The need to add more pass-rush depth has been one of the main talking points concerning the Detroit Lions since last year. Even though the Lions have punched above their weight through the first five weeks of the season on the defensive side of the ball amid a sea of injuries, the talk of adding more pass rushers has not subsided.
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's group has the second-most sacks in the league, and ranks as the second-best pass-rushing team in the league on Pro Football Focus. The key figures in the front 7 are not the issue here. Instead, the expectation is that the team should be looking to upgrade the back end of their rotation.
On Tuesday, a veteran free agent emerged as a potential option. Yannick Ngakoue, who has remained unsigned since his release by the New England Patriots at the end of last season, sounds eager to return to the NFL. In his post on X, the 30-year-old defender had a simple message: "ready to rush".
Yannick Ngakoue Is an Intriguing FA Option for the Lions
On paper, the Lions may seem like they don't need to add a pass rusher whose best days are likely behind him. In reality, Super Bowl contenders can never have too many pass rushers.
Detroit is currently receiving a ton of unexpected contributions on the EDGE. While Aidan Hutchinson returning to his pre-injury self is obviously not surprising, the impact players like Al-Quadin Muhammad, Tyler Lacy, and Trevor Nowaske have made so far has come out of nowhere. Muhammad has especially been a revelation, racking up 3.5 sacks, eight QB hits, and three tackles for loss in only five games.
Ngakoue may not outplay any of the names mentioned above. At the same time, experienced and competent pass rushers are hard to find, especially mid-season. Ngakoue was a productive player as recently as 2023, when he had four sacks, seven QB hits, and six tackles for loss in 13 starts for the Bears. In the two seasons combined before that, Ngakoue had a whopping 19.5 sacks in 32 games between the Raiders and the Colts.
Turning back the clock in the NFL is easier said than done. Ngakoue's time as an impactful player may be over, but "what if isn't?" is a question worth asking. If Detroit's pass rushers can't sustain the extremely hot start they are off to, having a player like Ngakoue on the practice squad could be helpful.