In Monday’s question of the day, we asked Detroit Lions fans which position, outside of edge rusher, they would like the team to address in free agency. For today’s question, we’re going to flip the script and lean into the EDGE group, asking Lions’ fans:
Which free agent EDGE do you like the best for the Lions?
Last week, Brett Whitefield identified nine overlooked players to boost the Lions roster, and so far, four of the nine have been signed, including an accurate prediction of the Lions signing of nickelback Roger McCreary. Curiously, though, all four of the edge rushers that Brett suggested are still free agents, meaning there’s still talent for the Lions to sort through.
Here’s a quick look at who Brett broke down, with a brief excerpt from his piece (note: there is more detail on each in the original article):
- Cam Jordan: “Jordan is the ideal EDGE candidate remaining. He would come on a short-term deal and provide a significant floor to a position that has seemingly been in flux for the entirety of the Holmes era. It is also worth noting that he has been the top-dawg on a subpar defensive line, and I firmly believe that playing with stars like Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill could help restore some of his former pass-rush glory.”
- Joey Bosa: “Health has been a huge issue for Bosa, and the name recognition alone might price him out of Detroit.”
- A.J. Epenesa: “If the Lions want to moneyball the EDGE spot opposite Hutch, Epenesa is a good fit for them and would pair well with a more pass-rush minded player like Al Quadin-Muhammad—but obviously someone other than him now that he’s joining the Buccaneers.”
- Jadeveon Clowney: “Clowney was one of my top desired targets last cycle, and I am inclined to believe he would have made significant contributions to the 2025 Lions team. I am all in once again this year.”
My thoughts: Instead of just picking my favorite, I’ll rank them in order of my preference:
First up, Cam Jordan. Stylistically, he’s the best fit, and while his pass rushing has dipped, his run defense remains elite. If I were the Lions, I’d be willing to bet on him fitting in like a glove, and believe lining up across from Aidan Hutchinson would give his pass rush a chance to rebound in 2026.
Next up is Jadeveon Clowney. I’m ok with a “mercenary” on the edge, especially if the plan is to draft a future starting pass rusher in the draft. Despite being 33 years old, he’s still got plenty of pass-rushing juice left in the tank, and he remains a solid run defender. My only concern with Clowney is his price tag.
Third in my pecking order is A.J. Epenesa, who may actually be the Lions’ preferred target based on stylistic fit, age (he won’t be 28 years old until the regular season), and price tag. In a rotational role, Epenesa can be a consistent contributor, but passing on Jordan and Clowney for him would put a lot more pressure on a potential rookie edge rusher to contribute right from the jump.
Last is Joey Bosa. While he is a good stylistic fit and has plenty of pass-rushing effectiveness at his disposal, Bosa would be much higher on this list if he didn’t have such a lengthy injury history. Last season, Buffalo may have found the secret sauce to keeping him healthy by reducing his time on the field, but he wore down as the season progressed and was a liability by the time the Bill shit the postseason.
Your turn. Which edge rusher would you want the Lions to acquire? And was there anyone on your favorites list that we didn’t identify?
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