With free agency less than a month away, publications are rushing to make their predictions for what may happen during the NFL shopping spree. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Matt Bowen took the top-50 free agents and paired them with teams he believed to be the best fits. Unsurprisingly, Bowen paired the Detroit Lions with a pass rusher.
That pass rusher is Bills defensive end, and former third overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Joey Bosa.
“The Lions had 16 sacks on third down last season (tied for 15th in the league), so Detroit could add Bosa to elevate its sub-package pass rush,” Bowen wrote. “Bosa, who had five sacks with the Bills in 2025, fits well opposite Aidan Hutchinson with his speed-to-power production and the effort level to clean up late in plays.”
Bosa’s pairing with the Lions makes sense on some levels. As Bowen writes, Bosa’s size (6-foot-5, 280) and physical playing style is exactly what the Lions want in that spot opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Additionally, he’s coming off a strong year despite just five sacks tallied. He also had a league-leading five forced fumbles, earned an 88.7 PFF pass rushing grade in the regular season (seventh best), and 47 pressures despite a rotational role (37.5 snaps per game).
But Bosa also comes with some red flags. For one, he carries a pretty significant injury risk. He missed 12 games in 2022, eight in 2023, three in 2024, and two in 2025. He also hasn’t produced more than 6.5 sacks in a season 2021, and entering the 2026 season at 31, he won’t exactly be at the peak of his game.
Additionally, there’s cost. Last year, Bosa signed a one-year, $12.6 million deal with the Bills. Given a relatively productive and healthy season in 2025, it’s reasonable to believe that’s around where his market will be again this year. That’s a pretty hefty price to pay when Detroit is cap strapped and may already be spending a good chunk to retain Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had 11 sacks last year.
What do you guys think about trying to sign Joey Bosa? Too much of an injury risk? Too old? Or is this the aggressive move the Lions need at defensive end, while also potentially pairing it with a high draft pick investment?
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