Detroit Lions: 5 Targets in 2020 NFL Draft to put them on the right track

(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Detroit Lions, 2020 NFL Draft (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Detroit Lions, 2020 NFL Draft (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. Terrell Lewis, Edge, Alabama

Last season the Lions weren’t getting after anyone off the edge. Trey Flowers was brought in from New England but wasn’t able to dominate the way they’d hoped. Former fourth-round pick Da’Shawn Hand still hasn’t put together a positive season and may benefit from moving inside; he started just 10 games in two seasons.

Terrell Lewis is a Senior Bowl standout as Patricia and staff coached against the former Alabama defensive end. Lewis has some concerns with injuries over the past few seasons. However, he offers a skill-set worthy of a starting edge rusher.

The best trait he brings is his length and powerful hands at the line of scrimmage. The 6-5, 262-pound edge rusher does a great job when converting speed to power. t Tere’s a decent pop that allows him to crash the pocket. He does a great job keeping himself clean and controlling his blocker while playing the run.

Lewis is also a great athlete, which he showed that at the Senior Bowl in his movement skills and his explosive 37-inch vertical at the NFL Combine. Thanks to his first step and dangerous spin move in his repertoire, Lewis could bring the Lions immediate returns on investment. Early on, Lewis can come in as a rotational player with double-digit sack potential.

Patricia can see use Lewis with his hand down or in space. It’ll take a leap of faith to draft Lewis; the payoff could be big time. Other options are Curtis Weaver, Zack Baun and Josh Uche, players that bring similar versatility off the edge.