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Under the radar Lions edge rusher could be in for a huge breakout summer after strong offseason

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Mike Payton | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 12:06 PM ET

There's been so much talk about edge rushers and the Detroit Lions this offseason. It's been the big thing everyone wants to talk about, and at times it's been the only thing everyone wants to talk about.

The Lions pretty much didn't touch the position outside of drafting Ahmed Hassanien in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Lions GM Brad Holmes stated or alluded to on multiple occasions that the Lions felt pretty good about what they had on the edge. There have been concerns he might be overconfident.

As time has gone on, I've felt that confidence start to rub off on me. There's one guy who's been under the radar who I have a lot of confidence in, and I think because he's just had a killer offseason. That's Mitchell Agude.

Agude has had a solid summer. He's gotten into tremendous shape and has been working on his speed and his bend all offseason long.

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On top of that, he was invited and went to the second annual Sack Summit, where he worked out and learned from some of the best edge rushers in the NFL, like Maxx Crosby, Micah Parsons, Von Miller, Cam Jordan, Trey Hendrickson, and Myles Garrett. They don't just invite anyone there.

Agude was an undrafted rookie for the Dolphins in 2023, but they couldn't find a spot for him on their 53-man roster and cut him at the end of camp. The Lions signed him to their practice squad a month later. He never got on the field his rookie year, but there was talk about him emanating from Allen Park. Dolphins fans certainly wanted him back.

@OmarKelly is Mitchell Agude an option? He’s on the Lions PS
— Demetri Canseco (@DemetriCanseco) January 9, 2024

The Lions signed him back in 2024, and you really started to see what he was capable of in the summertime. There was a thought that he could make the 53-man roster and crack the edge rotation. The Lions wound up adding him to the practice squad instead.

He did get to play three regular-season games and picked up a big forced fumble in one of them against the Bears in Week 16.

He now has a chance to go out this summer and show what he's been able to learn and get better at, and maybe he can crack the rotation and find himself on the 53-man roster and ready to have a breakout season. I'll be keeping my eyes on him at camp for sure. You should, too.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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