By Blessing 
Derrick Harmon was spotted working through drills at the NFL Combine, and his performance is catching attention. The Detroit Lions don’t have many glaring holes to fill in this year’s NFL Draft, but they could use the opportunity to add young, versatile talent to their defensive line.
Jeff Risdon from USA Today’s Lions Wire projects that Detroit will use its first-round pick to secure a dominant and flexible defensive lineman—one who could become a long-term anchor for their defense.
Lions Eye a Physical Presence at No. 28
Risdon predicts the Lions will select Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with the 28th overall pick, believing the team won’t pass up his raw talent.
“He’s an ascending talent with dominant physical potential at a position where the Lions can use more long-term pieces,” Risdon explained. “Harmon’s ability to generate instant pressure from anywhere between the tackles means he can thrive even when Alim McNeill returns from his knee injury. Harmon projects as a much higher-end version of Levi Onwuzurike’s role in Detroit.”
Lance Zierlein from NFL.com also sees Harmon as a highly adaptable defensive lineman who can play multiple roles up front.
“Harmon is wide, long and naturally powerful at the point of attack,” Zierlein noted. “He can create traffic jams inside as a two-gapper or stunt and power his way into the backfield. He’s unlikely to be a primary sack man, but he can be part of a swarm unit that batters the pocket.”
One quality that makes Harmon particularly appealing to Detroit is his toughness—something head coach Dan Campbell highly values. Zierlein reinforced this aspect of Harmon’s game, stating, “He will bring an instant dose of stinginess and toughness to any defense he joins.”
Strengthening the Pass Rush
Risdon anticipates the Lions will prioritize defense in the early rounds, projecting that they’ll bolster their defensive front in the second round by selecting UCLA edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo.
Detroit faced challenges in consistently pressuring quarterbacks last season, especially after star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a season-ending fractured leg in October. The team’s most effective edge rusher in Hutchinson’s absence, Za’Darius Smith, is now a free agent after joining the Lions via a midseason trade.
The Lions have reportedly shown interest in Oladejo, but Risdon suggested they could also trade up in the second round to land a higher-ranked prospect.
“Packaging this No. 60 overall pick and one of Detroit’s third-round picks from next year (they’ll get an extra comp pick for Aaron Glenn’s hiring in New York) to move up higher in the second round and land a player like Landon Jackson or Donovan Ezeiruaku certainly makes a lot of sense here, too,” Risdon wrote.
Detroit’s inability to generate pressure after Hutchinson’s injury was evident in their playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. The Lions gave up 45 points, failed to sack rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, and struggled to contain Washington’s passing attack.
With these defensive struggles fresh in their minds, Detroit appears poised to use the draft to reinforce their front line and ensure they have the firepower needed to compete at a high level next season.