After multiple years of what can best be called half-measures to find a suitable edge rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson, the Detroit Lions finally devoted a notable resource to the effort. While some may say he wasn't the top edge rusher available, second-round pick Derrick Moore looks to be a great fit.
Add Moore to free agent signing D.J. Wonnum, and the Lions might finally have edge rushers who can legitimately take blocking attention away from Hutchinson. But, as the saying goes at some other positions, "you can never have enough pass rushers."
It seems unlikely the Lions will make another move to add an edge rusher before the season starts, but it's not totally out of the question either. On that note, ESPN's Matt Bowen has matched them with a still-available free agent who easily landed as a potential target earlier this offseason.
Jadeveon Clowney.
"Detroit drafted edge rusher Derrick Moore in the second round to play opposite Aidan Hutchinson on pass-rushing downs, but Clowney would provide more depth up front. He had 8.5 sacks and 32 pressures last season in 13 games for the Cowboys, winning late in the down to get to the quarterback. Clowney would provide rotational value for coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's unit."
Jadeveon Clowney (still) looks like a nice fit for the Lions
Clowney has become a mercenary, now headed for what will likely be his fifth team in as many seasons and his eighth team in 13 NFL seasons. He has also tended to sign late in recent years, inking a deal with a new team on May 25 or later in three of the last four years.
The 33-year old Clowney is clearly best-suited to the rotational role Bowen mentioned at this stage of his career, but his overall effectiveness cannot be dismissed.
Clowney has posted a top-20 pass rush win rate among edge rushers in each of the last three seasons. In two of those three seasons, he tallied at least 8.5 sacks. Last season, as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, he posted the highest Pro Football Focus pass rush grade of his career (80.6).
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Clowney has also been a stout run defender, with the 16th-best grade among edge defenders last season. In three of the last four seasons, he has had a run defense grade of 70.6 or better. The proficiency alsos shows up in traditional stats, with at least nine tackles for loss in four of the last five seasons.
The percentage chance the Lions sign Clowney is a whole lot lower than whatever it might've been in March. But as long as he's available, the former No. 1 overall pick should be somewhere on the radar as a top free agent fit.
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