The Detroit Lions have struggled to establish a consistent pass rush throughout the 2023 season.
Outside of second-year pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, just one Lions player has accumulated 30 pressures this season.
Because of this ineffectiveness, adding a young talent in the 2024 NFL Draft is a logical option. Edge rusher could be among the team's top needs moving forward.
With the Lions expected to make the playoffs, they won't be in the market for a top player at the position unless they trade up. As a result, the team would be forced to look into the second tier of pass rushers when April comes around.
A player who fits the mold as a projected late first-rounder who has plenty of talent is Alabama's Chris Braswell. The Crimson Tide's defense is anchored by fellow edge rusher Dallas Turner, but Braswell has been productive in his own right throughout the 2023 season.
Braswell has eight sacks this season ahead of the SEC championship game Saturday. Additionally, he has 10.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and an interception. He's proven to be a true defensive playmaker.
The Lions need someone with this type of ability to work opposite Hutchinson, who draws attention from multiple offensive linemen each time he takes the field.
Hutchinson has still be able to generate pressure, but a presence on the opposite side would force opponents to divert some of the attention. Additionally, Braswell plays a position in Alabama's defense similar to that of Detroit's SAM linebacker.
Partnering with Hutchinson would be mutually beneficial in this way, as opponents doubling Hutchinson would make life easier for a player like Braswell who has demonstrated consistency in getting to passers while with the Crimson Tide.
Among Braswell's biggest strengths is his quickness. He possesses a lightning-quick first step, while being athletic enough to bend around the edge. At 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, he also has size that will translate to playing the position at the next level.
The Crimson Tide defender will have to continue to develop his pass rush repertoire, however, as he transitions to the professional ranks. Yet, his athletic traits signal the potential of a defensive coordinator being able to mold him into an elite player.
His 87.2 Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade is superb, and he's second on the team in pressures with 49. That number is just one below fellow projected first-rounder Dallas Turner's team-high total.
There's also the element of Braswell playing in Nick Saban's pro-style defense. The Lions scored a gem in second-rounder Brian Branch, who is also a Saban product that became a day-one starter.
If the Lions deem Braswell a fit, his skill set fits nicely within the man-coverage oriented scheme that depends on rushers to win in 1-on-1 situations. His abilities as a rusher could make a large impact in revitalizing the production of Detroit's pass rush.
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