The Detroit Lions can't continue to avoid making a move for an edge rusher ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
It was an approach that didn't seem promising throughout this offseason, but now that luxury has really been taken from them because of the injury to Levi Onwuzurike.
Yesterday I wrote about why this means it's time for the Lions to finally just get a deal done with Za'Darius Smith to bring the former Pro Bowler back for another season after he played well for them in 2024.
Pro Football and Sports Network's Jacob Infante thinks the Lions could also pursue a different former Pro Bowler.
In a recent article predicting landing spots for the NFL's top remaining free agents. Infante named the Lions as a potential landing spot for former Atlanta Falcons edge Matthew Judon.
Judon would be an okay consolation prize if the Lions don't get Smith or Jadeveon Clowney, but he's an option that would be really hard to be excited about.
We know what Judon's ceiling looks like. He was a Pro Bowler for four consecutive seasons and that wasn't really all that long ago.
He was also on a pretty strong pace the year after his last Pro Bowl appearance. He had four sacks in just four games in 2023.
However, the decline was steep in 2024.
He did manage to get 5.5 sacks this past season, which is more than any player currently on the Lions' roster not named Aidan Hutchinson. He just didn't provide much else as a pass rusher.
Judon created only 25 total pressures, which put him in 72nd at his position according to Pro Football Focus.
He was able to make 41 tackles, but also missed six tackles.
Judon is probably a cheaper option than Smith or Clowney, which could appeal to the Lions with the way they've been operating this offseason.
He's also definitely an upgrade over Marcus Davenport.
It would just be disappointing to see the Lions settle for Judon when there are better options out there, they have the cap space to sign somebody better, and they are firmly within their championship window.
