The Detroit Lions faced difficulties maintaining a consistent pass rush after star Aidan Hutchinson suffered a fractured leg in October, with no player stepping up to fill his void.
The team may address this issue in the offseason, as one outlet predicts they’ll target a defensive end who had an outstanding college season. Despite efforts to find a consistent complement to Hutchinson since his first-round draft pick in 2022, no one has been able to consistently generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Lions Select First-Team All-SEC Star in Mock Draft Fox Sports forecasts that the Lions will use their No. 28 overall pick to select Texas A&M defensive end Nic Sourton, who had an all-conference season. The report pointed out that Sourton experienced a slight drop in production after transferring to the Aggies but had previously showcased his talents at another college.
“Sourton had an exceptional 2023 season at Purdue, recording 10 sacks and 50 total tackles,” the report highlighted. “While his numbers dipped after transferring to the SEC, he still notched five sacks, earned First Team All-SEC honors, and wrapped up his college career with 109 total tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He would be a great addition to a Lions defense that dealt with multiple injuries in the front seven last year.” After Hutchinson broke his leg in a win over the Dallas Cowboys, the Lions struggled defensively. No player was able to replicate his 7.5 sacks from the first five games of the season, with defensive lineman Za’Darius Smith finishing second on the team with 4.0 sacks and Alim McNeill contributing 3.5. No other player had more than three sacks that season.
The Lions’ Super Bowl hopes were dashed in the playoffs due to their defense, which allowed 45 points in a divisional-round loss to the Washington Commanders.
Lions Face Additional Changes The Lions will also have to navigate other major changes in the coming year, including the departure of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who was hired as the new head coach of the New York Jets.
Head coach Dan Campbell mentioned in January that he plans to maintain continuity on defense, although there may be some small adjustments along the way.
“No, I don’t see philosophy changing,” Campbell said, via the Detroit Free Press. “No, I think what we are is what we are, and we’ve been that way since I’ve been here.
“So, does that mean a couple of things get tweaked? A couple of things will get tweaked, just the nature of new coordinators if that happens because you want it to be kind of their flavor, their style with it, but yet, what I want is what we’re going to do, and what (Jared) Goff’s about.” The Lions opted to promote linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard from within the staff to become the new defensive coordinator.