In their search for a product to replace great edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, the Detroit Lions have looked at both the NFL Draft and free agency. According to one source, the Lions may make another attempt in the upcoming selection, selecting one of the top prospects in the NFL with their first-round pick. Trevor Sikkema, a Pro Football Focus analyst, projected that the Lions would select a 6-foot-7 pass rusher with the No. 32 overall choice in order to relieve pressure on Hutchinson and provide much-needed reinforcement to the defensive line.
Lions Bolster Defense in Mock Draft
After Hutchinson’s regular season was cut short in October due to a fractured leg, Sikkema saw that the Lions had trouble producing in their pass rush. No other pass rushers were able to replicate Hutchinson’s output after he was placed on injured reserve for the Lions. According to the PFF analyst, the Lions would select Arkansas’ Landon Jackson with their first-round choice.
“Aidan Hutchinson continues to lead the Lions in sacks (7.5) as we enter the playoffs,” Sikkema stated. They definitely need some pass-rush assistance this offseason. Jackon’s 6-foot-7 frame and 275-pound weight make him a special edge rusher. But for a player with those measurables, he has some fascinating bend and terrific burst. I think his profile will be liked by the Lions.
Jackson had a great three-year career at Arkansas, amassing 16.0 sacks and 116 total stops with 28 tackles for a loss. Even though Hutchinson missed a game this season due to a fractured leg sustained during a victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Lions were still able to find plenty of success. Terrion Arnold, a 2024 first-round choice and cornerback who started 15 games this season with 60 total tackles and 10 passes defenced, is one of the team’s major defensive assets.
With the former first-round pick stating that he is on pace to finish rehabilitation in February and may play in the Super Bowl if the Lions make it that far, the team still has a chance to get Hutchinson back.
Rookie Could Be a Work in Progress
In its draft analysis of Jackson, Bleacher Report pointed out that he has a lot of room to develop and might not have an immediate effect for the Lions. The website stated that the Arkansas graduate “has the makings of being a solid every-down contributor as a 4i-to-5 technique in odd fronts or a traditional defensive end in even fronts.” “He may not be a consistent double-digit sacker or Pro Bowler/All-Pro, but he can be a valuable starter for teams looking to win in the NFL.”
Jackson possesses the intangibles of a successful NFL pass rusher, according to the study, and he might become even more efficient if he gains muscle to match his 6-foot-7, 280-pound body. According to the source, “Landon Jackson’s size is the first thing that stands out about him; he definitely looks the part of an NFL defensive end.” “Even better, he has room to grow if a team wants to add some weight to him and carries his frame well.”