While much attention has turned toward the draft with the league's premier offseason event less than three weeks away, several free agents are still looking for their next home.
Among them is 2016 Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year and five-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa. While not quite the impact player he was at his peak, the former No. 3 overall pick would be a perfect complementary player to pair with 2025 Second-Team All-Pro edge Aidan Hutchinson, who has established himself as one of the league's top defensive ends over his first four seasons.
Detroit Lions Should Add Joey Bosa To Bolser Pass Rush Depth
Last March, Bosa, who turns 31 in July, signed a one-year, $12.6M free-agent contract with the Buffalo Bills. He started 15 games and finished the season with five sacks while adding a league-high five forced fumbles.
Per Sports Info Solutions data, while Bosa had a career-low 1.7 percent sack rate a season ago, he also generated a career-best 17.6 percent pressure rate. Among players with at least 200 pass rushes, his pressure percentage ranked just below former Lions defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad (18.1 percent), who had 11 sacks last year and signed a one-year, $4M contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier in free agency.
This isn't the first time the idea of the Lions pursuing the former Ohio State Buckeyes star has been considered. Last month, NFL.com's Nick Shook suggested Detroit should sign Bosa, writing, "The Lions could use multiple additions at edge opposite Aidan Hutchinson and should take an approach as long as it's affordable."
Bosa would almost certainly command a larger contract than Muhammad, but he may be had for less than what he got from the Bills in March 2025, especially at this stage in free agency. According to Over The Cap, Detroit has roughly $23.7M in available cap space, giving it plenty of capital to fit Bosa.
The Lions have already made two signings at the position this offseason, adding former New Orleans Saints first-round pick Payton Turner, who was mostly a non-factor in New Orleans before missing the entire 2025 season with the Dallas Cowboys due to injury. They also signed former Minnesota Vikings edge D.J. Wonnum, who has 30 sacks in six seasons, including two seasons (2021, 2023) where he reached the eight-sack plateau.
Bosa would be a great fit in Detroit, but the draft could complicate the picture. If he remains unsigned by the time the draft kicks off on Apr. 23, the Lions may be able to land pass-rush assistance with one of their nine picks.
According to NFL IQ, edge-rushers Keldric Faulk and Akheem Mesidor could be in play at No. 17 overall if the Lions go defense with their first pick. In Round 2 (No. 50 overall), Zion Young, Gabe Jacas, and R Mason Thomas are listed among the most likely selections.
While adding an edge early shouldn't dissuade Detroit from bringing in Bosa outright, it would force it to consider whether allocating that many resources at the position when it also has needs along the offensive line, defensive interior, and linebacker makes sense.
That makes the next few weeks critical for a potential Lions-Bosa union. Defensive end will be much less of an immediate need if he signs, while it might be one of the first positions the Lions address should Bosa remain on the open market.
Detroit marks a logical destination for Bosa, but maybe less so once the draft passes. Time is of the essence for a deal to materialize. Otherwise, Bosa may have to wait a little longer to find his next employer.