10 Defensive Linemen for Lions to Watch at 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

The Detroit Lions have the makings of an excellent defensive line.

Detroit general manager Brad Holmes has invested several of his draft picks in the position group over the last two seasons, including 2022 No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson. He and fellow rookie James Houston combined for 17.5 sacks in their first seasons.

Alim McNeill, a third-rounder in 2021, continued to show promise at the nose tackle position. Many project Holmes to continue to add talent to the group in the 2023 NFL Draft.

This year’s Scouting Combine will offer Holmes and company a chance to evaluate the best of the best. There’s plenty of talent to choose from within this group, including several of the draft’s best prospects.

Here are 10 defensive line prospects the Lions should watch at the 2023 Scouting Combine, which begins Tuesday.

Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

Considered by some to be the best prospect in the class regardless of position, Carter is a spectacular athlete who can take over a game from the interior. For long stretches at Georgia, he was simply unblockable.

Last year, his teammate Jordan Davis wowed with a 4.78 40-yard dash. While Carter may not repeat that feat, he’s sure to put on a show in the workouts.

Carter is set to be a difference-maker on whatever team chooses to draft him. It’s unlikely he falls to Detroit at No. 6 overall, but an early run on quarterbacks could make the possibility of drafting him more realistic.

Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama

Like Carter, Anderson is one of the top prospects in this draft. He burst on to the scene in 2021 with a superb campaign, and followed that up with a solid showing in 2022.

Anderson is a versatile athlete who brings heat off the edge. He finished his Alabama career with an eye-popping 34.5 sacks in three years, which is even more impressive when you consider that he played a much smaller role in his freshman season.

He’ll be highly coveted, and may not make it to No. 6 overall. In the same vein as Carter, though, a run on quarterbacks could lead Holmes to sprint to the phone, if Anderson's still on the board when the Lions are on the clock.

Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

Injuries have hampered Bresee’s stock as of late. He’s plummeted from a sure-fire top-10 pick to being widely considered a mid-to-late first-rounder, due to his injury history.

When healthy, he was a difference-maker at Clemson. Still, teams will have questions about his medicals, and the combine will give him an opportunity to answer them. He has the chance to prove himself with a good performance.

Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

Bresee’s teammate, Murphy is another of the draft’s top prospects. He was steady during his college tenure, notching six-and-a-half sacks and 11 tackles for loss during his last season with the Tigers.

Murphy has been among the most popular players mocked to the Lions by draft analysts, and most recently by the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah. Expect the Lions to do their due diligence with the talented rusher.

Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan

Smith became a dominant run-stopper at Michigan, but lacked the pass-rush versatility that sets players like Carter apart. He had just six tackles for loss, plus just a half-sack in his career with the Wolverines.

Still, there’s plenty to like about Smith’s ability to dominate his gaps in the run game. Though he didn’t get to the quarterback as often, he was able to collapse pockets from the nose tackle position to help his teammates.

Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

While players like Carter and Anderson have stood the test of time as projected top picks, Wilson has risen as fast as anybody, thanks to an excellent season at Texas Tech and his overall athleticism.

Like Murphy, Wilson is a popular player being mocked to the Lions. In a recent conference call, Jeremiah said Wilson is close to contending for the top ranking at the EDGE position with Anderson. If Wilson wows at the combine, that gap might close even more.

Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

Kancey has an uncanny ability to get after the passer, with seven-and-a-half sacks last season at Pittsburgh and 16 total in his three-year career. In totality, he notched 34.5 tackles for loss during that same span.

He’s another quick riser. Kancey’s skill at getting after the passer, despite being lined up on the interior, is very appealing. And, he appears to have the necessary athleticism to make a difference early in his career.

If Kancey falls to the second day of the draft, the Lions may be inclined to secure him to pair with McNeill, a more traditional nose tackle.

Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

Despite not being a starter on Iowa’s defense, Van Ness is widely believed to be a first-round pick in April. He’s a powerful rusher with good skill.

While Murphy and Wilson may be more viable picks at No. 6, Van Ness could be a logical selection for the Lions at No. 18 overall. Though he’s received significant attention, he’s still flying somewhat under the radar due to his limited role at Iowa.

Still, he managed 13 sacks in two seasons. He can play either inside or out, which will make him an asset in schemes like Detroit’s.

Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin

One of the top performers at the Senior Bowl, Benton was a force in one-on-one drills in Mobile. He’s got a unique blend of size and speed, using his hands to create the necessary separation from opposing linemen.

Benton is another Day 2 possibility who has high upside. He notched 10 tackles for loss with four-and-a-half sacks in 2022, evidence of his ability to get after passers. The Wisconsin product could bring plenty of value as a second-or-third-rounder, if Detroit misses on the top-flight talent.

Caleb Murphy, EDGE, Ferris State

One of the more interesting prospects at this position comes from Ferris State, a Division II powerhouse in Big Rapids, Mich., that has won the last two national championships. Murphy was a driving force in that effort, collecting an NCAA-record 25.5 sacks in 2022.

Statistically, he was the best pass rusher at any level. He has a huge opportunity at the combine to stake his claim, as he hasn't garnered much exposure playing at the D-II level compared to his peers.

The numbers are intriguing, and he has the necessary frame at 6-foot-4. He’s worth a watch in Indianapolis.

Detroit struck gold with Houston, an FCS product from Jackson State, in the sixth round last season. Murphy could offer similar value, if brought into the right situation.