Young undrafted Lions edge rusher keeps showing up over and over again, but he may be doing something that Dan Campbell ignores on purpose

Detroit Lions fans are chomping at the bit for an edge rusher who can take up the mantle across from Aidan Hutchinson. While the Lions may not have that big star power guy there, they have a solid rotation with young guys who are climbing up the ladder and looking to get more time. One of those guys is Nate Lynn.

The Lions showed a lot of interest in Lynn ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. They had him out for a top-30 visit and went to his Pro Day at William & Mary. Then they signed him as an undrafted free agent, and he quickly started to impress before suffering a season-ending injury. On Thursday, he got to play plenty of football in the Hall of Fame game, and he impressed. Lynn put up three pressures and a tackle and was the second-highest graded player on PFF with an 84.9 grade. Not bad at all.

Things seem to be going pretty well for him so far, but Lions head coach Dan Campbell did have some concerning comments about him last Tuesday that point to the young edge rusher doing something that Campbell may look to ignore.

“It’s a great opportunity for those guys to go in and show what they’re able to do. Now, I’m going to be the first one to say, no different than what we just talked about with - you asked about the quarterbacks. I’d say that if you’re going to go make your plays and I’m going to go get all these sacks and you’re rushing high and behind the quarterback, I don’t even see it. It’s not even worth talking about anymore. It’s not worth it. But if you do what you’re asked to do and what (Lions Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach) Kacy (Rodgers)’s teaching you to do and (Lions Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard) Shep, and you set it up and you push the quarterback and you’re even with him and you crush it or you make a move there, great. But if we’re just going to run behind the quarterback, no, that does nothing."

It's something to watch with not just Lynn, but any of the young edges going forward. The Lions want guys who can make a play. That doesn't just mean sacks, but pressure. Get the quarterback off his spot and force him to make a bad throw. Simply running in his area isn't going to be good enough. Let's see how Lynn does against the Falcons on Friday.