The Lions need a pass-rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson. They could find it in the draft.
In his latest mock, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has Detroit taking a chance with the 28th overall pick on Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr., who has elite physical traits but whose character has come into question ahead of the draft.
Pearce had 17.5 sacks and 28 tackles for loss over his final two seasons at Tennessee, but reportedly "did not interview well with teams" at the combine, per Walter Football, and failed to quiet the "character concerns" around his name, which stem from his effort level and coachability.
"Multiple sources at different teams said that Pearce was being dropped off their board," per Walter Football.
But with a culture of accountability under Dan Campbell, a player-led locker room and a winning environment, the Lions might have the infrastructure in place to maximize Pearce's ability. Kiper says that "Pearce could be the answer opposite Aidan Hutchinson."
"Besides figuring out how to stay healthy, the second edge rush spot was the Lions' biggest question last season," Kiper writes. "They traded for Za'Darius Smith, and he ended up contributing with four sacks over eight games. But to get past their playoff hump, having a steadier presence rushing the passer on the other side of Hutchinson is key.
Kiper points out that while Pearce only had 7.5 sacks in 13 games last season, "his 19% pressure rate was second in the FBS. He keeps offensive tackles guessing with his burst and strength."
The Lions did re-sign Marcus Davenport to complement Hutchinson, but Davenport is a long-shot to stay healthy having played in just six total games the past two seasons. He missed most of last year with a torn triceps and most of 2023 due to an ankle injury.
