As the Detroit Lions pick up the pieces of what was a failed 2024 campaign, they will now turn their attention to the offseason, where they have some positions to shore up.

One of those positions is edge rusher, where the team needs more depth and a long-term solution to go opposite Aidan Hutchinson. For 2025, Za’Darius Smith will likely be that guy, but he’s 32 years old and will be a free agent in 2026.

The Lions can try to check those boxes in the 2025 NFL Draft, where Newsweek’s Gavino Borquez predicts they will draft Texas A&M edge rusher, Nic Scourton. Here’s what Borquez said about the pick.

“The Lions must find an edge rusher to go opposite of star Aidan Hutchinson,” he explained. “Scourton possesses a rare combination of size, length and strength and power to make an impact at rushing the passer and defending the run.”

The 6-foot-4, 280-pound edge rusher tallied 17 sacks over his collegiate career, including a career-high 10 in 2023. He saw a dip in production in 2024, though, finishing with five sacks.

On top of his ability to get after the quarterback, Scourton is a strong run defender who can set the edge. The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez also believes Scourton offers versatility as an interior defender.

“Overall, Scourton has a unique blend of size, athleticism, and strength for an edge rusher,” he wrote. “On the next level, he should be a versatile front-seven defender who can play EDGE but also reduce inside to an athletic hand-in-the-ground IDL.”

With the Lions, Scourton can provide depth at multiple spots in his first year while he develops, and when Smith likely moves on in 2026, he can slide into a starting role opposite Hutchinson, assuming he pans out.

Even if the Lions draft Scourton, we’d still like to see them add a veteran depth option because, as we saw in 2024, you can never have enough.