Javon Hargrave, DT
I’ve been a fan of Hargrave’s since watching him completely dominate Shrine Game (now Shrine Bowl) practices back in 2016. The small-school standout with the wide frame has progressed from that impressive week in St. Petersburg into one of the most effective interior defenders in the NFL.
A third-round pick by the Steelers out of South Carolina State, Hargrave’s game has grown every year. In 2019 he added more technical ability to his pass-rushing production, bagging four sacks. That was down from his career-high 6.5 in 2018, but he generated a lot more QB pressures and defeated blockers in more diverse ways. He’s been a top-20 DT in Pro Football Focus grading each of the last two seasons and is just hitting his athletic prime at 27 years old.
If the Lions are looking for a direct replacement for the Damon Harrison who was great in Detroit in 2018, Hargrave is far and away the best option on the market.