After the first couple weeks of free agency, it seems like there would be a lot of people surprised if the Detroit Lions did anything other than select an edge rusher in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
That has been the expected focus for the team throughout the offseason.
It's easy to see why when they don't really have a dependable option to start in their second edge spot.
The only question has really been which edge they would actually select.
There are plenty of prospects who have been mentioned as potential options to be the player the Lions select.
Now we know which of those options is the most popular in Pro Football Focus' simulated mock drafts.
Pro Football Focus has revealed which players are predicted to be selected in the first round most frequently for each NFL team in their simulated mock drafts.
The most popular pick for the Lions was Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr.
Pearce is one of the most proven edge prospects in this year's draft class.
In his second season at Tennessee he racked up 13 sacks on his way to earning First Team All-SEC honors for the first time.
He saw a bit of a drop off in sacks in his third season, only tallying eight. However, he still had an impressive 43 hurries according to PFF.
For a Lions team that is looking to make a Super Bowl run in 2025, there aren't many better options at edge in the draft than Pearce.
His history of production should make him more likely to contribute early than the many edge prospects whose upside is carrying their draft stock.
The Lions would just have to hope that Pearce actually makes it to them at pick 28.
Related: Lions Should Sign a 'Bridge' Edge Rusher Before the NFL Draft
Related: ESPN Mock Draft Predicts Lions Will Select Two-Time All-American at Position Where They Already Have Multiple Stars
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This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 4:37 PM.