Lions Leaning Towards Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux If They Land Top Pick

With no clear cut No. 1 quarterback in this year’s NFL draft class, the Lions are leaning towards drafting an edge rusher if they land the first overall pick.

CBSSports’ Josina Anderson reports that the Lions are focusing on Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Lions (1-11-1) rank No. 31 in the NFL in sacks with 20.0, with no alpha dog on their No. 28 ranked defense.

Thibodeaux, 6-foot-5, 258 pounds, was the No. 2 overall player in the 2019 recruiting class. He's certainly lived up to the hype in Eugene, selected as an unanimous First-Team All-American this season. Thibodeaux led the Ducks with 7.0 sacks and 12.0 tackles for loss.

While Thibodeaux would be a slam dunk pick for Detroit, it's hard to ignore Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. A senior season that saw him record 14.0 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss put Hutchinson in consideration for the No. 1 overall pick.

Playing just down the road in Ann Arbor, Hutchinson is likely the fan favorite. He might just be the best overall player in college football. The Heisman voters might've gone with Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, but the argument can be made that nobody was more important to their team than Hutchinson.

Meanwhile, Lions quarterback Jared Goff has just one career win without Sean McVay. Even with a weaker quarterback class coming out, it wouldn't surprise anybody if head coach Dan Campbell reached and selected Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett or Ole Miss' Matt Corral.

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