Is Jalen Redmond Lions' Defensive Lineman of Future?
The Detroit Lions will certainly add girth to the interior of the defensive line this offseason.
Aaron Glenn's defense steadily improved throughout the season, but struggled with defending the run in critical moments of the season.
It is expected the team will bring back John Cominsky and/or Isaiah Buggs to continue its development on the defensive line.
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Detroit's defensive coordinator is seeking a versatile interior defensive lineman who has the ability to shed blocks and move the pocket with a ferocious push.
Oklahoma Sooner interior defensive lineman Jalen Redmond has demonstrated an ability to clog up the middle, making it much more difficult for opponents to find rushing or passing lanes.
In 2019, he recorded six-and-a-half sacks, and ranked third on the team with 11 tackles for loss in 13 games.
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According to NFL Draft Bible, "After switching to a three-technique in an even front, his skillset starts to come through. Strong enough to two-gap. Fairly quick off the ball with the athleticism to run as a looper and get home on twists. Little to no penetration as a true pass rusher. Cannot split double teams or hold up at the point of attack when deployed as a true nose. Can tell he's uncomfortable in his zone read awareness when kicked out to the exterior."
At the recently completed Senior Bowl, Redmond showcased his pass-rushing prowess for the American squad.
He has been compared to the Kansas City Chiefs' Chris Jones in early scouting reports ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft.
His swim move and arsenal of methods he deployed to power past opposing linemen during drills caught the attention of those scouting in attendance.
One current NFL scout told All Lions that Redmond showcased throughout the Senior Bowl practices an ability to develop into a versatile and productive defensive lineman due to his twitchiness.
NFL Draft Bible also noted in its draft evalutation, "Redmond is in some limbo when it comes to his body type and skill set. His best plays have come when he's playing as a three-technique in four down fronts, showing an ability to win one on one reps and have more influence in the passing game. His current role as an early down player limits this, so we will need to see better utilization to project a higher draft grade."
