The Detroit Lions have been projected to target an All-Big Ten edge rusher in an early prediction for the 2026 NFL Draft.

With the 2025 NFL Draft now behind us, the Detroit Lions still have a clear hole on their roster.

That’s far from ideal for a team chasing a Super Bowl berth.

Pro Football Focus analysts Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman believe Detroit could fill that void next year.

In their early 2026 mock draft, they have the Lions selecting Penn State pass rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton at pick No. 27.

Dennis-Sutton was a slow starter in college but saved his best performances for when it mattered most.

He recorded seven tackles for loss in the College Football Playoff, including three against Boise State as Penn State shut down Ashton Jeanty in the Fiesta Bowl.

They need someone solid to line up opposite Aidan Hutchinson on the defensive front.

With that spot left unaddressed in the 2025 draft, Marcus Davenport is penciled in as the starter for now.

Dennis-Sutton also tallied 4.5 sacks in the Playoff, including a pair in the semifinal win over Notre Dame.

He’s expected to step up even more in 2025 now that Abdul Carter has moved on to the NFL.

Unless the Lions surprise everyone with a move, edge rusher will remain a key need entering 2026.

Any veteran help added in free agency will likely be a temporary fix.

They did take Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round, but expecting him to fill that role would be optimistic.

Fortunately, Detroit addressed other future needs in this year’s draft, freeing them to prioritize edge in 2026.

Though it’s early to lock in any prospect range, it’s clear the Lions will likely still be hunting for a pass rusher—and Dennis-Sutton could be the right fit