaged 7.0 sacks per season over his previous three years.
So it really wasn’t a surprise when Flowers total just 7.0 sacks in his first season in Detroit. The real surprise was the fact that sack total was enough to lead the entire team, tied with linebacker Devon Kennard. In fact, linebackers were responsible for more than 46 percent of the Lions’ sacks in 2019.
Outside of Flowers, defensive tackles Damon Harrison recorded 2.0 sacks, A’Shawn Robinson had 1.5 sacks, and Mike Daniels posted 1.0 sack. Both safeties Tavon Wilson and Will Harris had a sack each. And the Lions’ sack leader in 2018, defensive end Romeo Okwara, who previously posted a career-high 7.5 sacks, had a disappointing 1.5 sacks in 14 games last season.
With a total of 28.0 team sacks last year, the Lions ranked tied for 29th for the least amount of sacks by a team in 2019. But sacks alone aren’t the barometer for quality pass rush. After all, getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks is the primary goal. But rest assured as Detroit struggled at that too, ranking 28th in the league with 124 pressures last season according to Pro Football Reference.
The Lions’ defense only brought the blitz 119 times in 2019 (18 percent, blitzes per dropback), which ranked 30th in the NFL, meaning Detroit is relying heavily on their defensive line to get pressure on opposing passers.
In a nutshell, the Lions need more premier pass rushers. And they possess means to snatch one as the owners of the third overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Ohio State’s Chase Young would be the preferred draft choice. Young racked up 16.5 sacks and 21.0 tackles for loss in 12 games for the Buckeyes as a junior last season. He’s viewed as the top pass rusher in the class.
Unfortunately, it appears the Washington Redskins are a lock to draft Young with the second overall selection, one before Detroit’s pick. Unless the Lions trade up or Young somehow falls to them, his presence in the Motor City appears to be a pipe dream.
Instead, Detroit may have to settle for the second-best pass rusher in the draft class. That prospect appears to be Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound defensive end is climbing up draft boards after posting 11.5 sacks, 14.0 tackles for loss, and forcing four fumbles in 13 games last season.
Need more proof Detroit might be interested in Epenesa at No. 3? Check out what Joe Marino of The Draft Network said about the pass-rushing prospect that could result in the Lions turning in a card with his name on it when their number is called in the first round.
"“Epenesa is a tailor-made fit for the New England Patriots style of defensive linemen where length and heavy hands to control at the point of attack are required.”"
A.J. Epenesa is a name Detroit Lions fans need to watch closely in the coming weeks. Although the Iowa pass rusher isn’t being mentioned as a possible top-five pick, don’t underestimate the power of being the perfect scheme fit for head coach Matt Patricia’s defense. We saw the Lions reach to draft linebacker Jahlani Tavai in the second round last year for that very reason.