The Detroit Lions have one of the best pass rushers in the game. However, even a true star like Aidan Hutchinson could use some help, as he's often facing double teams, chip blocks, and drawing most of the attention.
For years, general manager Brad Holmes has failed to find the right guy to start opposite his star pass rusher. This time, they added D.J. Wonnum to the mix and drafted Derrick Moore, but they can probably still do better.
Considering that, they should make a run at Von Miller. Even if he's no longer the same head-hunting superstar he used to be, he can still play at a high level and could give this team a huge punch as a proven pass rusher.
Von Miller makes perfect sense for the Detroit Lions
The Lions don't have the most financial flexibility right now. According to Over The Cap, they're sitting on $18.6 million in cap space, so it's hard to believe they will be in the market for a big splash or a pricey signing.
Fortunately for them, they won't have to break the bank to get Miller. Spotrac projects his market value at just $5.8 million per year, and given the apparent lack of interest in his services, perhaps he'll even take less.
Of course, Miller isn't going to single-handedly change the defense, but even at his age, he had 36 pressures and 10.0 sacks for the struggling Washington Commanders last season, so he clearly still has plenty left in the tank.
Miller doesn't want to retire yet, and he's earned the right to walk away on his own terms. He can be a rotational and situational guy in Kelvin Sheppard's defense, and they don't even need him to play heavy snaps to stay sharp.
The Lions are looking to get back to the playoffs after a fairly disappointing season in 2025, so they can't afford to get complacent. Moore is a promising prospect, but it might be a while before he can make an impact, and Wonnum is slightly above average at best.
Expecting Miller to log double digits in sacks might not be realistic, but he's made a living out of keeping quarterbacks on his toes. Also, it's hard to think of a better mentor for their young defenders, and there's literally no downside to giving him an opportunity to prove that he can still play at a high level.
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