The 2026 NFL Combine is going down in Indianapolis next week, and there will be a ton of NFL-ready talent in the building for this one. The Lions are going to be on the lookout for multiple positions in this draft. Edge rusher is the one that many Lions fans will have their eyes on. With that in mind, here are the top five edge rushers to watch for the Lions:

Note: These excerpts are from our Top 25 big board for the Lions

T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson

Average Draft Position: 33
A to Z Sports big board ranking: 26th

He’s coming off a really solid week at the Senior Bowl, but he also had a quietly productive season at Clemson this year with 41 pressures and six sacks.

He also had five forced fumbles (zero in 2025) and 20 tackles for loss in his career. The guy can do his thing, and once the NFL Combine passes, we expect his ADP to jump into the first round. No. 17 is a good spot for him, and we know the Lions had scouts at Clemson this year.

Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

Average Draft Position: 21st
A to Z Sports big board ranking: 22nd

There’s a little trade-off with Howell and Parker here. Howell is a better pass rusher, recording 41 pressures and 11.5 sacks this past season, but Parker is the better run defender.

It’s not that Howell is bad; it’s just that Parker is better. There’s a lot of value to having a guy who can rush the passer, but you also want a guy who can do more than one thing. The Lions have seen Texas A&M play a couple of times this year.

Zion Young, Edge, Missouri

Average Draft Position: 50th
A to Z Sports big board ranking: 50th

Not long ago, there was another Missouri edge that everyone thought the Lions might take. That was Darius Robinson. This guy is a better prospect. He’s coming off a big 51-pressure, eight-sack season, and he had an elite run-defense grade. Right up the Lions’ alley.

Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

Average Draft Position: 56th
A to Z Sports big board ranking: 31st

We keep talking about run defense. Well, this guy is the top run-defending edge in the class. He had a 90.5 run defense grade in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.

He also had 55 pressures and nine sacks to boot. The concern here is that he will be 25 years old in his rookie season. That might not be a total deal-breaker, but the Lions are probably looking for someone younger. Then again, he might be the most ready to play right now guy of the bunch because of that age.

Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois

Average Draft Position: 74th
A to Z Sports big board ranking: 69th

Jacas had 41 pressures and 11.5 sacks in the Big Ten in 2025. This guy is all strength. He’s the type of guy who can push just about any lineman out there, and he has the burst to get at these guys before they know what hit them.

The question is, can he grow his game behind that power?

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