Detroit Lions select Kentucky defensive end Josh Paschal in 2022 NFL Draft

The Detroit Lions are hoping that Kentucky defensive end Josh Paschal can be as productive in the pros as he was the past five seasons in Lexington. A first-team All-SEC selection this past season with the Wildcats, Pascal projects to contribute in a meaningful way at the next level as well.

He’ll get his first chance with Detroit, who selected him 46th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft on Friday.

Pascal finished 2021 with 15.5 tackles for loss, ranking him fourth among all SEC players and 20th nationally. He also had a team-high eight quarterback hurries, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one blocked kick. With Josh Paschal as one of its primary leaders, Kentucky’s defense finished the year ranked fourth in the conference in both scoring and total defense.

Pascal joined the Wildcats in 2017 as the No. 24 edge defender and No. 230 overall player in the class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. After appearing in all 13 games as a true freshman, he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in July 2018 and underwent three surgeries. Miraculously, Pascal was able to make his return to the team on Nov. 17 against Middle Tennessee, just four months after his initial diagnosis. He appeared in just three games total that season, preserving his redshirt before becoming a starter in 2019.

The defensive end leaves as the only three-time full-season captain in school history and third all-time in program history with 37 tackles for loss. Throughout his college career, Pascal totaled 139 total tackles and 13.5 sacks while also helping lead the Wildcats to two 10 win seasons, including 2021. Prior to his arrival, Kentucky had reached 10 wins only twice before.

Pascal participated in the Reese’s Senior Bowl this past February and also received Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award for his actions off the field. His vertical jump of 3’1.5″ at the NFL Combine ranked fifth among all participating defensive ends, while he 10’3″ broad jump placed him in eighth.

NFL.com Scouting report on Josh Paschal

According to the NFL.com scouting report on Paschal, his experience as a leader and his forcefulness in both tackling and shedding blocks are what really stands out. However, there are questions about both his size and ability as an edge rusher, and pundits project him as a solid player with a somewhat limited ceiling.

“Fully grown defender with the play strength and versatility to contribute in odd or even fronts,” NFL analyst Lance Zierlien wrote. “Paschal’s urgent, full-tilt demeanor helps him control his fair share of engagements, but it also leads to occasional lapses in footwork and balance. He’s like a block of granite at the point of attack with low pads and a heavy anchor. He has the twitch to see-and-shed against single blocks and the range to make a tackle a gap away. His face-up rush style lacks elusiveness and will see limited success off the edge, but his snap quickness fits perfectly as an interior rusher in sub-packages. Paschal might never be a star, but he’s a good future starter with winning character that coaches and fans will grow to love.”