The Detroit Lions are hoping to make a few significant changes to their roster this offseason after failing to make the playoffs in 2025.
The Lions have several free agents that they’ll have to decide whether to bring back for another run or let them hit the open market. According to OverTheCap.com, Detroit is projected to be $10.3 million over the cap, so they’ll have to do some roster maneuvering to be a player in free agency next month.
If they can do that, one position they’ll need to address immediately is the pass rush. This past season, the Lions were tied for fourth in the NFL in sacks with the Minnesota Vikings (49), which is not bad. However, the majority of Detroit’s sacks came from Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad, who combined for 25.5.
While that’s great to see, the Lions could not generate pressure from the edge besides those two guys, which is not a recipe for success. Detroit hopes to bring back Muhammad, who is set to become a free agent next month.
If Lions GM Brad Holmes can re-sign Muhammad to a multi-year deal, that would be great. But he still needs to address the position in free agency after seeing the Marcus Davenport experiment fail over the last two years. Luckily for Holmes, there will be some options available to him and the Lions, including veteran A.J. Epenesa.
A.J. Epenesa Could Be Perfect Under the Radar Signing for Detroit
While some Lions fans would want to see Detroit go after Trey Hendrickson or Jaelan Phillips in free agency, Detroit won’t be able to break the bank for those guys, considering other needs on the team including extensions for key players including Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell and Sam LaPorta.
This is where Epenesa comes into play. The 27-year-old pass rusher would be a solid addition to the Lions’ pass rush unit despite a down 2025 season. Epenesa saw his role change this past season in Buffalo due to the addition of Joey Bosa, who is another guy Lions fans would likely want despite his age (30).
Epenesa had 12 quarterback pressures, nine quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks across 16 games (two starts), which is a far cry from his previous three seasons with the Bills, where he averaged 6.3 sacks per season. He also had two interceptions and a fumble recovery despite his role as a reserve.
Epenesa wasn’t great against the run this season, sporting a 48.6 grade (ranked 105th among 115 eligible edges). However, for what it's worth, Muhammad had a 59.3 run defense grade this past season with the Lions, but made up for it with his pressures and sacks.
After getting so little from the rest of the defensive line and the Davenport re-signing going up in flames, the Lions can’t be cheap on defensive line depth this offseason or expect Hutchinson and Muhammad to shoulder the load again in 2026.
Epenesa won’t turn 28 years old until the 2026 season begins, so that would fit in perfectly with the rest of the core. According to Spotrac, the veteran defender’s market value is a two-year, $12.8M deal ($6.4M AAV), which isn’t terrible for his production up to this point.
Meanwhile, OverTheCap has Epenesa’s valuation at $4.3 million. Therefore, if his market value ends up being around $4-6 million, there should be no excuse for why the Lions are not one of his suitors. He fits in size-wise (6-foot-6, 260 pounds) with what Detroit has on the edge, has starting experience, and would be an immediate upgrade over Davenport.