Do the Lions want to trade up for Jared Verse from EDGE?
As of this now, Detroit’s first-round pick (No. 29 overall) in the April NFL Draft looks most likely to go to a cornerback or edge rusher.
However, it seems like every day that a new report surfaces regarding Lions general manager Brad Holmes’s pursuit of a high-profile cornerback (such as Dallas’ Stephon Gilmore or Kansas City’s L’Jarius Sneed) through free agency or trade.
I have a suspicion that Holmes will ultimately choose an EDGE in the opening round as a result. With the 29th pick, he ought to have a few possibilities as well, such as Darius Robinson of Missouri and Chop Robinson of Penn State, both of whom Detroit has recently made fun of a lot.
On the other hand, Florida State EDGE Jared Verse would be a good target for the team if Holmes and the Lions were prepared to part with a few draft picks in order to trade up.
Verse is generally seen as one of the top three EDGE prospects in this year’s draft class. He has been a favorite pick for the New Orleans Saints at No. 14 overall in recent mock drafts.
Throughout his four years of college, the 6-foot-4, 254-pound Verse demonstrated his ability to be a disruptive force as a pass-rusher. He also has a strong drive and an explosive first step.
He played at the FCS level for his first two years of college at Albany, where he recorded 14.5 sacks in 15 games. For his performance, he was recognized with several awards, including first-team CAA all-conference and CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year.
