INDIANAPOLIS – Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes typically keeps his opinion of the strengths and weaknesses of each draft class pretty close to the vest.
But even Holmes couldn't deny the strength of this year's defensive line class when speaking to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine this week.
"Oh yeah, this is strong," he said. "Me and Ray Agnew were just kind of looking at the totality of just, yeah, it's a lot deeper than what we can remember at least in the past couple of years and that's both inside and out. For sure."
Holmes also talked this week about his dedication to keeping the trenches strong in Detroit along the offensive and defensive lines, and that aligns perfectly with the strengths of this draft class.
The Lions have a number of talented players returning upfront for new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, including Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Za’Darius Smith, DJ Reader and Josh Paschal, but with all the injuries the Lions suffered along their defensive front this past season, Detroit found out there's no such thing as too much depth.
"The trenches are always going to be a priority for us," Holmes said. "I just think that's where the game is won. Dan (Campbell) and I are aligned on that. You can just never really have enough of those guys."
This draft is loaded with just about any style of defensive lineman a team like Detroit might want - Run stuffers, interior pass rushers, edge setters, edge disruptors and players with enough versatility to play both inside or outside along with guys who can play in space in the SAM spot.
The defensive linemen begin on-field drills Thursday at the Combine with the task of trying to set themselves apart from the bunch.
"I do want to show people who the best defensive player is in this draft," Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. said Wednesday. "I want to show off my athleticism and the guy I am and the character I have and the great player I am."
Pearce (6-5, 243) had 17.5 sacks the last two seasons combined for the Volunteers and is among a group of pass rushers that include Marshall's Mike Green, Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart, Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku, Ohio State's Jack Sawyer and Texas A&M's Nic Scourton, who are projected to potentially be available in the mid to late first round where then Lions current sit with the 28th pick.
"I think I have a knack for the football," said Ezeiruaku, who had 16.5 sacks for Boston College this past season. "My career at Boston College I always took pride in the run game because I understand you can't pass rush on third down until you win on first and second down. I take a lot of pride in that. There are areas to improve in all parts of our games, but I think I play the run pretty darn well."
It's yet to be determined if McNeill will be ready for the start of the season after tearing his ACL in mid-December. Adding depth and boosting the numbers in the middle of the defensive line could be something Holmes looks to accomplish in free agency or the draft.
Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham might be the most dominant player in the entire draft class and is expected to hear his name very early on the first night of the draft. After Graham, it's still a very deep group of tackles.
"As deep a defensive tackle class as I can ever remember," NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said leading up to the Combine.
Players like Walter Nolen (Mississippi), Derrick Harmon (Oregon), Kenneth Grant (Michigan), Tyleik Williams (Ohio State), Alfred Collins (Texas), Shemar Turner (Texas A&M), Cam Jackson (Florida), JJ Pegues (Mississippi) and others could be possible options the first couple days of the draft for teams looking to bolster the interior of their defensive front.
The Lions have a new defensive line and run game coordinator coach in Kacy Rodgers after Terrell Williams left to be New England's defensive coordinator this offseason. Rodgers spent the previous six seasons in Tampa Bay where the Buccaneers allowed the fewest rushing yards (9,378) and lowest rushing average (3.98) in the NFL in his time there. The Buccaneers also had the most forced fumbles (95) and second most sacks (281) during that span.
"I think he's going to be great for our D-line," Campbell said of Rodgers this week. "I think Hutch and those guys are going to really like him and gravitate to him. And he's, he's one of us; he's about doing it the right way. Hard worker, sees the game well, understands scheme really well, and then he knows the fundamentals and grinds on those guys."
With Holmes eyeing a buildup of Detroit's trenches this offseason and a new defensive line coach with a track record of getting the most out of his players, it certainly makes sense to give Rodgers some young players upfront to begin to mold and improve the Lions' talent and depth along their defensive line.
