The Detroit Lions have made their fair share of moves before the third week of NFL free agency begins. General manager Brad Holmes has worked diligently to add new players, such as center Cade Mays and running back Isiah Pacheco, while also retaining familiar faces, including cornerback Rock Ya-Sin and special-teams linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez — just to name a few.
Even though the first wave of moves addressed some key needs, the Lions' work isn't finished, especially on defense. Upgrading the pass rush was a top priority when the offseason began, and it's safe to say that adding D.J. Wonnum and Payton Turner to the defensive line won't be enough.
Holmes & Co. will need another addition to help make star disruptor Aidan Hutchinson's life easier, which is why it's time for the Lions to give Jadeveon Clowney a phone call.
Jadeveon Clowney Can Help Solve Lions' Pass-Rush Concerns
The Lions' pass rush is looking somewhat thin after the early free agency action.
They saw 11-sack man Al-Quadin Muhammad sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Tyrus Wheat and his 1.5 sacks re-joined the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year contract. That's without mentioning how Josh Paschal and Marcus Davenport's contracts also expired. Despite some of the aforementioned departures' flaws, losing multiple players will negatively affect depth.
That's why, with so few free-agent options remaining, the Lions should have Clowney on their radar.
The 33-year-old EDGE's best days might be years behind him, but that doesn't mean he still can't make a positive impact. Clowney is coming off a productive season with the Cowboys, which saw him amass 8.5 sacks (one off his career-high), 24 solo tackles, four broken-up passes, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble.
Clowney's performance is made further impressive by Pro Football Focus' pressure stats, and the rate at which he was attacking opposing quarterbacks compared to recent seasons:
Season | Pass Rushing Snaps | Pressures | % of Pass Rushing Snaps Resulting in Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|
2025 | 227 | 40 | 17.6% |
2024 | 346 | 44 | 12.7% |
2023 | 545 | 78 | 14.3% |
2022 | 305 | 29 | 9.5% |
2021 | 422 | 53 | 12.6% |
The fact that Clowney is being as productive at this stage of his career can't be ignored. Throw in the fact that he has 23.5 sacks in the last three seasons alone, along with 160 games played between the regular season and playoffs under his belt, and it's clear that he's the experienced pass rusher that the Lions' defense desperately needs.
What's great is that a signing likely wouldn't break the bank either. Spotrac lists Clowney's projected market value at only $5.7 million on a one-year contract, which is more than affordable for a Detroit team sitting with $23.8 million in available cap space, according to OverTheCap.
A similar contract would give the Lions a short-term solution before they can look to the 2026 NFL draft for a long-term option.
The NFC North is shaping up to be another competitive battle next season, and the Lions can't afford to enter the mix without a bolstered pass rush. Hutchinson is one man and can only do so much alone, which is why signing Clowney before the calendar flips to April must happen.
Even if he isn't a Pro Bowler anymore, Clowney has proven to have enough juice in the tank and experience to help the Lions have an easier time attacking opposing QBs. He's only going to garner more attention as other potential options come off the board, meaning Detroit needs to work on a deal before another team steals its thunder.