The Lions may get a chance to correct one of their free agency misses at cutdown time
Now you can get him even cheaper
The Lions could have a chance to get Azeez Ojulari at cutdown time
We knew the Detroit Lions weren’t going to spend a ton of money on an edge rusher during free agency, but it always made sense that they could spend a little. That’s why Azeez Ojulari felt like the best fit.
Ultimately, it didn’t happen. Ojulari signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that didn’t need him since it has a ton of depth on its defensive line. That’s proving to be true because there are rumors that the Eagles could cut Ojulari next Tuesday on final cutdown day. The Lions would be wise to get involved and bring Ojulari to Detroit this time.
It makes a lot more sense for this team now that sixth-round pick Ahmed Hassanein is slated to miss some time. Even if Detroit were to bring back Za’Darius Smith, Ojulari would still be a solid part of the rotation.
During Ojulari’s time in New York, we learned he might not be the best starter, but what he can be is someone who brings pressure and gets home. He’s the type of player who can be a pass-rush specialist. In a similar way to how the Lions used James Houston, only Ojulari has proven to be more dependable. He’s recorded 20 or more pressures and six sacks in two of the last three seasons from the bench. In his rookie year, he had 42 pressures and eight sacks. He was getting significant snaps that year, though.
The Eagles wouldn’t be cutting him because he’s been bad; it’s just a crowded room. He’s coming off a nice preseason game against the Browns, where he had two pressures and a sack on 28 snaps.
We’ll see what happens next week, but if Ojulari hits the open market, the Lions could get him for pennies, and he would immediately help strengthen the defensive line.
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