Lions DC comments on Detroit's new group of edge rushers
· Yahoo Sports
Upgrading its group of edge rushers was a key area of emphasis for the Detroit Lions this offseason.
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In his media remarks this week to wrap the Lions' OTAs, second-year defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said adding length was one of the organization's focuses as it went about revamping its group of edge rushers.
"On the first look at it, it's like, 'Oh, it's changed over there.' In that corner, you look during individual, there's a lot of big, long, tall (players). The biggest thing that stands out to me is length. That's something that we kind of attacked, and we saw that we needed. Like always, we mentioned it and the front office did a great job trying to go out and kind of attain and attract some of the top guys per what we were looking for, and I thought they did a great job.
"It is a good mix and blend. You have some long, you have some more shorter, powerful, so to say, type players. So, the first thing I think, it's going to be a lot of competition come training camp with that unit. I mean, it's six, seven guys right now I'm looking at and they all look like they can play and have potential. It's just a matter of when the pads come on and kind of how does that look," Sheppard said.
The Lions signed DJ Wonnum and Payton Turner in free agency, Detroit drafted Derrick Moore in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft and inked Anthony Lucas as an undrafted free agent.
"We're very excited for that group. But, when it comes to the length, that's what you look for on the edges nowadays, especially what complements the werewolf that we have. What does that look like? A lot of guys want this juiced up, speedball type player, but does that truly complement what that player does well? And that's something that we had to sit back as a staff, as a front office and look at, and I think we all are on the same page as far as what we're looking for to complement that player," Sheppard said.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions DC comments on Detroit's new group of edge rushers