Another year, another offseason spent talking about the Detroit Lions adding a defensive end.<\/p>\n
This year, it\u2019s pretty much a necessity. The two players that repped the most at the position opposite Aidan Hutchinson in 2025\u2014Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad\u2014are both potentially headed for free agency. And Detroit\u2019s depth consists of a player coming off a torn ACL, a player that may be cut, and a high-energy 2025 sixth-round pick (and Tyler Lacy).<\/p>\n
The question isn\u2019t if the Lions will invest in the edge defender position in free agency. The question is how much will they invest?<\/p>\n
The Lions have a pretty clear vacancy at the spot opposite Hutchinson. While Onwuzurike and Paschal\u2019s return from injury could help, it sounds like the latter\u2019s spot on the roster is not guaranteed based on some comments made by general manager Brad Holmes last week at the NFL Combine.<\/p>\n
Detroit could opt to re-sign Muhammad\u2014and I believe they should consider it\u2014but they clearly only value him as a late-down player based on his usage last year despite the fact that the Lions were shorthanded. They need someone they can trust as a three-down player, and that isn\u2019t Muhammad\u2014and it shouldn\u2019t be Davenport, either.<\/p>\n
So, to free agency we go\u2026<\/p>\n
Top free agent EDGE available: <\/p>\n
Hendrickson is a great schematic fit as a big, physical edge who has also produced crazy sack numbers (17.5 sacks in both 2023 and 2024) before his injury-shortened season. But that\u2019s a lot of moolah for the Lions to spending in free agency when they appear to be in penny-pinching mode. Same goes for pretty much everyone else on this list here. But are the Lions penny pinching in some areas so they can spend at EDGE? We\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a lot of age to this year\u2019s free agency class, and none of these options would really present as a three-down player. But Bosa, Mack, Clowney, and Jordan all fit the big, physical type of edge Detroit would trust on any down, even if their bodies likely can\u2019t handle a full load of snaps anymore. I have to say, I\u2019m very intrigued about a potential Cam Jordan reunion with Dan Campbell now that it\u2019s been reported that Jordan still wants to play and isn\u2019t likely to return to New Orleans for a 16th season. He may be turning 37 this year, but he\u2019s coming of a 10.5-sack season and a stellar 82.1 PFF run defense grade on 589 snaps\u2014nearly 35 per game.<\/p>\n
Of the others, I like Bosa\u2019s fit best, and Clowney\u2019s value best.<\/p>\n
I like the overall strategy of adding a veteran here, because it gives the Lions a 2026 option while still leaving the possibility of taking an EDGE early in the draft. Plus, who wouldn\u2019t love having a rookie step in and have a mentor like Mack or Jordan there waiting for them?<\/p>\n
Omenihu has been on my wish list for a couple of years, though there\u2019s admittedly some character questions there<\/a>. He\u2019s massive (6-foot-5, 280), coming off a strong run defense season, and has flashed some decent pass rush throughout his career (7.0 sacks in 2023, 62 PFF pressures in 2022).<\/p>\n