After a solid 2025 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions will turn their attention to the next phases of the offseason – rookie minicamp and OTAs.
The Lions coaches will be excited to see the incoming rookie class and undrafted free agents for the first time on the practice field. However, they look forward to seeing the whole team for OTAs later this month.
Before they get to OTAs, the Lions could look to make some changes to the 90-man roster, as several quality free agents sit on the open market. Many fans expected to see Detroit go after a pass rusher in the draft, which they did in the sixth round (Ahmed Hassanein).
However, with Aidan Hutchinson still rehabbing from a fractured tibia and fibula, the Lions must add a veteran in their pass-rushing rotation. Luckily for Detroit, there are still a couple of options in free agency that could help them, and we’re not talking about Za’Darius Smith.
Former Atlanta Falcons defensive end Matthew Judon could be the perfect signing for the Lions after his old team went out and used two first-round picks on pass rushers (Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.) in the 2025 NFL Draft.
With the Falcons deciding to go younger at EDGE, it likely shuts down a potential return for the veteran defender, which is good news for the Lions. Last season, Judon recorded 41 combined tackles, nine quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, five pass deflections, and an interception (returned for a defensive TD).
While those aren’t spectacular numbers, it was a solid starting point for the veteran defender, who missed most of the 2023 season in New England because of injury.
According to PFF, Judon had a 53.9 pass rush grade (161st among 211 EDGEs) and a 53.6 run defense grade, which is less than stellar. However, the hope is that those grades would improve in Detroit, where Judon would have better talent around him.
Spotrac projects Judon’s calculated market value at a two-year, $8.4 million deal ($4.2 million). Based on that projection, it's unlikely the Lions would consider a two-year pact, especially with how they approached re-signing their own guys on the defensive line.
However, the Lions could convince Judon to take a one-year contract to play with a Super Bowl contender and return to Michigan (hometown is Pontiac). It’s something that Lions fans should think about as we get closer to OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and eventually training camp.