Quarterbacks, pass rushers and players that can protect the quarterback on the edge typically dominate the top of the NFL Draft and rightfully so. Teams can never have enough good pass rushers, and this is a good year to go looking for one both at the top of the draft and into Day 2.
The Lions have a few young pass rushers they really like, led by Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up Aidan Hutchinson, but GM Brad Holmes and the Lions will no-doubt do their homework on this year's crop of edge rushers.
Top 5 edge rushers to watch at the Combine:
1. Will Anderson Jr., Alabama, 6-4, 245
Anderson is a long, athletic pass rusher. His physical traits match his production, which teams love. Anderson is the total package on the edge and someone who should be in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick. He's notched 27.5 sacks and 48.0 tackles for loss the last two seasons alone.
View photos of the defensive line prospects who were invited to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
Northwestern defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore (99) tackles Southern Illinois running back Romeir Elliott (1), during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Matt Marton
Iowa State defensive lineman MJ Anderson (3) celebrates after sacking Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Oklahoma won 27-13. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
FILE - Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah gets into position during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Manhattan, Kan. Anudike-Uzomah was selected top defensive player in the Associated Press Big 12 Midseason Awards, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Pittsburgh defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado (87) gets signals from the bench during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Georgia linebacker Robert Beal Jr. plays against Vanderbilt during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Wisconsin nose tackle Keeanu Benton plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Clemson's Bryan Bresee (11) rushes during the first half of an NCAA football game against Georgia Tech on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter warms up before an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Clubb)
Coastal Carolina nose tackle Jerrod Clark (15) runs during the first half of an NCAA football game against Georgia State on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Texas defensive lineman Keondre Coburn (99) rushes the quarterback during an NCAA college football game against Louisiana-Monroe, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)
Florida linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. (1) sets up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Alabama defensive lineman DJ Dale (94) celebrates with teammates after recovering a fumble during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Florida defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr. (9) sets up for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Eastern Washington, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Cincinnati quarterback Evan Prater is sacked by Louisville's YaYa Diaby during the fourth quarter of Louisville's 24-7 win in the Fenway Bowl NCAA college football game at Fenway Park Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in Boston. Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Rice defensive end Ikenna Enechukwu (91) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke).
San Jose State defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko (42) sacks Colorado State quarterback Clay Millen (11) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Notre Dame defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey (7) in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Navy, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
LSU defensive end Ali Gaye (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Appalachian State linebacker Nick Hampton during an NCAA football game against Georgia State on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Boone, N.C. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Ohio State defensive lineman Zach Harrison plays against Iowa during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Clemson defensive end K.J. Henry (5) plays against North Carolina State during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
TCU defensive lineman Dylan Horton (98) is seen during an NCAA football game against Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU won 55-24. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Baylor defensive lineman Siaki Ika (62) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas State in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
National defensive lineman Thomas Incoom of Central Michigan (8) during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, in Mobile, Ala.. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
FILE - Pittsburgh defensive lineman Calijah Kancey (8) plays against Miami during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Pittsburgh. Kancey was named the AP All-ACC defensive player of the year, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
Oklahoma State defensive end Tyler Lacy (89) is seen during an NCAA football game against TCU on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU won 43-40 in double overtime. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
American linebacker Isaiah Land of Florida A&M (51) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Mobile, Ala.. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Iowa State defensive end Will McDonald IV gets set for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Baylor won 31-24. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Missouri defensive lineman Isaiah McGuire during an NCAA football game on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Michigan linebacker Mike Morris plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Ferris State defensive end Caleb Murphy (12) holds the NCAA Division II college football championship trophy on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 in McKinney, Texas. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)
Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy (98) plays against Syracuse during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Maryland offensive lineman Jaelyn Duncan (71) looks to block Penn State defensive tackle PJ Mustipher (97) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) scrambles past Texas defensive lineman Moro Ojomo (98) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
South Carolina defensive lineman Zacch Pickens (6) gestures after a stop against South Carolina State on third down during the second half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
Eastern Michigan's Jose Ramirez plays during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Ypsilanti, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Oklahoma's Jalen Redmond (31) sacks Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Mississippi defensive end Tavius Robinson (95) is shown during an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Mississippi won 52-28. (AP Photo/John Amis)
LSU defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (99) in action during an NCAA college football game against Southern in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Arizona State defensive lineman Nesta Jade Silvera (4) stands on the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Michigan defensive lineman Mazi Smith (58) plays against Connecticut in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith (4) rushes the passer in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oregon Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
West Virginia defensive lineman Dante Stills (55) plays against Pittsburgh during an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
FILE - Southern California defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu celebrates a stop of California on fourth down during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. USC has created more turnovers and had more sacks in its first season with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
Iowa's Lukas Van Ness (91) tackles Nebraska quarterback Logan Smothers (8) in the end zone for a touch back during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. Iowa defeated Nebraska 28-21. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Georgia Tech defensive lineman Keion White (6) follows a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Texas Tech linebacker Tyree Wilson (19) on the field against Baylor during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
Auburn defensive end Colby Wooden (25) reacts during an NCAA football game against LSU on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Alabama defensive lineman Byron Young (47) cheers the crowd during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Tennessee defensive lineman Byron Young (6) chases after Tennessee Martin quarterback Dresser Winn (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Mississippi State defensive tackle Cameron Young (93) pursues Arkansas quarterback Malik Hornsby (4) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Mississippi State won 40-17. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
2. Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech, 6-6, 270
Wilson has the length, reach and athleticism defensive coordinators love when they start working with a young player. He's got all the tools to be a difference maker on the edge and likely won't wait long to hear his name called on opening night.
3. Myles Murphy, Clemson, 6-5, 273
Murphy has some versatility to his game moving up and down the line at Clemson and lining up in a variety of stances. He's got a great motor and sets a good edge in the run game. He recorded double digit tackles for loss in all three seasons at Clemson while notching 18.5 sacks.
4. Lukas Van Ness, Iowa, 6-5, 270
This one will be an interesting evaluation for teams in the pre-draft process. He wasn't a starter at Iowa but played starter-caliber snaps and put up for good numbers (10.5 TFL and 6.0 sacks) this past season. I love the fact that he's a really good former hockey player too.
5. Keion White, Georgia Tech, 6-5, 280
White is as high as No. 8 on Daniel Jeremiah's list of his Top 50 players in this year's class. He's got great length and a good first step. He played pretty well throughout the course of Senior Bowl practices. A former tight end turned pass rusher, White is still pretty raw after recording 14.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in his first full season as a rusher.
Combine sleeper to watch: Mike Morris, Michigan, 6-6, 290
Morris' size and athleticism combo is rare. He'll be a really interesting study at the Combine. He can play inside and outside, and his tape shows a great combination of speed and power, but his production didn't always match the physical traits. He had 23 tackles (17 solo), 11.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks for the Wolverines in 12 games this past season. Still a developing player.
Lions' need at the position: Moderate
The Lions like where Hutchinson, James Houston and Joshua Paschal are at in their progression heading into Year 2, but they'll never say no to adding another youngster to that room that could potentially put them in another category of pass-rush prowess.
Holmes is in a great spot to add to that room with an impact player at both No. 6 and No. 18 in the draft. With five picks in the top 81, Holmes could package picks for a player too.
I think re-signing veteran John Cominsky will be a priority this offseason, and Romeo Okwara and Julian Okwara are under contract, but talent, depth and competition have to rule that room this offseason. If Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have to make a tough camp cut because the Lions are deep at pass rusher, that's a good problem to have.
Key Stat: Hutchinson and Houston are the first set of rookie teammates in NFL history to each have at least 8.0 sacks in the same season. In Week 17, Paschal added a 2.0-sack game to give Detroit three rookies with a multi-sack game in the same season for the first time in franchise history.
Lions rookies combined for 20.5 sacks this season, establishing a new NFL record for the most combined sacks from a team's rookie corps.
