BREAKING NEWS: It makes sense to select a young player in the 2024. Lions are bringing a young star player against….

Is Chris Braswell the future edge rusher for the Lions?

Could an Alabama pass rusher be added by the Lions?

The 2023 season has seen the Detroit Lions struggle to create a reliable pass rush.

Only one Lions player has amassed 30 pressures this season, and that man is second-year pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.

It makes sense to select a young player in the 2024 NFL Draft in light of this inefficiency. One of the team’s most pressing requirements going forward may be an edge rusher.

The Lions won’t need to trade up for a great player at the position because they are anticipated to make the playoffs. When April rolls around, the team would have little choice but to investigate pass rushers in the second tier.

Chris Braswell of Alabama is a player that looks like a late first-round pick with a ton of skill. Dallas Turner, a fellow edge rusher, is the cornerstone of the Crimson Tide’s defense, although Braswell has also contributed during the 2023 campaign.

Prior to this Saturday’s SEC championship game, Braswell had racked up eight sacks on the year. He also has an interception, three forced fumbles, and 10.5 tackles for loss. He’s demonstrated that he is a tremendous defensive playmaker.

Hutchinson attracts attention from several offensive linemen every time he steps onto the field, so the Lions need someone with this kind of skill to work opposite him.

Hutchinson has still be able to generate pressure, but a presence on the opposite side would force opponents to divert some of the attention. Additionally, Braswell plays a position in Alabama’s defense similar to that of Detroit’s SAM linebacker.

Partnering with Hutchinson would be mutually beneficial in this way, as opponents doubling Hutchinson would make life easier for a player like Braswell who has demonstrated consistency in getting to passers while with the Crimson Tide.

Among Braswell’s biggest strengths is his quickness. He possesses a lightning-quick first step, while being athletic enough to bend around the edge. At 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, he also has size that will translate to playing the position at the next level.

The Crimson Tide defender will have to continue to develop his pass rush repertoire, however, as he transitions to the professional ranks. Yet, his athletic traits signal the potential of a defensive coordinator being able to mold him into an elite player.