As we inch closer to Detroit Lions training camp, our preview series continues to make its way through the roster, and in this installment, we arrive at the edge rushing group. The Lions deploy their edge rushers in a variety of ways and that creates a lot of opportunities for players with unique skill sets. But despite the variety and quantity of players in the group, the Lions are still looking for a player who can elevate his game opposite Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson.
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Previous training camp previews:
QB: Who will win the backup job?
RB: Sione Vaki transforms the RB room
WR: 3 big questions
TE: Who will win the TE3 job?
OL: Sorting through depth roles
IDL: Depth roles up for grabs
Understanding the Lions’ EDGE roles
The Lions scheme leans on three different types of edge rushers and it’s important to understand how each operates in order to fully recognize how players fit into the roster and game plan. Here’s a refresher on the different roles the Lions deploy.
Role 1: The “rush end” is a player who can exist in a variety of defensive concepts. They can line up standing outside the tackle box, with their hand in the dirt on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle, and occasionally kick inside to the 3-technique in obvious pass rushing situations. Players who fit this role include Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport.
Role 2: The “big end” is a player who primarily lines up with their hand in the dirt and slide up and down the line, ranging from heads up with the tight end down to the 3-technique. Players who fit this role include Josh Paschal and John Cominsky.
Role 3: The ”SAM (hybrid) linebacker” typically lines up on the outside of/or in place of a defensive end. Typically, this role deploys stand-up pass rushers who are primarily used to get after the quarterback but also have the skill set to occasionally drop into coverage. These unique requirements have led to the Lions leaning on both pass rushers and off-the-ball linebackers for this role. Pass rushers who fit this role include James Houston, Mathieu Betts, and Mitchell Agude, while Derrick Barnes and Jack Campbell (who will be discussed more in the off-the-ball linebacker article) are also very much in the mix.
Setting the table/Roster construction
In 2021 and 2022 the Lions kept six edge rushers on the roster and one on the practice squad, but in 2023, they kept seven edge rushers on the active roster and another two on the practice squad. That increase in population happened for three reasons: 1) injuries—most notably Houston, 2) bad contracts—they had previously restructured Charles Harris and Romeo Okwara, making them virtually uncuttable from a salary cap perspective, and 3) the search for players to fill the SAM role.
For the majority of the 2023 season, Hutchinson was the only clear starter, as the Lions rotated multiple players through the opposite starting role. Harris got the first shot but quickly gave way to Cominksy, and then Paschal later in the season. Romeo Okwara was primarily Hutchinson’s backup, but with the second-year edge rusher playing 91% of defensive snaps, Romeo saw most of his snaps in specific alignments.
At SAM, the Lions appeared comfortable leaning on Houston and Julian Okwara coming out of training camp, but Julian ended up starting the season on injured reserve and Houston joined him a week later, forcing the Lions to get creative. The Lions initially turned to Campbell to fill the void, but as his role at the MIKE (middle) linebacker expanded, the Lions began to incorporate Barnes in the SAM role as well. When Julian returned from injury, he was unable to win back his role from the linebacker duo and was eventually released late in the season (and signed to the practice squad) when Houston returned from injured reserve. Houston never fully recovered from his injury and was only used in a limited capacity in the playoffs.
This offseason, the Lions elected not to renew the contracts of Harris and both Okwara brothers, instead looking outside the organization for pass rushing talent. In free agency, Detroit signed former first-round pick Marcus Davenport and Canadian Football League sack leader Mathieu Betts. While they did not draft an edge rusher, they did sign Nate Lynn and Isaac Ukwu as undrafted free agents. Additionally, they also re-signed Mitchell Agude to a futures deal after he spent the majority of the season on their practice squad.
The battleground
The Lions enter training camp with nine edge rushers on the roster, but with the emergence of Campbell/Barnes competing in the SAM role, there may be fewer spots available than last season. Detroit could still keep as many as six edge players on the active roster—as they’ve done in the past—but it wouldn’t be overly surprising for them to keep only five.
Coming off a Pro Bowl season that saw him register 11.5 sacks and 121 pressures (via PFF, including playoffs), Hutchinson is everything the Lions hoped he would be when they drafted him second overall in 2022. But beyond Hutchinson, the Lions have several questions they are hoping to have answered in training camp, including:
Who will start opposite Hutchinson?
Who will emerge in the SAM role?
How many edge rushers will make the roster?
Open starter role: Davenport vs. Paschal vs. Cominsky
In spring camp, like late in the season, the Lions opened with Paschal in the starter role opposite Hutchinson. Paschal has battled through injuries his first two seasons, but he flashed early and late in the season, and will probably enter camp as the front-runner for the role.
Paschal’s biggest challenger could be Davenport, who the Lions prioritized in free agency. Davenport’s pass rushing talent is evident but he has also battled the injury bug the past two seasons and was not able to participate in spring camp, so his role is not entirely clear at the moment. It’s possible the Lions are hoping to start him given his pass rushing prowess, but he could also be destined for the Romeo Okwara role given his injury woes.
Cominsky has held the starting role in the past, but his ceiling appears capped, and the Lions know who he is at this stage of his career. Don’t get it twisted though, Cominsky is a relentless player who will get considerable playing time, and his consistency often wins out over flash players in the end. If Paschal and Davenport aren’t consistently producing, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Cominsky back in a starting role.
SAM options: Houston vs. Betts vs. Agude
With Campbell and Barnes showing their value last season, it’ll be an uphill battle for any pass rushers to cut into their snaps at SAM. That being said, the Lions have a trio of pure pass rushers who are capable of earning time.
Houston burst onto the scene halfway through 2022, registering eight sacks in seven games but a broken leg effectively ended his 2023 season. Arguably the best pure pass rusher outside of Hutchinson, if Houston can regain his form, he is a player that coaches could feel compelled to get on the field. If Houston can expand his coverage skills, he has the developmental ceiling to win the SAM role outright.
Betts is a lottery ticket for Detroit as he is coming off an 18-sack season in the CFL and was named the league’s most outstanding player. If he is able to adjust to the level up in competition and translate those skills to the NFL, the Lions will find a spot for that talent.
Agude was undrafted in 2023 and spent training camp in Miami, before joining the Lions practice squad after cutdowns. He reportedly impressed coaches last season and showed well in spring practices, making him a sleeper to keep an eye on this summer.
Depth players
Undrafted rookies Nate Lynn and Isaac Ukwu have the toughest road to the roster, as expected, but as we are seeing with Agude, there is a path to opportunity with hard work and time.
Lynn was more of a traditional open defensive end in college but he has the body type to fill a SAM role if he can adapt. Dropping into coverage isn’t something he was asked to do at William and Mary, but the Lions thought enough of him to bring him in for a “top 30” visit, which is a good indication that he could be a player they’re interested in developing.
Ukwu battled back from two ACL injuries to start his college career but he eventually grew into a starting role at James Madison, then transferred to Mississippi, where he played JACK linebacker in Lane Kiffin’s defense. That skill set translates to a SAM role in Detroit, but like Lynn, he’ll need to work on expanding his coverage skills to have a chance to compete for snaps.
