Lions Draft Edge Rusher in Brugler's First Mock Draft

Lions select Ohio State pass rusher in latest mock draft.

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson has dealt with tons of attention from opponents throughout the 2023 season. 

Despite having a 91.4 pass rushing grade from Pro Football Focus, he has just 5.5 sacks through the season's first 11 games. This comes as a result of the frequency at which Hutchinson faces more than one blocker on his pursuit of the opposing passer.

With teams able to key on Hutchinson without the presence of another consistent edge rusher, the Lions would benefit from adding a running mate for the Michigan product. 

In his latest mock draft for The Athletic, NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler has the Lions selecting Ohio State edge rusher J.T. Tuimoloau at No. 27 overall. 

"The Lions rank near the bottom of the NFL in pressure rate and sacks, and they must continue to build on the defensive line," wrote Brugler. "Tuimoloau isn’t going to win the corner with pure speed, but he has heavy hands and diversifies his attack with leverage and timing to affect the backfield."

Tuimoloau has 11 career sacks through three seasons with the Buckeyes. Standing 6-foot-4, he has long arms and good athleticism that allows to win in 1-on-1 battles. This, precisely, is an area where the Lions have placed emphasis given the team's recent pass rush struggles. 

Charles Harris and Romeo Okwara have provided unsatisfactory results this season, combining for 1.5 sacks. James Houston, who was expected to be a big part of the pass rush, has been out since suffering a significant injury in Week 2. 

With a lack of consistency, the Lions have gone without a sack in four of their 11 games this season.