The Detroit Lions were one of the best teams this season. They went 15-2 during the regular season, earning the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. Despite all of these accomplishments, their season ended early.
In the Divisional Round, the Washington Commanders went into Ford Field and beat the Lions 45-31. Now that their season is officially over, the Lions have to start their offseason planning.
Detroit is expected to have around $57 million in cap space per OvertheCap. That is going to be one avenue for them, but so is the 2025 NFL Draft. That is set to go down in April but it’s never too early to start speculation.
The Lions own the 28th pick in the first round and could go in multiple different routes with that pick. In this article, we’ll discuss three potential targets for Detroit in the first round.
1. Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
The Lions were ravaged by injuries this season, especially on the defensive side. The Lions lost Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, and Alim McNeill along the defensive line.
It was difficult for them to overcome and played a factor in the postseason shortcomings. Davenport is going to hit free agency, while Hutchinson and McNeill will be back for the Lions in 2025. Regardless, they need more juice at EDGE, and Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer is a name to watch.
Sawyer is a physical defender and uses his instincts to sniff out plays with ease. He is a solid pass-rusher and plays against the run well. Over 53 career games, Sawyer had 67 solo tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 23 sacks, and six forced fumbles.
JACK SAWYER SCOOP-AND-SCORE đ±
Ohio State is one step closer to advancing to the national championship! pic.twitter.com/BPoV5FBRGZ
— ESPN (@espn) January 11, 2025
He has the kind of play style and mindset that would excel in Detroit. Sawyer is also a team captain, highlighting his leadership qualities. This is a name that Lions fans should get familiar with.
2. Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Going off the same point, the Lions need more juice off the EDGE across Aidan Hutchinson. Despite playing in just five games, he finished with a team-high 7.5 sacks. No other player had more than four sacks on the season. The Lions were 26th in the NFL in team sacks (37).
Smith has one year left on his deal, and the Lions need to add more players to that group. With the 28th overall pick in the first round, Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton is someone the Lions should consider.
He has an outstanding frame, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 280 pounds. Scourton has good recognition on run plays to sniff out the ball carrier and is relentless in pursuit. As a pass-rusher, he uses his quickness and long arms to consistently win with a spin move.
In 37 career games at Purdue and Texas A&M, Scourton secured 109 total tackles, 31 TFLs, 17 sacks, and five pass deflections.
He has all the tools Detroit looks for in a player and Scourton would be an interesting selection for the Lions in the first round. The Texas native would provide them with a defender who could grow with Hutchinson long-term and also find a role as a rookie.
3. Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
The Lions’ offense is already loaded, that’s why they should be focused more on the defensive end with their first-round pick.
Going into the offseason, the secondary is an area to watch for the Lions. Amik Robertson, Terrion Arnold, and Ennis Rakestraw are the only three cornerbacks on the books for next season. Robertson broke his arm in the loss to the Commanders and underwent surgery.
Rakestraw also spent time on IR due to a hamstring injury. Prior to the start of the season, Detroit traded for Carlton Davis III but he also was out for the season with a fractured jaw. Now he’s slated to hit free agency. The Lions need to add more defenders to the cornerback room, and Texas CB Jahdae Barron could be an interesting choice.
Barron is a versatile defender who will line up inside and outside. He isn’t afraid to come up and make a tackle. He plays with a high motor and has great eyes in coverage. The Texas native has terrific ball skills and consistently puts himself in a good position to attack the football.
You can quickly tell when a player has the "it" factor, and that's the vibe I get w/Texas DB Jahdae Barron
Physical, instinctual, and strong against the run. Versatile enough to play outside, nickel, or safety
He'd be a great addition for the Vikings
— Matt Anderson (@MattAnderson_8) January 18, 2025
In 57 games at Texas, he racked up 226 total tackles, 21 TFLs, and eight interceptions. He was the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner, which acknowledges the top defensive back in the country. This past season, he posted 46 solo tackles, 11 pass breakups, and five interceptions.
Adding Barron would immediately improve the Lions secondary and they will need it in 2025.
