After not making a splash in the pass rushing department in free agency, the Detroit Lions went to the 2025 NFL Draft to address the unit. The Lions took former Boise State EDGE Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round.
The 6-foot-2, 267-pound defender had a stellar last two seasons with the Broncos. He racked up 101 combined tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 22 sacks. If you are a Lions fan, you must be excited to see that production, as Hassanein could be an instant contributor as a rookie.
Lions fans aren’t the only folks excited about the sixth-round pick; defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard is already taking notice of the former Boise State standout.
According to Colton Pouncey of The Athletic, Sheppard said that the rookie “is an absolute joy to be around.”
Given the state of the Lions’ pass rush department, Hassanein could find his way onto the field rather quickly. The Lions hope that Marcus Davenport can stay healthy after playing two games last year, but they shouldn’t put all their eggs into his basket.
For his career, Davenport has only 24 sacks over his seven-year career. Then there’s also vets like Al-Quadin Muhammad and Josh Pascal (former 2022 second-round pick). However, there’s no reason why Hassanein can’t push those guys for snaps or even start.
The former Boise State pass rusher plays with a relentless pursuit, which works to his benefit as he doesn’t miss chances to make a tackle. Hassanein does a good job of reading and reacting, and the athleticism to wreak havoc.
That said, Hassanein is on the short side for an edge rusher, which could be an issue against NFL offensive linemen with longer arms. However, Lions fans should not be worried about that, as Sheppard will find different ways to employ him on defense.