Lions predicted to draft 16-sack edge rusher on Day 2 of NFL draft

9 hours ago 2

This offseason, the Detroit Lions lost a couple key pieces in their defensive front, as they released Za'Darius Smith and saw Roy Lopez sign a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the New Orleans Saints.

With that knowledge, Lions general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell targeted the defensive line in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, selecting Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams with pick No. 28.

As Detroit prepares for the second day of the annual selection meeting, they hold just one pick in second round and none in the third. While the Lions have plenty of holes, they may continue adding on defense.

Interestingly, Bleacher Report's scouting department projected that Detroit will use their second-round selection (No. 60 overall) on edge rusher Landon Jackson.

Jackson, 22, played high school football at Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, Texas, before committing to LSU for the 2021 season. He appeared in just five games as a true freshman and failed to register a single statistic.

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In 2022, Jackson transferred to Arkansas, and he played in 37 games over the last three years, recording 116 tackles (28 for a loss), 16 sacks, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He also earned All-SEC honors in each of the last two seasons and received an 83.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus in 645 defensive snaps in 2024.

With the Lions moving on from Smith (though he has yet to sign elsewhere), they need to find someone else to rush opposing quarterbacks opposite Aidan Hutchinson, who missed most of last season due to a fractured tibia and fibula.

Jackson could be a decent option for them, as he'd likely be able to rotate with veterans like Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad to cause problems for offensive tackles. He could also help the team improve that abysmal sack percentage (5.46%) from last year that was the third-worst in the NFL.