As the Detroit Lions evaluate potential options for the franchise at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, one Florida Gator appears to have caught the franchise’s attention.
Florida edge rusher Tyreak Sapp confirmed to Crunch Time Sports that he has met with the Lions this week at the combine.
The 6-foot-3, 274-pound defensive lineman gushed about the potential opportunity to play for Detroit and opposite Lions star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
“Man, I get excited, I get happy, just because that’s somebody that I obviously watched in college coming up. But, just how dangerous that would be, that would be nasty.
“Me and him out there rushing off the edge, wreaking havoc in people’s backfields, getting after the quarterback and sacking the quarterback a plethora of times, that would be awesome. And then obviously playing for the Detroit Lions which is a premier team in the National Football League, I would love to play for Detroit,” Sapp said.
Sapp could be available in the mid-rounds of the 2026 NFL draft. In Mel Kiper’s latest NFL draft Big Board, Sapp was listed just outside Kiper’s top 10 defensive ends and in his “just missed” section.
The Lions want to address their pass rush opposite Hutchinson and adding an explosive playmaker like Sapp that wants to be in the Motor City could be a compelling option.
Interestingly enough, Sapp was mocked as a late first-round selection to the Lions in Matt Miller’s way-too-early 2026 NFL mock draft in June of last year.
Sapp registered seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss during his breakout 2024 campaign. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native totaled 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack in 2025.
During his Gators career, Sapp notched 125 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
Here’s a look at Sapp’s 2024 highlights, courtesy of The NFL Film Room.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Florida DL would ‘love to play’ for Detroit Lions
Reporting by Josh Helmer, Lions Wire / Lions Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
