The Detroit Lions' defensive line is already looking lighter just a few days into the free agency tampering period. Veteran defensive tackle Roy Lopez left to join the Arizona Cardinals on a two-year contract, while the likes of D.J. Reader, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and Marcus Davenport aren't guaranteed to sign new contracts with the Lions, either.
There is only so much that star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson can do by himself. The Lions need to get him some help before it's too late, which is why one of the NFL's latest releases might stick out to general manager Brad Holmes.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Carolina Panthers "released veteran defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson" on Tuesday.
Robinson, a former 2019 second-round pick by the Lions, has since bounced around between the Los Angeles Rams (2020-22), New York Giants (2023), and Panthers (2024-25), but could offer some much-needed help for Hutchinson if Detroit opts to pursue him.
Potential A'Shawn Robinson Reunion Could Address Lions' DT Needs
Although the Lions were tied for the fourth-most sacks last season (49), Muhammad, Davenport, and Josh Paschal are all free agents at the moment.
Muhammad, specifically, is coming off a career season with personal-bests in QB hits (20), tackles for loss (9), QB pressures (26) and sacks (11). Not only that, the Lions entered free agency facing a nightmare scenario with veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone before he agreed to a two-year, $17 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday.
With so much change taking place on this Lions defense, potentially bringing in a veteran like Robinson is exactly what they need.
During his previous four-year stint with the franchise, Robinson had at least 30 tackles each season, along with a total of five sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one interception. That production has only increased after leaving the Motor City, picking up a career-high 80 tackles with the Panthers in 2024 and combining for eight sacks the last two seasons.
In addition to the potential departures from some of the key contributors from last season's defense and the loss of Anzalone to the Buccaneers, CB Amik Robertson agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with the Washington Commanders on Monday. Robertson was sixth on the team with 52 tackles in 2025 and would be another tough blow for the Lions.
The free-agency period does not officially begin until the start of the league year on Wednesday, but Robertson's decision opens the door for 2024 second-round pick Ennis Rakestraw Jr. to compete for a starting role and prove his worth to the franchise.
The bottom line for Detroit, as free agency officially begins on Wednesday, is that it needs to focus on adding as much depth as it can to the defensive front to alleviate some of the pressure off Hutchinson. His talent is undeniable, but he could honestly be even more dangerous if some of the attention were taken away from him because of another threat on the opposite side of the front.
There may be other options that emerge, but if the Lions are intent on improving their pass rush, bringing Robinson back into the fold could be their best move. After all, he was solid during his previous run with the franchise, and a cheap deal could give him a chance to run things back.
And if the former Lions draft pick can help make Hutchinson's life easier, even better.