The Detroit Lions have tried for several seasons to add a competent edge rushing partner for Aidan Hutchinson, but found only limited success.
The Lions got some good production out of veteran Za’Darius Smith last season after Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury, but the team parted ways with Smith and he remains a free agent. Another veteran edge rusher is facing some increased scrutiny as the team approaches training camp, leading to a lack of clarity on who will emerge as the team’s other top pass rusher.
Edge Rush Identified as Detroit’s Biggest Weakness
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports identified the biggest remaining need on defense for all NFC teams, noting that the Lions still need some big help on the edge rush. Edwards noted that the position is filled with question marks, including veteran Marcus Davenport and his recent spate of injuries.
“Edge rusher was also given a lot of thought. Detroit moved on from Za’Darius Smith after acquiring him midseason, and Aidan Hutchinson is returning from a serious knee injury,” Edwards wrote. “The other pass rushers on the roster are Marcus Davenport and Josh Paschal. Davenport has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career and Paschal has been more of a stable run defender than one capable of providing explosiveness off the edge while also dealing with his own injuries.”
Davenport has appeared in only six games over the last two seasons, including two for the Lions last season.
Marcus Davenport’s Role Comes Into Question
Christian Booher of SI.com also cast some doubt on what Davenport would be able to accomplish in the coming season, noting that his inability to stay on the field was a big detriment to Detroit’s defense.
“Detroit’s defensive line did a good job of getting into the backfield, however, finishing plays with sacks proved to be a tough challenge. A full season of Hutchinson and Davenport, the Lions hope, will yield different results,” Booher wrote.
“However, Davenport has yet to play a full season since being drafted in the first round of the 2018 draft. Durability will be a major factor for him, as the best version of the Lions’ defense features a healthy version of him.”
Booher added that the Lions finished in the bottom third of the NFL in sacks last season, but the team largely ignored the position at the NFL draft and used only one third-day pick on an edge rusher.
“Brad Holmes’ decision to wait until the sixth-round to draft an EDGE also puzzled some pundits, as that was viewed as their biggest area of need. However, Holmes has traditionally been a very thorough evaluator and unwilling to compromise fit for need,” Booher noted.
Booher added that the Lions could still choose to re-sign Smith, a popular prediction among insiders, but rookie Ahmed Hassanein could also earn a spot in the rotation with a strong showing in training camp.
“This competition would get all the more intriguing if Ahmed Hassanein adapts quickly, as he has the relentless motor and toughness that would fit Detroit’s defensive style nicely,” Booher wrote.
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