Before a brutal leg injury ended Aidan Hutchinson’s 2024 season, he was on track for a historic year and a clear Defensive Player of the Year nod. Despite playing just five games, he still led the Lions with 7.5 sacks. Behind him, midseason pickup Za’Darius Smith added four sacks in eight games.
General manager Brad Holmes has never hidden how tough it is to find a reliable edge rusher to pair with Hutchinson — and he’s right. Detroit’s moves this offseason, like re-signing Marcus Davenport and using a Day 3 pick on Ahmed Hassanein, felt more like stopgaps than real solutions. The Lions have struggled to find production opposite Hutchinson since 2023, when no other edge rusher managed more than two sacks.
Smith has expressed interest in returning after being waived, but there’s little sign Detroit wants him back. It’s possible the Lions will revisit him closer to training camp, but fans shouldn’t count on it.
That’s why edge rusher remains Detroit’s No. 1 priority heading into 2026, and the draft may finally be where they make a big move.
In a way-too-early 2026 first-round mock draft, ESPN’s Matt Miller projects the Lions to address this glaring need. At pick No. 29, Miller has Detroit selecting Florida edge rusher Tyreak Sapp.
“Surprisingly, the Lions chose not to draft an edge rusher to help Aidan Hutchinson — especially with their star pass rusher coming back from a serious injury,” Miller wrote. “Sapp posted a career-best seven sacks last season and at 6-foot-3, 272 pounds, he has the power to hold up against the run and the burst to beat tackles with his first step. Pairing Sapp with Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, and 2025 first-round pick Tyleik Williams would give Detroit a dominant defensive front.”
Sapp had a breakout year for Florida in 2024, racking up seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss. His 90.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus ranked ninth among all FBS edge rushers. His size and strength make him a perfect fit for the Lions’ defensive blueprint.
Detroit has been chasing a consistent pass-rushing partner for Hutchinson for years. With Hutchinson’s health now an unknown, investing a first-round pick on a player like Sapp might finally give the Lions the edge tandem they’ve been searching for.
Detroit Eyes Florida’s Tyreak Sapp to Bolster Edge in Early 2026 Projections
