Daily DLP: Combine winners of Lions interest from DL and LBs - Detroit Lions Podcast

Thursday testing sorts the board for Detroit

The edges, defensive tackles, and off ball linebackers hit Lucas Oilfield and brought clarity. Several headliners crushed testing and pushed firmly out of Detroit Lions range at 17. Sonny Styles had a day. He looked like a top-two selection after the work he put in. Arnold Reed will not be there at 17 either. David Bailey’s surge put him on wish lists, not draft boards in the teens.

Not everyone went. Room Maddox did not work out. Akeem Mesador sat as well. Kendrick Fox did not run the 40, and another Jones skipped a key portion too. The top of this NFL class made itself scarce for Detroit, and that matters. For a Lions roster looking to add juice on the edge and speed in the second level, Thursday underlined how the board may force a different path.

Malachi Lawrence puts himself on the Lions radar

UCF edge Malachi Lawrence delivered the kind of profile the Detroit Lions covet. He clocked a 1.58 10-yard split, leapt 40 inches in the vertical, and posted a broad jump just shy of 11 feet. That burst showed up in every drill. His get-off was immediate. His hands stayed active. He won with speed first, then mixed in power. The overall athletic score matched the eye test.

The Lions have talked to him, including prior to Indianapolis. He is not a pick-17 projection. He looks like a second-round target who could line up across from Aidan Hutchinson and change the cadence of Detroit’s four-man rush. He is not the cleanest finisher and the tackling consistency needs tightening, but the traits translate to the NFL. Put his name in ink on the board of realistic upgrades.

Day-three value from Iowa: Max Allen’s clean work

Max Allen from Iowa is a different kind of find. Tall and angular, he moved with surprising smoothness. In the position drills he stayed on schedule. No extra gather steps. No wasted feet. He looked like a power-based edge who can kick inside when asked and win over either shoulder of a tackle. The profile echoes Romeo Oquara.

Allen is not an exceptional tester, but he is good enough and well coached. Fourth or fifth round feels right. For the Detroit Lions, that is the sweet spot to fortify the rotation with a versatile, durable piece who brings baseline strength and sound mechanics.

TJ Harper reframes a rocky year

TJ Harper owned the room at the podium. He entered 2025 as a potential number one overall pick. The season did not deliver the numbers. He explained the context clearly and maintained he played better, which his tape supports. It was direct and measured, the kind of response teams want when the stat line dips.

For the Detroit Lions Podcast audience, Thursday in Indy underscored two truths. The elite rose out of reach. The smart value sits right where Detroit can strike.

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