Our 2026 NFL Combine preview series continues, as we explore each position group ahead of the big event. In this article, we are examining the draft’s edge rushing prospects that should be on the radar of Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes.
In case you’ve missed any of this series, so far, we have already previewed:
- 7 quarterbacks
- 10 running backs
- 7 wide receivers
- 10 tight ends
- 10 offensive tackles
- 10 interior offensive linemen
- 8 interior defensive linemen
Note: Edge rushing prospects are up first in on-field drills and will take the field on Thursday, February 26.
Team need
Aidan Hutchinson has evolved into a perennial defensive player of the year candidate, but the Lions have had a revolving door opposite him as the team has elected for quantity over quality. Last season, the Lions hoped Marcus Davenport could return to form, but injuries once again ruined his season. With Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike also landing on injured reserve, the Lions elected to deploy Al-Quadin Muhammad in a pass-rushing role (where he thrived), and a trio of Tyler Lacy, Alim McNeill, and Pat O’Connor in their Big End/4i role.
The Lions experiment with Davenport appears to have run its course, Muhammad is a 31-year-old free agent, and while Paschal and Onwuzurike will return in 2026, questions surrounding their health remain. Lacy is still under contract, as is Ahmed Hassanein and his upside, but the Lions will likely enter this draft looking for ready-to-contribute edge rushers, and potentially a starter.
What skills to watch for during on-field drills
While the Lions could be looking for different types of edge rushers in this draft cycle, the traits you want to keep an eye on during on-field drills remain the same:
- Ability to bend; ideally, a 45-degree angle when turning a corner
- Balance through their rushing attack
- Ability to maintain speed while executing pass-rushing moves
- Hand quickness and placement are paramount
- Eye/head location should be keying on their target
- Ability to convert speed to power is vital in the Lions’ scheme
- Force generated when they make an impact with the blocking bags
Setting the table
While it’s possible the Lions elect to trade up to secure one of the elite blue-chip rushers in this class, we’re not expecting that to happen. Therefore, Arvel Reese (Ohio State), Rueben Bain (Miami), and David Bailey (Texas Tech), who are all expected to go in the top 10, were not included in this watchlist. Instead, we selected and grouped the players likely to carry a grade close to the Lions’ current selection, though some may also require some trade movement to maximize value.
In the hunt at No. 17
Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (6-foot-6, 275)
Faulk has an ideal NFL frame and possesses the height, weight, and length features the Lions prefer opposite Hutchinson. He’s one of the youngest players in the draft (won’t turn 21 until the regular season), and has incredibly high character; he’s often labeled as a “culture setter.”
In 2023-24, Faulk aligned all over Auburn’s front, from stand-up pass rusher down to the 3-technique, demonstrating the ability to work in both 1- and 2-gapping schemes. However, a 2025 switch to D.J. Durkin’s 3-3-5 sadled Faulk at the 5T and zapped his production. A move to a scheme like the Lions would allow Faulk to expand his impact.
An impressive athlete overall, Faulk brings a speed-to-power attack, while leaning on his balance and understanding of how to leverage offensive linemen with length. He’s a fluid mover with power in his push, but also has finesse pass-rushing moves in his arsenal. He only has average burst off the line and lacks explosive traits, but he’s a hard worker who doesn’t quit on plays and uses his large tacking radius to make impact plays. He can be more aggressive early in reps and can get too high at times, but more often than not, he settles and sets a firm edge.
Overall, Faulk is a high-floor, high-ceiling player whose game is similar to that of Carlos Dunlap.
Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (6-foot-3, 273)
While Faulk is one of the youngest in the class, Mesidor is one of the oldest, as he will turn 25 in April. However, his six seasons in college football have afforded him an out-of-the-box ready skill set that is perfect for a contender like the Lions. While Mesidor has flashed potential for a few seasons, Hall-of-Famer Jason Taylor (position coach) unlocked his potential this past season, and the results were impressive.
Mesidor displays natural explosive upfield quickness, a relentless motor, and a power-based attack that stiffles an opponent’s rushing attacks. While he’ll get knocked for his age, his experience shows up when exploring his technique and skill set. He deploys tremendous instincts, aggressive hands with elite timing, and strings together a deep bag of pass-rushing moves that go unmatched in this class. His ability to marry his hands and feet, combined with a deceivingly effective bend, and the intelligence to customize his attack against specific offensive linemen, will keep him on the field in every situation. He sets a firm edge, wipes out tight end blocking attempts, and overwhelms guards when pushing inside.
Overall, Mesidor’s age likely won’t bother the Lions, who are looking for a ready-to-play edge. And after scheming to defend Vikings’ Jonathan Greenard twice a season, they understand the value and effectiveness of a player with Mesidor’s skill set.
T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson (6-foot-4, 263)
Parker entered the season near the top of most analysts’ edge rusher rankings, but like most Clemson defensive linemen, the disaster that was 2025 has necessitated some image rehabilitation. Working in Parker’s favor is that his 2024 tape was highly impressive—11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles—and his performance at the Senior Bowl has reminded evaluators of his potential.
Parker’s power shows up all over his game. Several of his pass rush moves lean on his strength, and he uses power to set a firm edge; it’s arguably the best in this draft class. With his hand usage, he can stack-and-shed to stay clean, disrupt linemen from their path, and drive offensive linemen back into the quarterback. He has a lethal speed-to-power long arm, but needs to have better counter/secondary moves when that doesn’t work. While he has the quickness to take advantage of guards when pushing inside and the awareness to track players out of the backfield, he lacks the long speed to chase down ball carriers.
Overall, NFL teams will want to know whether Parker’s ceiling is closer to 2024 or whether 2025 better reflects how he will perform at the next level.
R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma (6-foot-2, 250)
Thomas seems to be flying under the radar a bit right now, likely due to his frame, and most analysts have pegged him as a top of Round 2 prospect. While he certainly doesn’t match the body type of a player the Lions would look for on the edge, once you flip on the game film, it won’t take long for analysts to see why the Lions might consider him in Round 1.
A never-quit, explosive, gritty athlete with the speed and overall instincts and skill set to terrify offensive linemen. His ability to bend the edge, get upfield in a hurry, and deploy a wide variety of pass rush moves, which translates to him being a consistent playmaker. He deploys speed-to-power effectively, will surprise linemen with underrated strength that translates into leverage, and presents a difficult target for linemen to key in on; even double teams often miss the mark. His lack of length can show up in run defense, and he needs to be better with his positioning to set a firmer edge, but he is very apt at shedding blocks and has a ton of pursuit range. He has experience dropping into coverage, but he’s best attacking rather than waiting.
While many will want to peg Thomas as a pass-rushing linebacker, I believe he’s more likely to have a Uchenna Nwosu or Nik Bonitto-like role in the NFL due to his well-rounded skill set.
Available at No. 50?
Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois (6-foot-3, 260)
One of my favorite potential Day 2 targets for the Lions, Jacas has a lot of the skills Detroit was hoping to find in Marcus Davenport. Jacas is a well-built power-based defensive end who has the athleticism to rush from the dirt or stand up on the edge. His wrestling background shows up in his violent hands, accurately striking opponents while attacking, countering, or getting off blocks. While his overall strength, anchor, and instincts all contribute to his succes defendeing the run. He would benefit from a bit more creativity, and he only has average explosiveness, but he’s an all-around good athlete for the position. His high character and leadership (team captain) will further separate him from other edge rushers with similar grades.
Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri (6-foot-5, 262)
Young is another power-based edge rusher who utilizes his long frame and core strength to his advantage, especially in defending the run. Young leans on his aggressive hands to set an edge and shed blocks, but he’s more of a methodical pass rusher than an explosive edge bender. He brings a ton of energy to the field and has a passionate demeanor, but he’s lacking down-to-down instincts and is limited once he loses his angles on the ball carrier. He will need to explain two arrests to teams; the first stemming from a brawl in the Michigan tunnel when he was at Michigan State, resulting in a misdemeanor aggravated assault plea deal, and a recent DWI arrest just over a month ago.
Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan (6-foot-3 1/2, 254)
With NFL size and length, Moore can play with his hand in the dirt or as a stand-up edge rusher. He’s explosive at the snaps, with good speed-to-power, utilizing strong hand strikes to set up his preferred bull rush. He’s not necessarily a playmaker off the edge, but he’s smart, knows what he does well, and is a very reliable tackler who sets a firm edge, with positioning and leverage. The basic run support elements are in his DNA, but he’s shown lapses in effort in defending the run at times, which can lead to holes in his production.
Dani Dennis-Sutton, Base DE, Penn State (6-foot-5 1/2, 268)
I’m not entirely sold on Dennis-Sutton being a top-50 pick, but I don’t think he’ll make it out of Day 2. There’s a foundation to build on here, and a strong athletic showing at the Combine will do wonders for his stock. Entering the big event, Dennis-Suttion looks like a base end in the Lions scheme, meaning he’ll likely need a complementary pass rusher to rotate the edge with him. That being said, there is a nice balance to his overall game. He flashes quickness at the snap, has active hands with some power behind his strikes, and an overall aggressive mentality, but he can be predictable at times and will need to show more consistency to have a larger impact.
Specialists
Jaishawn, Barham, SAM/Pass Rusher, Michigan (6-foot-3, 241)
This draft class has some interesting SAM/Pass rushers worth considering— like Keyron Crawford (Auburn) and Romello Height (Texas Tech)— but Barham’s makes our watchlist because of his off-ball skills and the likelihood he’s available outside the top 50 picks.
Barham started the season at Michigan as an off-ball linebacker, but coaches noted that when they brought him closer to the line of scrimmage (or blitzed him), he became more impactful, and eventually shifted him into a full-time edge role. His athleticism and explosiveness off the snap immediately showed up in this new role, as he consistently defeated blocking schemes with his motor and effort. He’s still very raw for the role, and lacks several full-time edge rusher traits—like edge setting and elements of contain—but he’s shown that he has the ability to learn quickly and the natural talent to be a playmaker.
Nadame Tucker, Pass Rusher, Western Michigan (6-foot-2, 246)
After three seasons at Houston, Tucker played in 13 games, registering 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and no sacks. In 2025, he transferred to Western Michigan, and in 13 games, he exploded for 55 tackles, 14.5 sacks, and 21 tackles for loss. His 93.3 PFF pass rush grade was second-highest in this class (behind only David Bailey), and his pass rush win rate against “true pass sets” was 40.8%, the highest in the class. At WMU, Tucker latched on to defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary (who has since been hired by Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh to be LA’s defensive coordinator), to expand his game and learn an NFL skill set.
As expected, Tucker looks like a pass-rush-only specialist at this stage of his development, but he has exceptional quickness at the snap and terrific pursuit speed. He can convert speed-to-power, is bendy around the edge, marries his hands and feet, and has demonstrated plus instincts. He’ll need more reps and coaching at an NFL level, but the raw talent is there for him to have draft-and-develop value.