The Detroit Lions have made significant strides in enhancing their defense over the past few years, but they’ve still faced challenges in securing depth at a crucial position. While Aidan Hutchinson, the former No. 2 overall pick, has emerged as a star edge rusher, the team has struggled to find a consistent pass rusher opposite him. Despite attempts through both the NFL draft and free agency, they haven’t found the desired results.
Hutchinson, who totaled 7.5 sacks before a season-ending leg injury in October, was clearly the team’s top performer. When he went down, no other player could reach more than 4 sacks, underscoring the lack of depth on the edge.
A suggestion has been made that the Lions could target a former $120 million edge rusher this offseason, potentially adding a valuable piece to their defense.
Lions Eye Former All-Pro Player
Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire highlighted former Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller as one of the top free-agent targets for Detroit. Despite his age and recent injury struggles, Miller could still provide valuable contributions in a part-time role. At 35 years old, Miller had six sacks in fewer than 300 snaps for the Bills last season, and although he had a torn ACL in 2022, he showed signs of improvement in 2024. After being released by Buffalo in a move to free up cap space, Miller’s best chance at continuing his NFL career might be elsewhere.
Lions Continue to Strengthen Defense
In addition to exploring pass-rushing options, the Lions have already made strides in free agency, including the signing of veteran cornerback D.J. Reed. Reed, who joined Detroit over another NFC contender, is expected to take over the starting cornerback role from Carlton Davis, who departed. Reed shared his excitement at joining the Lions, emphasizing his faith-driven decision-making process during his free agency journey, which ultimately led him to Detroit over Washington.
