Don’t look now but we are less than one month away from the start of Detroit Lions training camp and it is going to be extremely interesting to see how a few position battles play out.
Each and every year there are always a few position battles that have to be settled before training camp ends and that will be no different for the Lions when players report for camp at the end of July.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Detroit Lions’ biggest training camp battle actually comes at a position that could end up being a strength in 2022.
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Detroit Lions’ biggest training camp battle may come at position of strength
During the 2021 season, the Lions really struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks but that could change in 2022 as the Lions made it a priority to improve their pass rush.
Specifically, the Lions selected Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal in the 2022 NFL Draft.
As we know, Hutchinson has the ability to wreak havoc in the backfield and though Paschal is more of a “run-stopper”, he is also expected to be in the Lions rotation, along with Charles Harris, and Romeo Okwara.
Here is what PFF has to say about the Detroit Lions’ biggest training camp battle being at the EDGE position.
From Pro Football Focus:
Edge rusher has become another position where depth and rotation is important, so the actual pecking order for a group that may all get significant playing time can be a pointless exercise, but the Lions have a very interesting group in the midst of their rebuilding project on defense. Their top pick, Hutchinson, will have the inside track to a starting role, but Harris was brought back in the offseason after a breakout 2021 campaign. A former first-round pick in his own right (albeit 22nd overall, not second overall), Harris recorded 52 pressures for Detroit last season — 18 more than his previous career high. His 78.7 PFF pass-rushing grade was a career-best by more than 10 grading points. Harris will be firmly in the mix for a lot of snaps to see if he can back that performance up.
Before Harris and Hutchinson, Okwara had been the biggest hope for pressure, as he posted 66 pressures in 2020 before playing just four games last year.
Hutchinson isn’t the only rookie looking to make an impact, as Paschal also brings plenty of college production to the table. Paschal posted a 90.2 overall PFF grade this past season, and he was particularly effective against the run, giving him an avenue to playing time even if he isn’t the best pass-rusher of the group. Romeo’s brother, Julian Okwara, is also in the mix.
This is a talented group of rushers and if things improve elsewhere on the defense, they could platoon to be a formidable unit.
Nation, what do you think will be the Detroit Lions’ biggest training camp battle?
