The Detroit Lions have been an interested onlooker during the ongoing NFL combine, and one of the positions they are locked in on is defensive end. It's likely the franchise considers the position a major need this offseason.
For the Lions, the biggest decision revolves around if they wish to make an addition in the draft or free agency. The draft offers plenty of players that could fit Detroit's mold, and given the Lions haven't made a major young addition to the position recently, that could be on the menu coming in 2026.
At the combine, several defensive line prospects have already done their work, and there has been some early takeaways following the testing and drills. In terms of edge prospects, it might not be a stretch to say that the Lions
Following the defensive ends putting in their work, NFL.com analyst Chad Reuter put together some takeaways about the stock of college players. Interestingly, a couple of potential fits in Detroit have seen their stock tumble.
Reuter identified Alabama's LT Overton as a player who's stock may have slipped as a result of his work at the combine, and some of his on-field performance left plenty to be desired.
"Overton needed to excel in his workout to help solidify a Day 2 grade, but his 4.87-second 40 at 274 pounds (with a 1.7-second 10-yard split) did not hit the mark. He didn’t participate in jumps, missing an opportunity to answer questions about his athleticism. Overton's drills went as expected. His movements were stilted and I saw marginal change-of-direction skills. He did pop pads to show scouts his power and intensity, though."
Similarly, the work of Oklahoma's R Mason Thomas was inconsistent at the combine, and some of his metrics might be missing the mark in terms of a transition to the pros.
"Thomas weighed in at just 241 pounds at the combine, which created an expectation, at least for me, that he would explode from his stance in the 40-yard dash. However, his 4.67-second run (including a 1.63-second 10-yard split) was ordinary, especially in comparison to Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey's 4.51 and Lawrence's 4.52. Both Bailey and Lawrence are 10+ pounds heavier than Thomas. His arm length (31 5/8-inches), coupled with his decision to pass on participating in jumps, did not help his cause, either. "
Both players are still likely to be top end picks, but the Lions may need to pivot to other plans at the position given where they are as a franchise. That will be part of the planning just prior to the start of free agency.
Uncertain draft class could force Lions to pivot at edge position
Detroit will no doubt continue to do their homework at the position in the draft, but it's possible the Lions will have to think about a contingency plan if none of the top talents are impossible to ignore come April.
There's been a thought that the Lions could need a bigger swing at the edge position this offseason to maximize their defensive ability and their Super Bowl window. If that is the case, the Lions are likely to be players in the market for either free agent Trey Hendrickson or via an increasingly unlikely trade for Maxx Crosby.
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Both Hendrickson and Crosby would represent "all-in" moves for the Lions, which is something that many believe the team should be considering. If Detroit can't find an elite player early in the draft that can contribute immediately, they could decide to find an established veteran.
This pivot would make sense if the group the Lions are scouting at edge includes Overton and Thomas, and Detroit doesn't think they are in a spot to be instant contributors. The franchise badly needs to end the questions at edge, and the only way to do that is with a player ready to make waves in the pros immediately.