The Detroit Lions have one of the league's premier young edge rushers in Aidan Hutchinson. However, a lack of other significant EDGE presences allowed teams to send multiple blockers to account for the Michigan product.
As a result, the Lions could target a top prospect on the edge in this year's Draft. In one recent mock draft, conducted by The Athletic's Dane Brugler, Detroit elected to address this need.
At No. 29 overall, Brugler had the Lions selecting Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson. The former Nittany Lion had a strong showing at the NFL Combine, in which he ran a blazing 4.48 40-yard dash.
"From the Nittany Lions to the Detroit Lions for Robinson. This pick came down to Johnny Newton or Robinson — and though I think Newton might be the better profile fit, the Lions also want to get more explosive on the edges," Brugler wrote. "They went against the grain in the first round last year, and I can’t wait to see how they attack it in 2024."
Robinson doesn't have elite statistical production, but the potential and athleticism he showcased in Indianapolis should translate well at the professional level. He would fit nicely opposite Hutchinson in the run game as well as in pass-rush situations.
Here are other storylines surrounding the Lions on March 5.
- The Detroit News conducted a stock watch on Draft prospects following the conclusion of the NFL Combine.
- CBS Sports ranked each team based on their respective free agent crops. Detroit ranked 12th.
- Sports Illustrated writer Matt Verderame provided salary cap space information surrounding every NFC team, along with outlining what each team can do with their space. For the Lions, he suggested upgrades in the secondary.
- The NFL's franchise and transition tag deadlines passed, with the Lions not using either on a player this offseason.
- Spotrac predicts that Amon-Ra St. Brown will sign an extension with the Lions worth $112 million over four years.
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