The Detroit Lions fell short in the playoffs again in 2024, and again they have a clear-cut top need this offseason that needs reinforcements if they are going to get over the top next season. Despite playing less than five games, Aidan Hutchinson led the team in sacks. Second on the team ins acks was midseason acquisition Za’Darius Smith.
One way or another, some pass rush help has to be coming this offseason. And we know Lions general manager Brad Holmes does not ignore clear-cut needs. This offseason, that big need is edge rusher.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano took at look at one salary cap-related question for each team. The question for the Lions was an obvious one.
“Do the Lions have the cap space to make a big-time edge rush move … or are they more likely to take the low-risk dart-throw approach?”
Well, it was actually two questions, which Graziano noted along with offering the obvious answers to each one.
“The answer to both questions is yes. The Lions are absolutely fine on cap space and could bring in a big-name edge rusher (*cough* Myles Garrett *cough*) if they want — even with superstar Aidan Hutchinson coming back from his leg injury and extension-eligible. They’re in a win-now window with most of their other key guys locked in long term. So yes, it’s not wild to imagine a splash signing.But it’s also true that it would be a little out of character for this Lions team to take that kind of a huge swing on an external addition. Given the strategic and targeted way they’ve built this roster in the Dan Campbell/Brad Holmes era, I would say it’s more likely they bring back Za’Darius Smith.”
The Lions are equipped with plenty enough from a cap space perspective to trade for Garrett, or sign someone like Josh Sweat in free agency. On the trade front, the issue is if they’d be willing to give up the draft capital it will take to get someone like Garrett, Maxx Crosby or maybe even Trey Hendrickson. And like Graziano noted, that would be out of character for Holmes and Dan Campbell.
Smith’s contract will not stay as-is for 2025, but bringing him back feels likely with a lower-risk free agent addition and/or a draft pick go with him. As Neil Ruhl of Woodward Sports reminded us, in regard to the possible addition of a notable edge rusher, we have not seen Smith and Hutchinson on the field together yet.
