If you pay attention, you can hear it in Detroit. Days before the draft, that low humming worry is creeping across the Motor City. It had nothing to do with the Lions’ loss. On the contrary, it’s because they are quite close to filling up a hole in their roster. Too close to real contention. Too close to that Super Bowl window, Dan Campbell kicked open with his size-14 boots. And now? The front office is tiptoeing on the very edge of sabotaging it. Literally. The edge.

Because the Lions have one obvious ‘you better fix this or else’ issue going into this draft. As they no longer have Za’Darius Smith. The veteran pass-rusher who held things down while Aidan Hutchinson nursed a broken leg is gone. And there doesn’t appear to be a substitute. Smith wasn’t a permanent solution. He was a necessary one, though. Nine sacks, instant production, playoff-ready intensity—he gave Aaron Glenn’s defense some teeth. Letting him walk made fiscal sense. Not replacing him doesn’t.

With the Detroit Lions just days away from making their first selection, a report from Woodward Sports Network has poured gasoline on the speculation fire: “What would be your reaction to Lions going offensive lineman at pick #28? From what I’m hearing… I think Brad Holmes is going IOL in the NFL draft…” Yep, interior offensive line. Not an edge or a pass-rusher. Not a guy who could line up opposite Aidan Hutchinson and keep opposing quarterbacks from breathing easily. But a guard. But wait, there’s more.

Look, it’s not like this came out of nowhere. Terry Foster sounded the alarm first: “Everybody in Detroit wants the Lions to go edge rusher in the first round. I don’t think Brad Holmes is picking the edge rusher in the first round. Not gonna happen. When you read between the lines… he’s going best player available.” Sean Baligian doubled down: “I think it’ll be interior offensive line. I really do. I’ve said it for a few weeks.”

Here we are, then. The Lions have allegedly dabbled in every possible direction with the No. 28 choice and a fantastic chance to revamp the pass rush. Interior O-line? Perhaps. The best player available? Sure. But if they don’t walk out of Round 1 or 2 with a legitimate edge threat, it’s not just confusing—it’s catastrophic. Now that the smoke has grown into a full-fledged plume, it’s time to pose the awkward question: Was bypassing EDGE early a brilliant ploy or a slow-motion attack on Detroit’s own defence?

No Za’Darius Smith, no first-round EDGE—just a ticking clock in Detroit

Last season, Za’Darius Smith was all the Lions needed him to be, but he hasn’t returned yet. Smith filled in when Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken leg, performed well, and recorded nine sacks, his highest total since 2022. But he’s still unsigned. And according to GM Brad Holmes, the contract was too rich for their blood.

Yes, that makes sense if you have a plan. But what are we doing here if the strategy is to ‘not re-sign Za’Darius Smith and not draft his replacement early’? In terms of sacks last season, the Lions ranked 23rd in the NFL. They led the league in hurries. Translation? They’re getting pressure, but no one’s finishing the job. You want to win shootouts in January? Better make sure you can actually get the other guy on the ground.

This year’s EDGE class is loaded — maybe the deepest it’s been in a decade. According to Dane Brugler’s ‘The Beast’ draft guide, 19 edge rushers hold at least a third-round grade. That’s nearly 20% of all top-100 prospects. The Lions have three picks in the top 102.

So, there’s a good probability that the greatest player on Holmes’ board is an EDGE, even if he doesn’t want to reach for a need, which, let’s face it, he rarely does. Just because of how thick the talent pool is. It’s not just speculation either. Holmes himself acknowledged the depth at the combine: “It’s a lot deeper than what we can remember, at least in the past couple of years. That’s both inside and out for sure.”

This is Holmes’ fifth draft, and he’s got a proven track record of trusting the board and ignoring the noise. But this isn’t just noise. It’s a siren. If you let Za’Darius Smith walk and don’t plug the hole opposite Hutchinson, then the message is clear: you’re betting on internal growth and late-round value to elevate a pass rush that ranked bottom 10 in sacks. That’s a risky play for a team with NFC Championship dreams.