The Lions are going to have to be very picky when it comes to edge rusher this offseason

Brad Holmes and the Lions can’t fall into the trap some teams are going to fall into at edge

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Even after the Detroit Lions finished the top five in the league in both pressures and sacks, the thing Lions fans seem to want the most outside of center is an edge rusher.

Here’s the thing: I fully agree with this sentiment. The Lions need some edge rusher help, and while I fully believe they should bring back Al-Quadin Muhammad, they need to find their next starter and the guy who they plan to have alongside Aidan Hutchinson for the long run. Even with that said…

The Lions need to be super picky about who that next edge rusher is

The offseason is still young, but that has not stopped just about everyone from pairing the Lions with any old edge rusher who has a name that’s recognizable. One day it’s Bradley Chubb and the next it’s Joey Bosa. I even saw one where Bleacher Report had the Lions trading for Jermaine Johnson. It’s just a lot of players who seemingly nobody paid attention to in 2025.

Much like 2025, that’s the kind of edge rusher class that’s going to be out there for the Lions this year. A bunch of guys with names, but no real impact. That’s why the Lions have to be ultra-picky if they’re looking to find someone on the open market.

Trey Hendrickson, Khalil Mack, Hassan Reddick, Arden Key, Denico Autry, and Kyle Van Noy are not the guys the Lions need to have their eyes on. They’re either done or close to done. A lot of times, players like that don’t realize their play doesn’t warrant the amount of money they’re going to be asking for, and even worse, some teams don’t get that either. The Lions can’t be one of those teams, and generally, they’ve shown themselves not to be.

There are still some edges out there who fit the Lions. Guys like Kwity Paye, Joseph Ossai, Boye Mafe, or Odafe Oweh are younger players who still have gas in the tank and, in some cases, are guys who were part of really good rotations elsewhere and could be starters for Detroit. The answer shouldn’t be getting a player who can be good for 2026; it should be getting a guy who can be good past 2026.

Really, the Lions’ smartest move would be to get Muhammad back under contract and then use the 17th pick on one of the better edge rushers who will be in the class. You kill two birds with one stone there, and you get to do it under a rookie deal.

Related Articles