The Detroit Lions were able to fill in a massive hole along the offensive line in Round 1 by nabbing Clemson OT Blake Miller. With them making a big addition to the trenches on offense, they can now swing their attention over to the other side of the ball.
The Lions hold the No. 50 overall pick in the second round and still have a hole at edge. They need to find a running mate for Aidan Hutchinson, and that's why Missouri Tigers standout edge Zion Young is the perfect target for this team on Day 2.
Lions Should Target Zion Young with 2nd Round Pick
Young would be a great addition for the Lions' defensive front and would give this team a three-down defender. The Georgia native does a great job setting the edge as a run defender and has strong hands to get past blockers.
Throughout his college career, Young improved with each season, and last year was his best campaign as a senior. With the Tigers in 2025, he was second in the SEC in tackles for loss (16.5) and third in pressures (53).
In addition, Young had 42 total tackles and 6.5 sacks. On Pro Football Focus, he had an 84.0 overall grade, an 81.6 pass-rush grade, and an 85.1 run-defense grade.
Five edge rushers went in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the expectation is that several more go on Day 2. And since the Lions don't own a third-round pick, getting an edge rusher here is a must. This is the biggest hole on the team currently, and getting a player like Young would answer the call.
Another part about Young that will be appealing to Detroit is his leadership skills. He was voted a team captain in 2025. An NFL scout said, "Energy for days… You hear him before you see him," when speaking about Young.
Having a player who was leaned on by his teammates and coaching staff shows his mental makeup. That's the kind of player that Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes want in the building, making Young that much more enticing.
Adding Young to the mix would give the Lions a player who will make an impact from the jump. They saw Al-Quadin Muhammad leave town this offseason, who was second on the team in sacks with 11. Detroit added DJ Wonnum in free agency, who Brad Holmes thinks is a starting-level player.
Despite that statement, the Lions know they need to get better at that position, so drafting a player like Young would fill in the gap along the defensive line.
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