The Detroit Lions were one of the NFL’s most dominant teams during the 2024 regular season, but they failed to meet expectations in the playoffs, falling to the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round.
The Lions have definitely been busy in free agency, and keep in mind that they will be getting star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson back next year. However, Detroit still has some needs to fill in the NFL Draft, and Brad Berreman of SideLion Report feels that the Lions will land absolute steal next month.
In his recent seven-round mock draft, Berreman has Detroit shockingly landing Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart in the second round.
“An NFL personnel evaluator told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Stewart ‘stamped himself’ as the best player at the Senior Bowl,” Berreman wrote. “Stewart is listed as an edge, but he is scheme-versatile and could easily line up across a defensive front in the NFL. He could be what the Lions hoped Josh Paschal would be, and what Onwuzurike did become last season.”
Stewart would be an absolutely massive addition for the Lions, but the chances of him still being available at No. 60 are slim, to say the least.
The 21-year-old has actually been gaining momentum as a potential top-10 pick, which is based on potential and raw skills more than anything else.
After all, Stewart logged a modest 31 tackles, six tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2024 and amassed a grand total of 4.5 sacks across his entire collegiate career.
But at 6-foot-6, 290 pounds with terrific athleticism, Stewart is a freakish prospect who could ultimately break out on the NFL level.
The odds of it actually being with the Lions, however, don’t seem very high. Detroit can definitely stand to add another pass rusher next to Hutchinson, so if the Lions can somehow manage to bag Stewart, it would be quite the coup for the reigning NFC North champions.
