3 Diamond in the rush edge rushers the Lions can still grab in free agency

The Lions are all about youth and value and here are three edge rushers they can kick the tires on who present that

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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A lot of eyes are going to be on Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in 2022. Photo credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe you haven’t noticed yet, but the Detroit Lions are going for two things above anything else right now. Youth and value.

Because of that, the Lions haven’t gone out to sign the big-name players that Lions fans were maybe hoping they’d sign. That doesn’t mean that the Lions can’t go out and find some talent with guys you might not have heard of. The guys with names aren’t the only ones who can play.

With that in mind, here are three edges the Lions might be able to get on the super cheap who can come in and contribute. You have to know by now that the starter is probably coming in the draft. So don’t read this in the sense that these guys are going to be the Lions’ starters. Read it in the sense that these guys can get sacks off the bench or help stop the run. They’ll serve a purpose on the 53-man roster.

Cam Sample

The former fourth-round pick for the Bengals had a pretty solid start to his career. As part of their rotation, he came off the bench and put up 20-plus pressures and three sacks in multiple consecutive seasons. In 2024, he tore his Achilles during camp and missed the season. The Bengals still re-signed him after that. When Sample got extended chances to play in 2025, he played very well.

Anfernee Jennings

Another rotational edge who could help the Lions out a lot. He’s a lot like Marcus Davenport in the sense that he’s more of a big-end type of guy who is really good at stopping the run. That’s not to say he can’t get home, but we’re looking for guys who can be a part of a package at this point.

Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Tryon-Shoyinka has a history with Lions defensive line coach Kacy Rogers, and he could theoretically have a chance to play that Al-Quadin Muhammad role for the Lions. By that, I mean he can be a pass rush specialist who doesn’t really play a lot of run snaps. Not that he’s bad at that, but he’s just a better pass rusher. In his first few years, he looked like the first-round pick that he was expected to look like. Then is playing time started to slip, and Rogers left for Detroit. Last year with the Bears, he barely played. This is a guy worth kicking the tires on. Probably more so than Payton Turner was.

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