After a successful 2023 regular season and potential postseason achievements, the Detroit Lions are poised to draft towards the end of the first round in the upcoming NFL Draft. With defensive needs in mind, particularly at cornerback and the interior of the defensive line, the team is also seeking another pass rusher to complement Aidan Hutchinson. The absence of James Houston opposite Hutchinson affected the defense’s pass rush consistency during the season. In the latest ESPN mock draft by Jordan Reid, the Lions are projected to select Bralen Trice, an edge rusher from the Washington Huskies, with the 28th overall pick.
Reid notes that Trice embodies the Lions’ culture of toughness, physicality, and relentlessness. Trice’s powerful playing style, evident in creating first pressure on an FBS-high 71 plays in the season, aligns with the team’s values. Additionally, Trice’s remarkable effort, never leaving the field, is expected to catch the attention of GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell. With seven sacks in the 2023 season, Trice could serve as a complementary pass rusher to Aidan Hutchinson, allowing …to stay fresh in a designated pass-rushing role upon recovery. In 2023, Trice recorded 78 pressures and achieved an 86.1 Pro Football Focus defensive grade.
Trice was honored as the Defensive Most Valuable Player at the team’s postseason awards banquet for the second consecutive season. Despite a deep run in the College Football Playoffs, the Huskies ultimately fell to the Michigan Wolverines, 34-13, at NRG Stadium in the postseason.
