NFL rumors: Former Lion Trey Flowers looks like option for division rival

Former Lions edge rusher Trey Flowers remains available as July approaches, but he might be on the radar of a NFC North rival now.

The Detroit Lions did what they had to do when they released defensive end Trey Flowers in March. Even with injuries dampening his last two seasons in Detroit, it’s surprising he remains available on the free agent market as July approaches and training camps start in basically a month.

The New England Patriots, the team that drafted Flowers, has always seemed like a logical landing spot for him. As have the Las Vegas Raiders, with former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as head coach and former New England director of pro scouting Dave Ziegler the general manager.

Over the last month-plus, the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles have surfaced as teams who could possibly have Flowers on their radar. The Lions play the Panthers and Eagles this season, so the revenge game angle is there with both.

NFL Rumors: Trey Flowers on the radar of a Lions’ division rival?

According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky (subscription required), the Green Bay Packers “might be looking for upgrades” at edge rusher. After Rashan Gary and Preston Smith, there’s rookie fifth-round pick Kingsley Enagbare and then it gets thin quickly.

When shaping a list of available veteran edge rushers, Flowers automatically lands with Jason Pierre-Paul and (pending the outcome of his UFA tender) Justin Houston at the top.

The Packers are in win-now mode for as long as Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback. He has made it clear he’s taking his career year-by-year, and retirement will come whenever he sees fit. Any places on the roster where depth is not good or the talent simply lacks will not suffice in the legitimate pursuit of a Super Bowl ring.

Flowers probably prefers to sign with a contending team, if he can. Among the possible suitors that have been hypothesized, the Packers stand above the rest as the team with the best chance to win the Super Bowl this year.

So there appears to be an easy match between Green Bay and Flowers. Time will tell if a deal gets done, and the Lions wind up facing their former big free agent signing twice this season.