The Detroit Lions were in the middle of watching Aidan Hutchinson evolve into a star pass rusher before his injury knocked him out of their championship push. The injury illustrated how thin and ineffective Detroit’s pass rush is without No. 97 drawing so much attention.
Even with Hutchinson coming back and Za’Darius Smith arriving via trade, the Lions will need to bring in one or two more big names in the 2025 offseason to give their pass rush some teeth. While a 2025 NFL Draft class that is exceptionally deep on the defensive line could help them out, free agency needs to be attacked as well.
The Lions need to come out of this NFL offseason with at least one of these veteran pass rushers to supplement Hutchinson and Smith. With the Lions poised to compete for championships in the next few years, this should be a very attractive destination for free agents if the money is there.
3. Chase Young, New Orleans Saints
Young hasn’t even turned 26 years old despite his well-traveled NFL career. The Defensive Rookie of the Year who emerged in Washington may not be coming back anytime soon, but he can still be an effective two-way defender who can stuff the run and get to the quarterback with some frequency.
2. Matt Judon, Atlanta Falcons
Judon recorded 32 sacks in 38 games during his three seasons with the Patriots, though he mustered just 5.5 quarterback takedowns in his lone season with the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta had a poor defensive structure, however, and Detroit might be a better situation for him.
Judon was born in Pontiac, went to West Bloomfield for high school, and attended Grand Valley State in college. Coming home to Michigan would not only be a great story, but it would be exactly what this Lions roster needs to unseat teams like the Eagles and Commanders in the NFC.
1. Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers
Mack is another player who may be past his prime, as the Defensive Player of the Year and borderline Hall of Famer we saw with Oakland and Chicago is a thing of the past. However, Mack did make three Pro Bowls with the Chargers and is one year removed from tallying 17 sacks.
Mack hasn’t had a ton of postseason success in his career, but the Lions could change that if they meet his price. With Los Angeles unlikely to bring him back due to his cost, the Lions can add a proven veteran who can still get to the quarterback, even as age robs him of a bit of speed.