The idea of the Detroit Lions securing another top-tier edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson quickly faded.
All the premier free agents have already signed elsewhere, and there’s been no indication that the Lions are interested in trading for Trey Hendrickson.
However, that doesn’t mean they should ignore the position until the draft.
Instead, they should target a temporary edge rusher.
This is a strategy commonly used for quarterbacks—teams bring in a veteran on a short-term deal to hold the starting spot until a young prospect is ready to take over.
It’s not something often done at other positions, but for the Lions, it would be a smart move.
As of now, Marcus Davenport is expected to be the team’s second edge rusher. Unfortunately, he has a history of frequent injuries and hasn’t been particularly productive when available.
He’s not a reliable option for a team with Super Bowl aspirations in 2025.
The rookies projected to be available at pick 28 likely won’t be either.
This year’s edge rusher class is deep with potential talent but lacks many prospects with a proven track record of college production.
Beyond Abdul Carter and Mike Green, the draft class feels risky, and both of those players will be long gone before the Lions make their first selection.
If Detroit chooses to draft a less proven player—or opts to wait until next year to address the position—they should sign a veteran as a short-term solution.
There are still solid options on the market who could provide value in 2025 while the team finds a long-term answer.
The most obvious choice would be bringing Za’Darius Smith back. The Lions recently released him after he played the latter half of last season in Detroit.
Smith recorded four sacks in eight games for the Lions and finished the full season with nine, showing he remains effective even at 32 years old.
Another option is pursuing one of his former teammates. Preston Smith had a productive tenure in the NFC North, notching at least eight sacks in four of his five full seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
His 2024 campaign, split between the Packers and Steelers, was underwhelming, as he managed only 4.5 sacks in 17 games.
However, his proven pass-rushing ability and a bigger role than the 30% snap share he had in Pittsburgh could help him rebound.
Carl Lawson is another potential target. While he hasn’t reached the peak production of either Smith, he has been consistently solid.
He has recorded at least five sacks in five of his seven NFL seasons, including 2024—a mark only Hutchinson reached for the Lions last year.
Lawson also played on a $1.1 million contract last season, meaning Detroit could likely sign him for a low cost while adding pass-rush depth.
Similarly, Emmanuel Ogbah has been steady but not spectacular and could be signed on an affordable deal.
Any of these players could contribute to the Lions’ Super Bowl push without requiring a major financial commitment, buying time for a young edge rusher to develop.
Since big-name acquisitions seem unlikely, adding a temporary veteran edge is the Lions’ best course of action.