A position-by-position look at Detroit Lions' defensive needs and potential fits ahead of free agency
The NFL's free agency period opens next Wednesday, March 12, at 4 p.m. After examining the Detroit Lions offense on Wednesday, let’s take a position-by-position look at the defense.
We'll assess the team's needs by examining the players under contract for the upcoming season and those with expiring deals. We'll also highlight some free-agent fits to consider as the team prepares to do some offseason shopping.
Edge
Under contract: Aidan Hutchinson, Josh Paschal, Za’Darius Smith, Nate Lynn, Isaac Ukwu
Expiring contracts: Marcus Davenport, John Cominsky, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Jonah Williams, Mitchell Agude (ERFA)
Top free agents: Khalil Mack, Josh Sweat, Haasan Reddick, Malcolm Koonce, Dayo Odeyingbo
Potential fits: Muhammad, Mack, Chase Young, Deatrich Wise Jr., Emmanuel Ogbah
Analysis: After this year's Super Bowl, everyone wants to emulate the Philadelphia Eagles' ability to affect the quarterback rushing just four. Of course, that's far easier said than done.
The Lions blitzed twice as much as the Eagles last season. Much of that was schematic, part of former coordinator Aaron Glenn's philosophical DNA. Even before Hutchinson was lost for the season, the Lions had double-digit blitzes in each of their first four games, including a season-high 21 against Seattle in Week 4.
Still, it would be nice to be less reliant on the defensive strategy. That hinges on having more pass-rushing talent up front. The team's offseason approach will start with Smith, last year's trade deadline acquisition. A stopgap to replace Hutchinson, the Lions hold an option with the inherited contract to keep him in the fold as a partner to their star.
Retaining Smith would cost the Lions close to $11 million. A few days into the league here, he's due a $2 million roster bonus and a $7 million option bonus. For cap purposes, the latter would be spread out because of three void years attached to the end of his contract. That means Smith would cost a reasonable $5.76 million cap hit this year, but the Lions would be on the hook for $5.24 million in dead money in 2026 when the contract voids/expires.
There's certainly a case to keep him. Even as he approaches his 33rd birthday, Smith provided 63 QB pressures last season. He might not be much of a run defender at this stage of his career, but he can clearly still disrupt the QB's pocket.