Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions were the best team in the NFL last season. They look to be headed toward a potential Super Bowl run, but were quickly knocked out of the playoffs by the red-hot Washington Commanders in their first postseason outing.
Following that loss, the Lions are more motivated to get the 2025 season underway than ever. They’re ready to get back on the field and get the sting of that playoff loss out of their system.
On the outside looking in, Detroit looks the part of a Super Bowl contender. The roster is loaded with talent, although there are a couple of areas the front office could look to beef up.
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Should Brad Holmes and company want to make a move to add more talent and depth, the Lions could use more pass rushing help.
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As of right now, Detroit has Aiden Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport penciled in as their starting defensive ends. Behind them, the Lions have Josh Paschal and Al-Quadin Muhammad.
Those two players are not bad, but the team could consider making a high-impact move. There are a couple of players still available in NFL free agency who could be elite depth and even play a role to keep Hutchinson and Davenport fresh.
With that being said, Detroit has been urged to consider signing one of them.
Fox Sports reporter Carmen Vitali has suggested that the Lions look into signing four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Matthew Judon.
“Yes, the Lions are getting Aidan Hutchinson back, but coming off injury, they should try to make his return as easy on him as possible. That is, not making him shoulder the load too much too soon,” Vitali wrote.
“Detroit is also relying on the health of Marcus Davenport on the other side of the defensive line even with Hutchinson healthy. That hasn’t worked out in recent seasons, so getting another guy off the edge can’t hurt.”
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Judon would be an intriguing pickup to help fix the issue. He didn’t make a huge impact for the Atlanta Falcons during the 2024 NFL season, but he wasn’t horrible either.
In 17 games, Judon racked up 41 tackles, 5.5 sacks, an interception, a defensive touchdown, and five defended passes. He has totaled 72 sacks in his career.
While his 2024 numbers weren’t elite, he’s still more than capable of playing a role. As a depth pickup who could play when called upon, Judon would be an elite option.
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