Kicking off the 2026 edition of the “A Lions draft prospect for each round”, we turn to the EDGE class. It’s a clear need for Detroit as the roster sits ahead of free agency. 

No, the Lions aren’t going to draft an EDGE prospect in each round. The purpose is to demonstrate which types of talents look to be available for Lions GM Brad Holmes in each of the draft’s seven rounds. They are done with an eye toward scheme and culture fit. 

The Lions currently don’t have a third-round pick, but there is still a third-round candidate listed. As Holmes has repeatedly shown, he’s not afraid to go get his man in draft-day trades. For the first two rounds, there is more personal discretion toward likely availability at the current slots the Lions are slated to pick, No. 17 and No. 50 overall. 

 

State of the position

 

The Lions have an established star in Aidan Hutchinson, who is locked under contract for several more years. He’s one of the brightest young defensive players in the NFL. 

And that’s the effective depth chart right now. Sure, Josh Paschal is back after his contract tolled due to spending all of 2025 on the NFI list. Technically, Levi Onwuzurike can also play as a “heavy” EDGE with the same tolling status, but he’s much more optimally utilized inside. Ahmed Hassanein, a 2025 developmental project pick, is on a future/reserve contract. 

Al-Quadin Muhammad and his 11 sacks are hitting free agency. That level of production will earn the 31-year-old a nice payday, which may or may not come in Detroit. Marcus Davenport, a starter when healthy, is a free agent as well. Tyrus Wheat is a restricted free agent who showed enough to merit a return in a depth role, provided he doesn’t get an offer from another team that is too rich for the Lions to match. 

 

Draft options 

First round: Keldric Faulk, Auburn

A near physical clone of pending free agent Marcus Davenport, except Faulk has a clean injury history. He’s played all over the line for Auburn and might be at his best on either side of the B-gap more than outside, a la Levi Onwuzurike or John Cominsky. In 3 seasons at Auburn, the 6-foot-6, 285-pound Faulk produced 110 tackles, 10 sacks, 6 PDs and 3 forced fumbles. 

Pros

–Straight from central casting as a “crush the can” DE

–Bruce Feldman athletic freak; squats 700 and benches 400

–Excellent power-to-speed rusher

–Can strong-arm blockers

–Has multiple pass rush moves and can set up/sequence moves

–Experience aligning everywhere between 1T and 7T, even some OLB

–Only 20 years old

–Frequently praised for his leadership and culture-building persona, team captain

Cons

–He’s not stiff, but there isn’t desired bend on the edge

–Lacks burst and can be heavy-footed off the snap

–Hand usage has improved but still needs development

–Inconsistent physicality in the run game

–Gets pushed too upright by OL who can get in his pads right away

–Sack productivity dropped way off from 2024 to 2025

 

Second round: Derrick Moore, Michigan

Moore thrived during Senior Bowl week, showing he can bring a more consistently physical presence. That’s something he did inconsistently at Michigan, where he racked up 14.5 sacks, 16.5 TFLs and 53 total tackles in his final two seasons. Moore measured in at 6-foot-3 and 254 pounds in Mobile and is blessed with long arms (over 34 inches) for his height. 

 

Pros

—Well-built athlete with long, powerful arms

–Strong closing burst in space

–Good finisher in the backfield

–Excellent initial burst that can get into the blocker’s pads quickly

–Has some variety to his outside pass rush

–Has flashed the ability to shed with his hands and shoulder

–Positionally aware, appears to have a good football IQ

–Has experience dropping and in short-area coverage situations

Cons

–Run defense has ranged from ineffective to apathetic; often taken off the field in obvious run situations

-Speed beyond 2-3 steps is below-average for his build in the backfield

–Average bend turning the corner, some tightness to his hips

–Will get ridden around the edge if he doesn’t win off the snap at times

–Goes for the bull rush to his inside too predictably

–Stays blocked in the run game, though Senior Bowl was a different story

 

Third round: LT Overton, Alabama

Overton played two seasons at Texas A&M before moving to Alabama, where he tallied 41 total tackles, 9 TFLs and 6 sacks for the Crimson Tide over the last two years. At the Senior Bowl, he measured in much shorter than listed in college, checking in at just under 6-foot-3 and 283 pounds. 

Pros

–Positional versatility to play anywhere between 3T and Wide-9

–Good base power and core strength in both run and pass defense

–Good eyes in run defense

–Finishing power at the point of attack

–Has some outside-in bull rush ability

–Pretty nice closing burst, though inconsistent

–Works well in concert with his fellow DL, positionally responsible

 

Cons

–Sluggish off the snap

–Doesn’t defend his chest well; blockers can get into his pads

–No real burst around the edge and stiff in space

–Best NFL role is 3T/4i, but he’s very undersized for that; got washed out repeatedly playing inside at Senior Bowl

–Former 5-star recruit who might’ve peaked early athletically

 

Fourth round: Malachi Lawrence, UCF

I actually rank the 6-foot-4, 254-pound Lawrence higher than Overton, but I don’t see them being drafted in that order. Sleeper alert!

Pros

–Explosive off the snap with violent hands

–Has 35-inch arms that fire and reset quickly

–Outstanding at playing the run on the way to the QB

–Above-average finishing power

–Has some bend around the edge

–Plays every snap like the future of the world depends on it

–Good barrage of pass-rush moves

 

Cons

–Inconsistent tackling form, will miss tackles by not wrapping

–Will overrun the point of attack

–Has not shown the ability to win inside beyond exploiting bad OTs

–Doesn’t play in space well; one-dimensional attack dog at this point

 

Fifth round: Max Llewellyn, Iowa

The 6-foot-5, 263-pound Llewellyn played almost exclusively as a pass-rush specialist for his first three seasons at Iowa before becoming a full-time player in 2026. He bagged 6 sacks and 45 pressures in 300 pass rush reps as a senior. 

Pros

–Wicked spin move in either direction that he sets up well

–High-effort player with constant hand and foot action

–Good length and decent initial burst

–Plays passing lanes very alertly when not getting to the QB

–Decent athlete in space with reactive quickness

 

Cons

–His playing style often gives no indication that he knows he’s long and strong

–Astonomical missed tackle rate (over 30%) with too high of an impact point

–Teams running at him found consistent success

–Falls in love with his spin move a bit too much

 

Sixth round: Eric O’Neill, Rutgers

 

A transfer from JMU, and Long Island before that, O’Neill quietly emerged as one of the nation’s most efficient pass rushers in his one year at Rutgers. The 6-foot-3, 263-pound O’Neill gave Ohio State fits even though he didn’t record a sack in the game. 

 

Pros

–Productive across three colleges and divergent schemes

–Effective in converting power to speed

–Excellent leverage against taller blockers, uses his shoulders very well

–Can disengage and launch a quick second attack

–Works well in concert with linemates

–Excellent chase-down speed and effort

–Played his best against better competition

–Lived on the dean’s list at all his college stops

 

Cons

–Doesn’t always have a defined pass rush plan

–Ineffective playing in space, will chase the cheese on screens and cutbacks

–Better at creating pressure than finishing plays in the backfield

–Has some tightness around the edge

–Missed tackle rate over 20 percent in each of his final 3 college seasons

 

Seventh round: Keyshawn James-Newby, New Mexico

A transfer from Idaho, James-Newby is a different body type. Lions fans who miss James Houston will probably like what the 6-foot-3, 245-pound James-Newby brings as a stand-up pass rush specialist with some upside

 

Pros

–Great first step off the line, eats up a lot of space quickly

–Effective at converting speed-to-power on the outside shoulder of the tackle

–Decent bend and dip around the edge, good at flattening the corner

–Excellent finisher in the backfield

–Works stunts and twists well with good timing and coordination

–High-effort player with good chase-down speed

–Punched above his weight class nicely at Shrine Bowl practices and vs UCLA and Michigan

 

Cons

–Doesn’t show a Plan B often enough when first rush doesn’t work

–Overly reliant on getting off before the tackle, will jump the snap

–Doesn’t display anchor or edge-setting in the run game

–Lacks body control at top speed, will overshoot his point of attack

–Under-disciplined guesser in the run game, will need to be pass-rush-only to start his NFL career