All offseason, fans of the Detroit Lions have been begging the team to sign or draft a defensive end to help the defensive line. Despite drafting defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in the first round, fans still wanted an edge, and finally, their prayers have been answered.
In the sixth round at pick 196 in the 2025 NFL Draft, Lions general manager Brad Holmes drafted Ahmed Hassanein, a defensive end out of Boise State. After three straight picks where the Lions traded up to get their guy, they stood pat in the sixth round and landed Hassanein to help their defensive line out some more.
Each season, the Lions take a risk on a project player, including Giovanni Manu, Brodric Martin, and Colby Sorsdal. This year’s project is Hassanein, and it could turn out to be the most explosive and low-risk project the Lions have taken under Holmes. Unlike Martin and Manu, Hassanein wasn’t a mid-draft pick; he was taken in the sixth round, where projects are usually taken.
Despite being born in California, Hassanein grew up in Cairo. He moved back to California at 15 years old and started playing football, becoming a three-star prospect and committing to Boise State. He is now the first-ever Egyptian drafted in the NFL.
Ahmed Hassanein is a fun project for the Detroit lions.
Egyptian who started football just about 5 years ago, and yet he has 22 sacks across the past two years for Boise State.
Non stop fire that he plays with.
— Brady Balhorn – BNB Football (@BnbFootball) April 26, 2025
Hassanein played in all four years at Boise State, finishing with 119 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 24 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. The Lions love their versatility, and Hassanein brings that as he played defensive tackle for the first three years at Boise State before moving to defensive end in 2024. He was a two-time All-Mountain West First Team in 2023 and 2024.
According to PFF, Hassanein had the 52nd highest defensive grade for defensive ends with an 81.4. His run defense grade ranking was better, earning an 80.3 grade and ranking 39th among all defensive ends. His pass-rush grade was 76.9, ranking him tied for 97th among defensive ends.
Hassanein hasn’t played much football, but that doesn’t mean he can’t learn and turn into a helpful defensive end for the Lions. Do we all remember Ziggy Ansah? Hassanein is a project of a player who will have to learn more than your typical NFL rookie due to his lack of experience, but the Lions aren’t going to rush him to develop into someone special. His motor is high, something the team values as they love the never-give-up attitude.
Ahmed Hassanein feels like such a Lion to me. High character compression style rusher with a burning hot motor.
The developmental type they have taken shots on in the past too.
— Brett Whitefield (@BGWhitefield) April 26, 2025
Overall, this seems like a great project for the Lions to take. Best case, they got a pass rusher that everyone wanted to be paired with star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson in the sixth round. The team thought they had something like this with James Houston, but unlike Houston, Hassanein can play on the interior or at the edge; no linebacker play for him. If he can’t adjust in the NFL well at defensive end, he could move to the inside, where the team could use more long-term help.
Unlike the previous project picks that Holmes and company have made, this is the best one overall. The team needs help at defensive end, and if things don’t work out with Hassanein, it won’t cost the team much. Hassanein will have to battle to make the 53-man roster, but I believe this team will give him plenty of time to prove he can play in the NFL before they give up on him. Some players in these draft classes have needed time to develop and become a starter. Holmes is all about giving players chances, and he won’t stop doing that now.
Grade: A-
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