7 Lions Defensive Players to Watch at OTAs
After highlighting the offensive players to closely watch during the Detroit Lions' organized team activities, it's now time to turn our attention to the defensive side of the ball.
Let's take a look at the seven Lions defensive players that fans and pundits alike should keep a close eye on during OTAs.
EDGE James Houston
Houston, a sixth-round pick of the Lions in 2022, didn't even log a snap until Detroit's Thanksgiving contest with the Buffalo Bills (Week 12) a season ago. But, once he did, he made an instant impact.
He notched two sacks in the Lions' annual Thanksgiving game, en route to recording at least one sack in each of his first four games as a pro. In total, the Jackson State product produced eight sacks in seven games during his rookie campaign.
Houston completely flew under the radar a season ago, as a late-season addition to the active roster. Headed into his second campaign as a pro, he won't have that same luxury. He'll face a great deal of pressure to replicate his success from 2022.
Subsequently, all eyes will be on the EDGE defender throughout OTAs and the rest of the offseason to see if he showcases the same knack for getting after the passer.
EDGE Aidan Hutchinson
The Michigan product was a standout performer during his rookie campaign. He finished with 9.5 sacks, 15 total QB hits, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries during the 2022 season.
Now, will he be able to take the next step and become a double-digit sack producer in his second year as a pro? If he does, it'd certainly help the Lions take the next step as a franchise, too.
During OTAs, it'll be interesting to see how Hutchinson and Houston, after their impressive first years as pros, play off one another. Additionally, I'll be closely watching whether Hutchinson continues to emerge as a leader, both on and off the field. I'm of the mindset that he will during the upcoming season.
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson
© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
EDGE Josh Paschal
Paschal, the Lions' second-round pick in 2022, needs to showcase the ability to stay healthy and be much more consistently productive during his second year as a pro. And, with that said, it'd be nice to see the Kentucky product get a lot of reps during organized team activities.
Now, he did notch two sacks in 2022. But, as noted above, fellow EDGEs Hutchinson and Houston easily surpassed him in terms of productivity. To me, it's why 2023 will be a huge prove-it year for Paschal.
DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Perhaps the biggest offseason acquisition made on the defensive side of the ball was signing Gardner-Johnson.
The ex-Eagles defensive back is coming off a career campaign, in which he amassed a career-best 67 total tackles and six interceptions.
He's a versatile defensive back that can line up both at cornerback and safety. So, it'll be interesting to see where Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn deploys him throughout OTAs and training camp.
CB Cam Sutton
Much like Gardner-Johnson, a fellow free-agent acquisition, Sutton is coming off a career-best season. He produced 15 passes defensed and three interceptions in 16 games in his final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Detroit fans are clamoring for that kind of production out of Sutton, who is expected to be a nice veteran presence in the team's defensive backfield.
Throughout OTAs, I'll be closely examining how Sutton meshes with the Lions' younger cornerbacks, like Jerry Jacobs and Will Harris. I'm expecting the former Steelers defensive back to be a solid mentor to those aforementioned individuals and the rest of the more inexperienced players in Detroit's secondary.
DT Brodric Martin
The big question with Martin will be: Can he be a Day 1 contributor along the interior of the Lions' defensive line?
After trading up to select him in the third round of this past April's draft, I'm expecting Detroit to give him every opportunity to prove that he can play right away.
With that said, Martin, a Western Kentucky product, should receive an ample amount of snaps during OTAs. And from the Lions' perspective, they'll be hoping that he showcases signs of being able to clog up running lanes, just as he did from the nose tackle position with the Hilltoppers.
LB Alex Anzalone
Anzalone returns as the elder statesman of Detroit's linebacking corps, after inking a contract extension with the organization over the offseason.
Along with manning the middle linebacker spot, he'll now be expected to get 2023 first-rounder Jack Campbell ready for his first NFL season. It'll be intriguing to watch how the two work with one another during OTAs and the rest of the team's offseason practices (i.e. during training camp).
I'm sure Anzalone, a defensive captain with the Lions the last two seasons, will embrace the role and aid the rookie linebacker in preparing for the upcoming season.
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