The Detroit Lions came into the 2023 offseason with a few different needs. Virtually all of their biggest ones were on the defensive side of the ball, where they were picked apart with regularity during the 2022 season. Detroit was 28th in points allowed and 32nd in yardage given up, which set them back early in the season.
In six of the Lions’ eight losses last season, the team scored at least 23 points. It certainly wasn’t on the offense as to why they fell just short of the postseason as Detroit failed to slow anyone down. When they started turning things around on defense is when the wins started piling up.
Looking to ensure they don’t have another slow start, the Lions were aggressively addressing their defense in free agency. With needs in the secondary, they signed cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley along with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
With those three in the fold, the Lions’ plans for the 2023 NFL Draft have likely been adjusted as well. In the early going of Mock Draft season, cornerbacks were a popular pick for the Lions at No. 6. With those additions, it is no longer a pressing need.
Instead, Detroit could opt to address their concerns in the front seven along the defensive line. Finding a long-term bookend for Aidan Hutchinson would be ideal. If that player offers the pass-rushing ability to help him and James Houston, even better.
In a recent mock done by Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports, that is exactly what the Lions do. But, the pick will surprise some people. At No. 6, Wilson has Iowa defensive end Lukas Van Ness coming off the board.
Van Ness fills a need at the defensive end, where Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris are entering their final seasons. The former Hawkeye would give the Lions another foundational piece to build their defense around, possessing some real pass-rushing chops.
The biggest knock against Van Ness right now is his lack of experience. He didn’t start a single game at Iowa, instead being used as a major part of the rotation. While he could use a little more size to kick inside at the next level, possessing that kind of versatility will only help him in the NFL.
With Okwara and Harris in the fold for at least 2023, Van Ness can start in a rotation and see his role grow once he is fully acclimated. If all goes well, the Lions will have a three-headed monster with Hutchinson, Houston and Van Ness rushing the pass for years to come.
