In Aidan Hutchinson, the Detroit Lions have an elite pass rusher capable of derailing opposing game plans.
The second-year defensive end led the league in pressures this year, but it didn't always translate to sacks in 2023. He finished with 11.5, thanks in part to a strong finish, but more was desired from the Lions' pass-rush.
Should the Lions explore adding more firepower in the 2024 NFL Draft, Washington's Bralen Trice is a player who could pair perfectly with Hutchinson and create a strong combo.
Trice had 80 pressures this season for the Huskies, including seven sacks in the team's run to the College Football Playoff Championship game. He stands 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds with enough strength to overpower opponents.
He has shown strength in his hands this year, defeating opposing offensive linemen with a series of moves. His powerful frame is in part to thank for this, as he uses his strength at the point of contact to shed blockers.
Trice totaled 18 sacks in three active seasons, along with 28.5 tackles for loss.
One performance from 2023 that stands out is his showing against Stanford, in which he had 14 pressures according to Pro Football Focus. He finished the game credited with 1.5 sacks, but was all over the quarterback in a dominant effort.
He also had seven pressures in the College Football Playoff Semifinal against Texas, posting three tackles for loss and two sacks in that game. The pass-rusher has a versatility about him, as he has a strong package of counters to his original moves that keep offensive linemen off balance.
Trice is viewed as a fringe first-round player ahead of April's Draft. He has been mocked to the Lions at points with their first pick at No. 29, and there is potential for that pairing to be a strong fit. However, he still has room to improve.
For starters, time will tell if he will line up as a stand up edge or as an inline defensive lineman at the next level. He's strong and physical, but he also has a tendency to struggle keeping up with mobile quarterbacks or speedy running backs on the edge.
Additionally, he can be a capable contributor in the run game but performed better as a pass-rusher. His versatility is still developing in that aspect, as he is physical enough to be a solid tackler but sometimes struggled setting a strong edge as a walked-up outside linebacker.
The foundation is there for the Washington product to be a solid pro, as he's coming off a solid career with the Huskies. There's a lot to like about his qualities as a pass-rusher, and he would bring a unique flavor opposite of Hutchinson while still potentially providing similar production.
In particular, his effort level and motor are extremely high. This is a characteristic that the Lions have seemed to value since Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell took over in 2021.
As a result, he could wind up being the first addition to the Lions in the Draft this season.
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