The Lions have been busy dotting all their i’s and crossing their t’s in advance of the 2024 NFL draft. They dotted a big name on an official pre-draft visit this week.
Detroit welcomed Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton to Allen Park. Newton had a great career for the Fighting Illini, capping it with 7.5 sacks and 52 total tackles in 2023 while playing in the same basic DT role that Alim McNeill played for Detroit last season. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Newton seems unlikely to be on the board when the Lions have their scheduled pick at No. 29 overall, but Detroit GM Brad Holmes has never been shy about trading around to get his guys.
