The Detroit Lions secured a 20-13 road victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, September 22, but there’s always room for improvement.
Looking ahead to a highly anticipated Week 4 “Monday Night Football” game against the Seattle Seahawks, NFL expert Matt Holder has pointed out a Dallas Cowboys player who might be a great fit for Lions head coach Dan Campbell’s coaching style.
In a September 23 Bleacher Report article about addressing each team’s biggest weaknesses ahead of Week 4, Holder suggested the Lions consider Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence during 2025 free agency.
“While Lawrence’s sack numbers have declined in recent years, he’s a physical edge-setter, playing the kind of football Dan Campbell likes,” Holder said.
DeMarcus Lawrence Could ‘Give Aidan Hutchinson Support’
Lawrence, 32, earned a 92.4 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus last season. In 2023, he posted 48 pressures as a pass-rusher.
Holder also noted that “Marcus Davenport is on a one-year contract, and it’s unclear if he’ll get an extension. Detroit should start exploring defensive ends in this year’s free-agent pool to ensure Aidan Hutchinson has support.”
Additionally, Davenport suffered a season-ending triceps injury in the Cardinals win, which Campbell confirmed on Monday, September 23. Davenport was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday, September 24.
Holder also mentioned the competitiveness of the NFC North. In Detroit’s win over Arizona, the team rushed 43 times for 187 yards, which “helps them keep up with the Packers in the NFC North, although they still trail the undefeated Vikings.”
Holder identified Detroit’s biggest weaknesses going into Week 4 as cornerback, offensive line depth, wide receiver, linebacker, and defensive tackle.
For immediate help, Holder recommended trading for Bills cornerback and former first-round pick Kaiir Elam, who “has the talent to contribute immediately and could be part of a long-term solution at corner.”
DeMarcus Lawrence on Cowboys’ Loss
Currently, Lawrence is still with the Cowboys, who are 1-2 after their Week 3 loss to the Ravens.
“It’s frustrating,” he said after the Ravens game. “If you love the game, it’s frustrating. That’s why you saw us clean up mistakes in the second half.”
When asked what was most frustrating, Lawrence said, “Losing. Not playing together on defense and not executing 11-man football. It’s all frustrating. Once we stop playing like kids and get back to professional football, we’ll be fine.”
The Lions will face Lawrence and the Cowboys on Sunday, October 13, at AT&T Stadium.
