2021 NFL Draft: 3 fits for Jaylen Twyman after opting out

Detroit Lions

Damon Harrison is gone, replaced by Danny Shelton coming off a three-sack season in New England. A’Shawn Robinson is strictly a run stopper, with just five sacks over four years and starts 2020 on IR. Da’Shawn Hand had a promising 2018 rookie season, but was injured most of last year.

Overall the interior of the Lions defensive front isn’t awful, but it’s far from head coach Matt Patricia’s ideal lineup. The projected starters are all skilled run stoppers but lack the pressure creating abilities to aid in Tre Flowers and the Okwara brothers’ efforts off the edge. The fluid nature of Patricia’s scheme would lend well to a talent like Twyman, allowing him to focus on honing in on the quarterback and grow as a gap filler over time.

Over the course of the 2020 season, barring any breakouts or unforeseen signings, the Lions cannot possibly expect to exceed the sack totals from a year ago, which was a mere 28, tied for second worse in the league.

When the draft does roll around next April, Patricia and company would be wise to keep an eye on Twyman early in the second round if he’s still available. If Harrison and Mike Daniels are any indications, building this front through free agency hasn’t worked.