The Detroit Lions drafted their fourth trench player in the 2025 NFL Draft when they selected Boise State’s Ahmed Hassanein, an edge defender, in the sixth round. He’s young and relatively inexperienced, but he was extremely productive in his final season with the Broncos and has an insane work ethic with a large developmental ceiling.
Ahmed Hassanein, EDGE, Boise State
Hassanein’s back story is truly fascinating. Born in California, he moved to Egypt at age six and didn’t learn English until his late teens. While active in multiple sports—he was the top-ranked CrossFit athlete in Egypt for his age group—Hassanein didn’t even know what American Football was until he was 16 years old, when he moved to the United States. Despite only playing football for two seasons, Hassanein was naturally gifted enough to be recruited and eventually landed at Boise State, becoming the first Egyptian native to play college football and the first to be drafted into the NFL.
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Fit with the Lions
Hassanein’s intensity is on another level from most football players—even those in the NFL. He gives 100% to everything he does, and his work ethic is the main reason why he’s been able to be a productive player on the field.
“Relentless. I never stop,” Hassanein described his game to the media following his selection by the Lions. “I go 100 miles per hour every play, and you can’t teach that. I’m relentless in the run game, and I can get after the quarterback. The thing I’m most proud of is I’m consistent at doing my job. I don’t do my own thing; I do my job. Whatever Coach wants me to do, I’ll do it. That doesn’t mean playing like a robot, but I’ll do my job.”
On the field, Hassanein’s frame (6-foot-2 1⁄2, 267 pounds) is ideally built for the Lions’ “big defensive end role,” and he wins reps by outworking the player across from him with power and violence. Despite only playing football for about six years and possessing a raw skill set, Hassanein’s will to win helped him be one of the more productive defensive ends in college football. Over the past two seasons as a starter, Hassanein registered 115 pressures, 101 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 24 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
And he’s nowhere near his developmental ceiling.
“Absolutely. I haven’t even reached anything in my top ceiling,” Hassanein continued. “I’m just ready to grow, ready to learn, and ready to help the team whatever they need because they believe in me. Whoever believes in me, that means the world to me, especially (Lions Head Coach) Dan Campbell. I would die for that guy. I would run through a wall for him like I ran through a wall for (Boise State Head Coach Spencer Danielson) Coach D.”
Roster impact
The Lions will enter training camp with Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport as their starters and will turn to Josh Paschal, Levi Onwuzurike, and Al-Quadin Muhammad in contributing depth roles. Hassanein figures to jump into the mix with this group immediately, even if he starts training camp competing with Nate Lynn, Mitchell Agude, and Isaac Ukwu.
How far and how fast Hassanein shoots up the depth chart will take time to figure out, but with his work ethic and intensity, it’s easy to envision him finding a contributing role as a rookie.
The most likely scenario is that Hassanein begins his rookie year fighting for depth snaps and hopes to carve out a pass rushing role. As he builds trust with coaches and teammates, his role should grow, and ideally, he can carve out a rotational role in the two-deep by the end of the season.
Hassanein’s most significant impact will likely be in 2026, when he offers the Lions stability at the defensive end. At this time, only Hassanein, Hutchinson, and Lynn are under contract with the Lions beyond this season.
