Nic Scouton, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Detroit Lions were an offensive juggernaut in 2024, a well-drilled and superbly oiled machine that seemed able to put up 35 points almost at will. Lucky, because once stud pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson went down with a season-ending injury, his fellow defensive players seemed to rush to join him on the sidelines. The Lions suffered key injury after key injury on the defensive side of the ball, and the need to bring in reinforcements is as plain as the nose on my face and just as difficult to ignore.
The absence of Hutchinson is clear when one considers the splits between him being on the field and on the sidelines. When Hutchinson was on the field, Lions opponents averaged -0.12 Expected Points Added (EPA) per play. When he was absent, this rose to -0.02. Teams found moving the ball through the air especially easier, with a -0.12 EPA rising to -0.01 without Hutchinson. Even with Hutchinson returning, the Lions need another pass rusher across from him. Hutchinson racked up 7.5 sacks in the five games he played in 2024. No Lions defender managed more than the 4.0 Za’Darius Smith put up in his eight games with the team.
The Lions’ options at edge at 28 are not terrible, and for my money, their best bet would be Nic Scourton from Texas A&M. He didn’t exactly tear things up in 2024, racking up 4.0 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. But he has 56 combined hurries over his last two seasons (including a 2023 campaign when he led the Big Ten with 10.0 sacks at Purdue). Scourton has experience in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes and has played on both sides of the defense, and lining up across from a stud like Hutchinson should improve his chances of converting his pressures to sacks. His arm length is not wonderful, and could be seen as below average. But the Lions have form when it comes to trusting pass rushers with less than prototypical arm length… Aidan Hutchinson, for instance.
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2025 BGN Mock Draft Order
1) Titans (JoeDirtsBarber): Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
2) Browns (kjb304): Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
3) Giants (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): Cam Ward, QB, Miami
4) Patriots (ReginaldHtower): Will Campbell, OT, LSU
5) Jaguars (eaglenomics): Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
6) Raiders (dkays): Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
7) Jets (Stick19154): Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
8) Panthers (89Tremaine): Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
9) Saints (FierceDisc65): Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
10) Bears (DrprofBubbles): Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
11) 49ers (granthill7): Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
12) Cowboys (Be subpar for Ja’Marr): Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
13) Dolphins (thehead92): Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
14) Colts (green1us): Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
15) Falcons (All_Hail_Howie): James Peace Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
16) Cardinals (Good Bad Ideas): Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
17) Bengals (ablesser88): Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
18) Seahawks (herbalonius): Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
19) Buccaneers (Hoosinole): Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
20) Broncos (Silverlark60): Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
21) Steelers (Dr.MidnightGreen): Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
22) Chargers (LancGuy): Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
23) Packers (Leo Bedio): Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
24) Vikings (krikkebelgium): Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
25) Texans (Aint1stULast): Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
26) Rams (Booth12): Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
27) Ravens (pheebthegoose): Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
28) Lions (Neil Dutton): Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
29) Commanders (Mailata_in_a_Miata)
30) Bills (PhilaWolverine)
31) Chiefs (niels.rosenquist)
32) Eagles (Philly21)
Now it’s time for you to vote for who YOU think should be selected in the 2025 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft.
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Who should the Lions pick at No. 28?
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OG Donovan Jackson
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OG Tyler Booker
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EDGE Mike Green
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EDGE Landon Jackson
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OL Jonah Savaiinaea
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DT Derrick Harmon
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EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku
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CB Azareye’h Thomas
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CB Trey Amos
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EDGE Nic Scourton
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WR Matthew Golden
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WR Luther Burden
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1) Titans: QB Cam Ward
2) Browns: EDGE Abdul Carter
3) Giants: WR/CB Travis Hunter
4) Patriots: OT Will Campbell
5) Jaguars: DT Mason Graham
6) Raiders: RB Ashton Jeanty
7) Jets: OT Armand Membou
8) Panthers: CB Will Johnson
9) Saints: EDGE Jalon Walker
10) Bears: TE Tyler Warren
11) 49ers: OT Kelvin Banks Jr.
12) Cowboys: WR Tetairoa McMillan
13) Dolphins: OT Josh Simmons
14) Colts: TE Colston Loveland
15) Falcons: EDGE Mykel Williams
16) Cardinals: EDGE James Pearce Jr.
17) Bengals: EDGE Shemar Stewart
18) Seahawks: QB Shedeur Sanders
19) Buccaneers: LB Jihaad Campbell
20) Broncos: RB Omarion Hampton
21) Steelers: QB Jaxson Dart
22) Chargers: DT Kenneth Grant
23) Packers: CB Jahdae Barron
24) Vikings: S Malaki Starks
25) Texans: OL Grey Zabel
26) Rams: WR Emeka Egbuka
27) Ravens: S Nick Emmanwori
28) Lions:
