Lions Predicted to Sign Former Giants Second Rounder to Bolster Pass Rush

The Detroit Lions have been brought up as a potential landing spot for plenty of high-profile edge rushers this offseason.

Myles Garrett and Khalil Mack have been popular names for much of the offseason while recent news bout Joey Bosa and Trey Hendrickson has added them to the list of potential targets.

However, Lions GM Brad Holmes made it pretty clear during the NFL Combine that an expensive move on the edge was unlikely when the team is working on a big extension for Aidan Hutchinson.

That could leave the team looking for less expensive options at the position.

The Athletic's Mike Jones believes the less expensive option they pursue will be a former second-round pick for a struggling NFC foe.

In a recent article, Jones predicted the Lions would sign New York Giants edge Azeez Ojulari.

Ojulari flashed a ton of potential in his rookie season after being drafted in the second round by the Giants.

In that first season, he racked up eight sacks, 27 pressures, and 49 total tackles. 

Unfortunately, injuries have been a big problem for him since then.

In his second year, Ojulari played just seven games, but was still responsible for 5.5 sacks and 13 pressures.

He appeared in 11 games the following season, but only managed 2.5 sacks.

This past season he once again played in 11 games, but had six sacks despite only playing on 58% of snaps.

The positives we've seen from Ojulari could make him an appealing free agent for teams that don't want to break the bank in free agency.

He has shown he can produce when healthy and was able to finish with the Giants' third-most sacks despite losing playing time to Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns.

At just 24 years old he would fit in with the young defensive core the Lions have built for themselves in recent years.

With the depth of the free agent class at edge and one of the league's most talented players at the position already on the roster, the Lions don't necessarily need to take a big swing to find a good complement for Hutchinson.

Investing in a guy with an injury history could be concerning for the Lions after last season, but Ojulari makes a lot of sense for them if they're not trying to spend on the edge and want the position settled before the draft.