If you've been looking at mock drafts throughout the 2025 NFL offseason, there has been a pretty common theme for the Detroit Lions.
There are a lot of people expecting them to draft an edge right now.
That could change very soon with free agency about to begin and a surprising amount of talent available at the position right now.
Until the team actually makes a move to acquire an edge the question for their draft plans won't be if they're going to take an edge, but which one.
In a new mock draft, the Lions were projected to take a player whose draft stock has taken an unexpected hit recently.
In his latest mock draft, Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling predicted the Lions would land Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr. with the 28th pick in the NFL Draft.
Pearce has a lot of things you want to see in a prospect.
He was productive in college. He had 10 sacks in his sophomore season. Then he followed that up with 7.5 this past season. He earned All-SEC First Team honors in each of those seasons.
He also put together a strong showing at the NFL Combine. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash by an edge at this year's combine and finished seventh in the broad jump.
The fact that he declared for the draft early and won't turn 22 until the middle of his rookie season is also something that works in his favor.
The only reason there is some belief Pearce could fall this far is because of rumors that have surfaced about his character.
The Lions would have plenty of time to find out if there is any merit to the rumors before drafting Pearce.
If the Lions don't find their edge rusher in free agency, Pearce would be a pretty good option for them in the draft.
Related: Lions Predicted to Trade for $97 Million Former All-Pro to Improve Their Secondary
Related: $44.5 Million Lions Starter Makes it Clear He's Ready to Test Free Agent Market in New Post
Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published March 8, 2025 at 11:37 AM.
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