After nearly a month into NFL free agency, the Detroit Lions still haven’t addressed their pass rush. It remains the most pressing issue on their roster, especially now that most free agents are off the board.
Despite that, the Lions seem to be actively exploring remaining options. They recently sat down with a free agent who played in the NFC North in 2024. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Lions held a meeting with ex-Bears edge rusher DeMarcus Walker last week.
There aren’t many strong candidates left for Detroit to target, and this year’s draft class lacks edge defenders with steady college production. Walker doesn’t look like the fix for Detroit’s edge rush issues, either. He recorded only 3.5 sacks in 17 appearances for Chicago last year.
The same total he posted in 2023. He’s only had five sacks once in his pro career. While Pro Football Focus credited him with 39 pressures in 2024, that stat doesn’t make up for the lack of sacks.
Detroit already has a veteran edge with iffy production who can start opposite Hutchinson, and Marcus Davenport has shown more upside—his inconsistent play can at least be partly tied to injury. A committee of unreliable players doesn’t seem like the best strategy for improving the edge.
If the team adds another veteran, it should be someone who can clearly outplay Davenport. Otherwise, they’ll be leaning too much on Aidan Hutchinson to drive the pass rush.
Hutchinson is fully capable of doing that, but the Lions shouldn’t want him to be their only threat if they’re serious about a Super Bowl push. It’s encouraging to see them still pursuing help at edge, but Walker doesn’t appear to be the right piece for them at this time.