Joshua Paschal Bio
Joshua Paschal is an American professional football defensive end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Early Life and Background
Joshua Paschal was born on December 17, 1999, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He attended Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland, where he played both football and basketball and emerged as a four-star football recruit.
As a senior at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Paschal recorded 64 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He received scholarship offers from several major programs and committed to the University of Kentucky to continue his academic and athletic career with the Kentucky Wildcats.
Path to American Football
Paschal enrolled at Kentucky and joined the Wildcats program in 2017, working through the program’s development system and competing for playing time on the defensive line. He played in all 13 games as a true freshman and made an immediate impact as a rotational defender with 17 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
During his time at Kentucky he faced significant adversity when a melanoma diagnosis on his left foot required medical treatment before preseason training one year. Paschal used a medical redshirt during treatment, returned to the field later that season and continued to develop into a dependable edge defender and contributor for the Wildcats.
Path to American Football
Across his redshirted seasons Paschal progressed through Kentucky’s defensive front, refining his technique against SEC competition and increasing his role as a run defender and pass rusher. He recorded productive totals in tackles for loss and forced turnovers during his redshirt sophomore and junior campaigns, demonstrating an ability to impact both the backfield and passing situations.
His performance in the Southeastern Conference earned him recognition from national and conference voters and positioned him as an NFL prospect by the conclusion of his college eligibility in 2021.
Joshua Paschal Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Paschal’s collegiate career at Kentucky ran from 2017 through 2021. As a freshman he appeared in every game and contributed 17 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. After his medical redshirt season and return, he posted steady production across subsequent seasons, including a redshirt sophomore year with 34 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks and a redshirt junior season featuring 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and an interception.
In his redshirt senior season Paschal recorded 52 tackles and five sacks and earned First-team All-Southeastern Conference honors and Second-team All-American recognition in 2021. Those accolades reflected his role as a consistent contributor on a Kentucky defense facing top collegiate competition.
Kentucky Wildcats Breakthrough (2021)
The 2021 season marked Paschal’s breakout as a college defender. He finished the year with a team-leading presence in tackles and sacks among defensive linemen and received First-team All-SEC recognition from major selectors. His combination of size, power and effort against SEC opponents elevated his draft profile entering the 2022 NFL Draft.
Paschal’s 2021 honors and game film against top-tier conference opponents helped NFL evaluators project him as a developmental edge presence with upside as a situational pass rusher and run defender at the professional level.
Detroit Lions Era (2022–Present)
Paschal was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round, 46th overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft. He entered the Lions organization as a mid-round pick expected to contribute as a rotational defensive end and provide depth to the Lions’ front seven while continuing to refine his techniques at the professional level.
Paschal began his rookie season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and was activated on October 22, 2022. During his early NFL tenure he experienced roster moves related to injury management, including placement on injured reserve in September 2023 and subsequent activation in October 2023. Through the 2024 season, his official NFL totals include five sacks, 62 total tackles, one pass deflection and two fumble recoveries.
Playing Style and Strengths
Paschal combines a 6-foot-3 frame and 275-pound playing weight with a power-oriented rush style that translates to both run stopping and interior/edge pressure. He shows an ability to set the edge against the run and to use his physicality and leverage to create disruption on passing downs. As a developmental NFL player he has been valued for effort, work ethic and the capacity to refine pass-rush moves under professional coaching.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Paschal’s career include overcoming a melanoma diagnosis early in his college career to return to play, earning First-team All-SEC and Second-team All-American honors in 2021, and being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. His activations and returns from injury at the professional level represent additional turning points in his transition to the NFL.
Joshua Paschal Career Wins
In the context of football, Paschal’s verified professional contributions are best measured by his on-field statistics and notable collegiate honors. His NFL statistical totals through the 2024 season include five sacks, 62 total tackles, one pass deflection and two fumble recoveries, reflecting playing time as a rotational defensive end and situational pass rusher.
NFL Highlights
Paschal’s NFL highlights to date reflect steady accumulation of defensive stats as he adjusted to pro competition. His five career sacks and multiple forced-turnover contributions by 2024 underscore his role as a rotational disruptor on defense while he continues to develop his pass-rush repertoire.
Other Wins & Perfromances
At the collegiate level Paschal’s awards include First-team All-Southeastern Conference and Second-team All-American honors in 2021. Those recognitions underscore his impact at Kentucky and provided a foundation for his selection early in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Joshua Paschal Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Joshua Paschal’s family includes an older brother, TraVaughn, who also played football at the University of Kentucky. The shared connection to Kentucky highlights a family presence in that program during Paschal’s tenure.
Personal Life
Public details about Paschal’s personal life beyond his collegiate and professional career and the presence of his brother at Kentucky are limited in available sources. He attended Our Lady of Good Counsel High School before matriculating at the University of Kentucky and later entering the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
Prior to the 2025 season, Paschal underwent back surgery to address a disc issue that affected him during the 2024 campaign and began the year on the Non-Football Injury list. The procedure and roster management surrounding his recovery shaped his availability and the Lions’ planning for depth along the defensive line during that season.
As he progressed through recovery, the focus for Paschal and the Detroit Lions centered on his rehabilitation, long-term durability and the opportunity to reassert his role as a rotational edge presence once cleared to return to full football activities. Continued health and consistent playing time were identified as the keys to his next phase of professional development.
