Assessing The Detroit Lions’ Current Mock Draft Darling
Credit: Junfu Han via Imagn Images
Despite the first wave of free agency coming and going, the Detroit Lions are still fifth in the NFL in cap space with $49,662,907. But, as a result of the extensions that are due to in-house players, the cap situation will not be as forgiving in 2026 and beyond. This puts the team in a difficult moment in terms of meaningfully improving on a roster that is on the doorstep off a Super Bowl.
But a homerun in the draft could take this whole thing to the ceiling, and many outlets believe the Lions could do exactly that with Nic Scourton.
Texas A&M edge Nic Scourton said his big takeaway from meeting with the Lions was that they’re serious about building a Super Bowl champion.
Also named Aidan Hutchinson as one of the best pass rushers today, says it’s crazy to see a player with his size to be so athletic. pic.twitter.com/l0RAldbRHl
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) February 26, 2025
The Lions’ pass rushing situation heavily relied on Hutchinson being healthy. With his injury last season, it became a true area of weakness. Now, with Hutchinson being back, having a player on the opposite side to complement the superstar would put the Lions in a much better situation long term. While Za’Darius Smith was a perfectly fine player last season in place of Hutchinson, he isn’t the long term answer, especially since he will be entering his age-33 season and the final year of his contract.
Nic Scourton, meanwhile, doesn’t even turn 21 until August.
Scourton is a powerful edge rusher who played two seasons at Purdue before transferring to Texas A&M prior to the 2024 season. After a strong 2023 season with the Boilermakers, he experienced less production in his one season with the Aggies, as he had half as many sacks in 2024 (5) as he did in 2023 when he led the Big Ten with, well, ten. Even with his decreased sack production from last year to this year, he still had equal the amount of pressures (28), and his 17.1% pass rush win rate ranked fifth in the SEC among edge rushers in 2024.
Scourton has been described as a strong player who is extremely difficult to stop when he has even a split second of an advantage against an offensive tackle. He has devastating pass rush moves and good enough size to be a rock solid pass rusher and a perfectly capable run defender. While he doesn’t have elite speed, he has enough technique and motor to compensate for that area of his game.
He was previously considered a potential middle-of-the-first round pick, but with an ever so slight regression in 2024, he has slipped down some draft boards. He still managed to lead the Aggies in sacks despite having two other top 50 prospects in this year’s draft alongside him on the D-line, both of which just happen to be named Shemar. However, the general consensus is that his physicality and strong technique as a bull rusher still warrants a first round selection for the Texas A&M product.
The offense is almost a complete non-issue. The offensive line is strong, the group of skill players are lethal, and Jared Goff has been incredibly efficient under center. As long as they can address the possible departure of Kevin Zeitler as well as Jameson Williams’ propensity to pump one too many times during a touchdown celebration, they should be set.
Addressing the future of the defense is the most important thing Brad Holmes needs to do this offseason. The Lions’ defense dealt with about as many injuries as any defense in the NFL last season, and deepening up that part of the team. In an NFL Draft where solid first round talent on the defensive line is plentiful, Scourton is just one of the many options to be had. They could address the interior of their defensive line, as, like Za’Darius Smith, DJ Reader is also aging and entering the final year of his contract. Rebuilding the defensive front will make it much easier for Kelvin Sheppard to adjust to his promotion from linebacker’s coach to defensive coordinator and build his foundation.
Scourton is a tough football player who would fit like a glove in Dan Campbell’s culture of hard nosed, tough football. For a team that already forces offenses to deal with Aidan Hutchinson, having a player as powerful as Scourton on the opposite side will give the Lions youth and power on the opposite side. There are other players like the aforementioned Shemar Stewart and Georgia’s Mykel Williams who could also fortify the edge. However, if neither of them are there, and Scourton is still on the board, the Lions would have a golden opportunity to gain the powerful edge rushing duo that they badly need.
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