Lions Are Said to Sign “Perfect Fit” Player to Replace Aidan Hutchinson
Adrian Hutchinson, a rising great edge rusher, is already a member of the Detroit Lions. But the Lions may use another edge rusher to go alongside Hutchinson if they were to beef up their defence.
Getting that guy ought to be on the top of Detroit’s list of off-season priorities, if not the top.Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus projected that the Lions would select that guy in the 2024 NFL Draft.
On January 5, Sikkema released his most recent NFL mock draft. Bralen Trice, a Washington edge rusher, was selected by the Lions at No. 27 overall in the first round.
Sikkema stated, “There are prospects who just fit a team’s personality, and Trice fits right in on a Dan Campbell squad.” Trice, who weighs 270 pounds and stands 6 feet 3 inches tall, has a motor that is always hot. On every snap, he gives it all he’s got—usually with power—and has 76 QB pressures this season as a result.
“Opposing offensive tackles would have a long day at work with him on one side and Hutchinson on the other.”
With Washington playing Michigan in the National Championship Game on January 8, Trice has one more game left in his college career. However, through 14 games this season, Terrence has racked up 46 total tackles, including 7 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.
He has 18 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss in 33 career college games.
How Bralen Trice Could Fit With Aidan Hutchinson, Lions
This season, the Lions defence has been among the best in applying pressure to quarterbacks. As of Week 18, Detroit holds the top three positions in quarterback knockdown percentage, pressure rate, and hurry percentage.
In addition, 17 defenders for the Lions have at least one sack. Still, there is room for improvement in terms of the Lions’ sack performance.
With 37 sacks, Detroit is ranked 26th in the NFL. Surprisingly, just 10 of the 17 Lions defenders who have accumulated at least one sack have more than 1.5.
Only two Lions players, Hutchinson and defensive tackle Elim McNeill, have accumulated at least five sacks this year.
Because of this, a lot of mock drafts will probably predict an edge rusher to Detroit. Opposing offences won’t be able to consistently commit two blockers to Hutchinson if an edge player is added as the other half of a bookend alongside him.
With one more elite edge player, McNeill could provide pressure from the centre of Detroit’s defensive line, making the Lions an even more formidable team.
Hutchinson has played well, even though he is the main focal point for the opposing offensive line.The second-year defensive end has 11 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and 28 quarterback hits this season.
At Washington, Trice has become a dominant edge rusher. He has accumulated 23.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks in his last 27 collegiate games.
Trice had two sacks and three tackles for loss in the Sugar Bowl game on January 1st against Texas.
How Does James Houston Fit in Detroit’s Future?
James Houston’s future will be called into question if the Lions choose an edge rusher early in the draft, particularly one who was a linebacker in college.
With Hutchinson, the Lions anticipated that Houston would make up one half of a potent duo of edge rushers this season. But Houston hasn’t played since Week 2 due to an ankle ailment.
When talking to media on January 5, Lions head coach Dan Campbell left open the chance that Houston will return for the postseason. However, Campbell stated that expecting a player to return in the postseason following a four-month hiatus is “a lot to ask.”
Houston had eight sacks in his first seven NFL games after playing on the team’s practice squad for the first half of the 2022 season.
That winning run demonstrated Houston’s potential. Houston is an exclusive rights free agent this offseason, but with that upside, the Lions are unlikely to let him go.
It wouldn’t be unexpected, though, if they added a top draft pick to challenge him for playing time.
Sports writer Dave Holcomb writes about the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers for Heavy.com. Holcomb, who is originally from Pittsburgh, has covered professional and collegiate sports for publications like Fansided, Rotowire, and Yardbarker.Additional information on Dave Holcomb
