This is the second installment of a multi-part series previewing the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. The event will be broadcast over four days on the NFL Network, Thursday, March 3 through Sunday, March 6. Today, we’ll look at the edge defenders.
Lions’ pre-free agency needs
It’s difficult to imagine Trey Flowers on Detroit’s roster next season. His pending cap figure is wildly out of proportion with his production the past two seasons, which has stemmed from troubling durability issues. And while the Lions would still have a young, pass-rushing nucleus built around Romeo Okwara, Julian Okwara and Austin Bryant, there remains a need for a true, top-end option.
Charles Harris was Detroit’s most productive pocket disruptor last season. The former first-round pick had a breakout season, leading the team in pressures and sacks and setting himself up for a much bigger pay day this spin through free agency.
And it’s certainly conceivable the Lions meet the asking price. That said, with the No. 2 pick in the draft and a couple of gifted edge rushers at the top of the board, the Lions need to understand they don’t have to get in a bidding war with themselves to retain Harris.
Metrics to monitor
► 3-cone, broad jump, bench press
No drill matters more to edge rushing prospects than the 3-cone shuttle, which showcases a player’s burst when changing direction. Current superstars like Von Miller, T.J. Watt and Joey Bosa all posted great times in previous years, pointing toward their future success.
The broad jump highlights lower-body explosion, which translates to the the ability to fire out of a stance at the snap, while the bench press showcases upper-body strength, which is useful when trying to determine an defender’s potential for setting an edge against the run.
Top prospects
► Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
After breaking his ankle a year earlier, Hutchinson established himself as a top-five prospect in 2021 with 62 tackles, 14 sacks and 79 quarterback pressures. Powerful and relentless, he should be able to make an instant impact as both a pass-rusher and an edge setter in the run game. One uncontrollable flaw in his profile is his length, with one former scout telling us Hutchinson’s arms measured under 33 inches as a junior.
► Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
Thibodeaux certainly looks the part at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds with long levers. Explosive and flexible, he can beat an offensive tackle by bending around the edge, but is also powerful enough to win with power. Like Hutchinson, Thibodeaux is also capable against the run, but he wasn’t as productive rushing the passer his final college season, amassing 52 total pressures.
More: For Thibodeaux, potential reunion with Lions’ Sewell a ‘chance at greatness’
► David Ojabo, Michigan
Playing opposite Hutchinson, Ojabo came out of nowhere to record 11 sacks and five forced fumbles last season. His burst off the line of scrimmage is impressive, headlining his impressive physical gifts. But with just five years of football experience, he’s going to need plenty of development to round out his skill set. In the conversation to be a top-10 pick, he might not be more than a pass-rush specialist to start his career.
More: How David Ojabo went from an ‘unknown’ to part of Wolverines’ fearsome pass-rush tandem
► Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State
Johnson didn’t do much in two seasons at Georgia before transferring to Florida State ahead of the 2021 season. There, he experienced a breakout, tallying a sack per game for the Seminoles and making him a likely first-round pick. His film suggests he doesn’t have the high-end athletic profile of Thibodeaux or Ojabo, but Johnson’s pass-rush move set is more diverse and he’s better with his hands, bolstering his production.
► Travon Walker, Georgia
At 275 pounds, Walker is an inside-outside option who can line up on the interior in passing situations and be a mismatch for an opposing guard. Capable of being an NFL-caliber run defender out the gate, he had limited pass-rush production at Georgia, registering just 34 pressures and six sacks in 15 games last season.
More: Detroit Lions 2022 scouting combine preview: Wide receivers
Sleepers to watch
► Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State
Ebiketie seamlessly made the adjustment from Temple to Penn State, continuing the linear improvements with his production. As a senior with the Nittany Lions, he set personal-bests for tackles (62), tackles for a loss (18) and sacks (9.5). He’s listed at a stout 6-foot-3, 256 pounds, with his hand usage routinely highlighted as his most advanced trait.
► Boye Mafe, Minnesota
According to The Athletic, Mafe is going to bust the charts at the combine with his explosive leaping ability and strength. That athleticism shows up on film with his impressive explosion off the line of scrimmage. Relatively inexperienced and fundamentally raw, the physical gifts are worthy of development.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers