NFL Draft season is in full swing, so expect to see plenty of draft prospects move up and down the board in the many mock drafts to come. One player who appears to be moving up thanks to his Senior Bowl performance would perfectly fit a position of need for the Detroit Lions.
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah released his Mock Draft 2.0 on Tuesday, and has Clemson junior EDGE T.J. Parker landing with the Lions at #17.
Jeremiah noted Parker's down year for the Tigers, saying, "Parker had an underwhelming 2025 season, but he bounced back in a big way at the Senior Bowl. I think he’s climbing draft boards once again."
Parker had a strong 2024 season, accumulating 11.0 sacks, but saw that number fall to 5.0 in 2025. His NFL.com prospect page currently grades him at a 6.26, or "Will eventually be average starter." The page also has a quote from an unnamed NFL scouting director, saying, “He had better numbers in 2024 but also he just played better. I felt like he saw more attention (in 2025) and didn’t always respond well.”
That all may sound like a red flag, but fantastic players have been picked around this spot before, in part because they made noise at the Senior Bowl and/or combine as Parker has. They showed that they were more than their numbers and early analysis, and they're committed to being the best version of themselves possible. That kind of drive and work ethic has enamored the Lions in past drafts, and could again here with Parker.
Parker would also have the benefit of not being the center of attention, thanks to Second-Team All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year finalist Aidan Hutchinson on the other side of the line. It may not be as exciting right now as Trey Hendrickson or a Maxx Crosby would be, but remember, Hendrickson was once a third-round pick, while Crosby was a fourth-rounder.
Parker had a strong showing at the Senior Bowl
In the practice leading up to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, Jeremiah listed Parker among his ten Senior Bowl standouts:
"Parker has helped himself a lot in Mobile. His play slipped last season, and his production told the story, with his sack total going from 11 in 2024 to five in 2025. He had a monster week here, though. No one was able to block his long-arm move in Mobile. Parker has put himself in the first-round mix."
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It wasn't just Jeremiah who saw Parker as one of the winners at the Senior Bowl, as ESPN NFL draft analysts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates also sang praises for Parker, with Miller even going as far as to label him the "overall winner" after the final day of practice.
"(Parker) had middle Round 1 grades before the 2025 season began, but his stock took a dip after his sack total fell from 11 in 2024 to 5.5 last season. But he consistently won against every offensive tackle he faced this week while showing a repertoire of moves. Parker is a true 4-3 defensive end who can win with long arms and power at the point of attack, but this week he showed there's more juice around the edge than formerly expected."
How much of a jump (or fall) Parker made on draft boards won't be clear until he's selected. If Parker has a strong combine as well, there's a chance he could be off the board by the time the Lions are on the clock. If concerns remain, he could also be a trade back candidate if the general manager Brad Holmes wants to accumulate picks.
Of course, Holmes has been known to surprise fans and analysts with his unexpected picks. So there's a chance he won't go EDGE or offensive line, as everyone expects. If EDGE is the call, then Parker is setting himself up to be a great choice.