The Detroit Lions don't suit up until Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens, but Sunday's inactive list should have their attention.
The Philadelphia Eagles made Azeez Ojulari inactive for the third consecutive game, indicating they don't plan to use him much, if at all, this season. Due to the need at the position, the Lions should call up their conference foe to gauge the price on Ojulari.
Lions Should Call the Eagles About Azeez Ojulari
Over the last couple of weeks, players like Za'Darius Smith and Jadeveon Clowney have signed one-year deals with the Eagles and Cowboys, respectively. That leaves edge rushers like Carl Lawson and DeMarcus Walker as the best free agents available.
Instead of potentially signing one of those players, Ojulari has a higher ceiling. The biggest problem for in the NFL has been staying healthy. He hasn't played more than 11 games in the last three games, and his play in Philly over the offseason wasn't good enough to get him into the defensive line rotation.
Potentially throwing a late-day three pick (6th or 7th rounder) to Detroit would be more than enough to get a deal over the finish line. There's a chance that Philadelphia could release Ojulari, but trading for him would guarantee the Lions would have him.
In 46 career games (30 starts), he has secured 107 total tackles, 21 TFLs, 37 QB hits, and 22 sacks. The Lions already have Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike on the PUP list. And Josh Paschal has been on the NFI list. That's without mentioning that Marcus Davenport is missing time with a chest injury.
Adding a player like Ojulari would give them a nice depth option at a position of need. The Lions wouldn't be asking him to be a starter, but playing 15-20 snaps at edge would be massive. He has shown the ability that he can get after the quarterback in this league and would be a smart addition for the Lions.
Whether or not he still has it remains to be seen, but the Eagles have an abundance of pass rushers. So they don't have a need for Ojular, but the Lions do.