After a few years of success and stability, things have taken a different turn recently. The tough home playoff loss to Washington set a rough tone for the offseason, and losing both Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson soon after made things worse.

The idea of a “Super Bowl window” can be misleading—title contention in the NFL is more of a fleeting moment than an open window—but it’s hard not to wonder if the Lions missed their shot. With Glenn gone and nearly half of last year’s defensive starters needing replacement, the focus is now on what Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell do with their first pick in next month’s draft.

Mel Kiper isn’t big on suspense, which probably makes sense for someone in the business of draft predictions. Thankfully, his latest mock draft dropped Tuesday, offering a rare bright spot in an otherwise rough offseason. He projects an edge rusher for Detroit in the first round, and the timing couldn’t be better. Aidan Hutchinson is probably sharing the news with the side-eye emoji right now.

“Pearce could be the solution opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Outside of staying healthy, Detroit’s biggest question last season was their second edge rusher. They acquired Za’Darius Smith midway through the year, and he chipped in four sacks over eight games. But to clear their playoff hurdle, they need a more consistent pass-rushing presence. Pearce only had 7.5 sacks in 2024, but his 19% pressure rate ranked second in the FBS. His mix of strength and quickness keeps tackles off balance.”

 I’m all for improving the pass rush, especially after last season tested Detroit’s depth with injuries. If the Eagles’ Super Bowl win showed anything, it’s that the best way to slow down the Chiefs is by getting pressure without blitzing. So, loading up on pass rushers seems like a smart move. Step 1: bolster the edge rush. Step 2: draft the best players available. Step 3: hope they don’t have to face the Commanders again.