Lions should already be watching these 2026 prospects setting the CFB world ablaze

Over the last few years, Detroit has established a clear draft philosophy under GM Brad Holmes -- take the best football player available, regardless of position.

Whether it was selecting Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell in the first round of 2023, Brian Branch later that same weekend, or doubling up on corners with Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in 2024, Holmes and HC Dan Campbell have built through talent and toughness, not positional need.

But in 2025, one need has become impossible to ignore: pass rush production. Despite the dominance of Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit ranks near the bottom of the NFL in pass rush win rate.

And adding another disruptor -- or two -- in the 2026 NFL Draft will be key to taking the defense to the next level.

Below are three edge rushers who could fit Detroit’s mold of high-motor, high-character players capable of making an early impact, one on each day of the selection process:

Day One: LT Overton, Alabama

Once considered a potential early-entry candidate in last year’s draft, Overton returned to Alabama and has only solidified his stock.

At 285 pounds, Overton is a scheme-versatile defender who can line up inside or outside depending on the front. He wins with power and leverage, anchoring well on early downs and collapsing pockets from multiple alignments, as well.

Looking at the potential fit, his physical style and disciplined approach would pair seamlessly with Tyleik Williams, the Lions’ 2025 first-round pick, forming a dynamic interior-front duo that frees up Hutchinson to attack.

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Overton is exactly the type of polished, plug-and-play defender Holmes gravitates toward.

Day Two: Quincy Rhodes Jr., Arkansas

A mountain of a man at 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, Rhodes Jr. brings the kind of length and violence Detroit covets up front. He plays with relentless energy -- a motor that simply doesn’t quit -- and sets the edge against the run at an extremely high level.

Rhodes is still developing as a pass rusher, but the flashes are undeniable. He's a powerful and physically overpowering presence who could quickly carve out a role as a rotational rusher with upside to start down the line.

Day Three: Boubacar Traore, Notre Dame

A name that’s quietly generating buzz in scouting circles, Traore (6-foot-4, 250 pounds) has all the athletic tools you want in a developmental edge defender.

Though his production has been limited at Notre Dame, the traits are tantalizing -- long frame, explosive first step, and bend to flatten around the corner.

Detroit has shown the ability to develop mid-round defensive talent, and Traore fits the script seamlessly. With proper coaching, he could evolve into a versatile rotational weapon who complements Hutchinson and adds depth to a front seven built on effort and physicality.