The filled their biggest need just hours into the legal tampering period of free agency landing EDGE rusher Trey Flowers on a five-year deal. Flowers is a perfect fit for the Lions down defensive end role, and when paired up with Damon Harrison, A’Shawn Robinson and Da’Shawn Hand should immediately give Detroit one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.

As much as Flowers will help on the EDGE, the Lions inability to rush the passer isn’t something that is likely to be solved by the addition of only one player and that is why the Lions shouldn’t rule out adding another pass rusher this offseason — potentially with the 8th overall pick in the draft.

Flowers is a versatile chess piece for the Lions, offering them Hand-like range to play from at the 7-technique, all the way inside to the 0T in obvious passing situations and that sets up opportunities for others to see the field.

Trey Flowers is a really good player. Despite playing under the 'DE' tag, his value isn't highest off the edge, rather from his ability to slide inside in a 3T/0T alignment. His quickness/length give interior OL a ton of problems, and he's excellent at finding creases on stunts. — Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) March 11, 2019

When Flowers pushes inside the Lions can opt to bring another EDGE rusher on the outside of him. Sometimes that rusher will be Romero Okwara — who just signed an extension — but the Lions could turn to the draft to acquire more EDGE rushing talent.

The easiest way to fill this need, without it being a situational player only, is to target players who can drop into coverage and fill linebacker responsibilities. That means adding a prospect capable of playing at the JACK linebacker position.

With Flowers and Okwara filling the down defensive end role, players like Nick Bosa, Rashan Gary and Clelin Ferrell will likely be out of the conversation at pick 8, but, there are four others that could still very much be in the mix.

The perfect fit at 8

The Lions pursuit of Anthony Barr is an indicator that the Lions are in the market to add a linebacker who has pass rushing skills. The best player capable of that in this draft class is Josh Allen (Kentucky, 6-5, 262).

Allen might be the number one target on the Lions board, as he is the perfect combination of scheme fit, athleticism and production in the entire draft. Adding Allen would give the give the Lions an every-down player who could start at WILL as well as being an EDGE option when Flowers pushes inside or when the Lions want to disguise their intentions.

Most think Allen will be off the board in the first few picks, but if Allen starts to slide, the Lions could be aggressive in acquiring him. Recently, Lions Wire’s own Jeff Risdon mocked him to the Lions, suggesting it may not be as far-fetched an idea as people think.

Don’t rule out at 8

On most teams draft boards, Ed Oliver (Houston, 6-2, 287) will be listed among the interior defensive linemen, but on the Lions board, I believe he will be listed as an EDGE player capable of filling multiple roles. It wasn’t long ago he was talked about as the best player in the draft and if he’s there at 8, the Lions may draft him as a chess piece.

Brian Burns (Florida State, 6-5, 249) and Montez Sweat (Mississippi State, 6-6, 260) both played defensive end in college so there is some projection needed here, but both tested off the charts at the Combine, indicating they have the athletic ability. Sweat looked stiff in dropping drills at the Combine — and as a pass rusher in game film — which is why I have him rated below Burns who looked natural standing up and moving like a linebacker.

Day 2 sleeper

If Allen is gone before the Lions pick in the first round and they’re not comfortable with the projections of the other players suggested, D’Andre Walker (Georgia, 6-2.5, 251) is a natural JACK linebacker, comfortable rushing and dropping into coverage, although he isn’t elite at either just yet. With time to develop, Walker would give the Lions a dynamic pass rushing weapon from the second level.

Day 3 deep sleeper

If the Lions miss on Allen and Walker, Ben Banogu (TCU, JACK, 6-3.5, 250) should be on their target list on the third day of the draft. He is still in the developmental stages but his athletic testing was through the roof at the Combine and is a moldable JACK option.