The Detroit Lions' need for an edge rusher is old hat at this point, with some low-level swings and a lot of missing in the effort to find some pass rush juice opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
While it would be nice to see general manager Brad Holmes take a big swing for an edge rusher this offseason, it most likely isn't happening. That's not to say there won't be some good options out there on the free agency and trade markets, and even if Al-Quadin Muhammad is re-signed someone else should be added to the mix.
Heading into Super Bowl LX, Jared Dubin of CBS Sports matched each NFL team with a free agent they should prioritize.
For the Lions, that free agent was edge rusher Joey Bosa.
"The Lions always need pass rush help across from Aidan Hutchinson. They're not going to have much in the way of cap space this offseason, so they're going to have to shop in the bargain bin, and we've seen that Bosa can do decent work in a rotational role on a top team."
Joey Bosa might be right in Brad Holmes' edge rusher wheelhouse
As his time with the Los Angeles Chargers came to an inevitable end last offseason, Bosa was easy to offer as a potential free agent target for the Lions. He ultimately signed with the Buffalo Bills, and as Dubin noted he found a place as a rotational rusher.
After winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2016 and earning four Pro Bowl nods (when that meant something) over his first six seasons, injuries turned Bosa into a shell of that player over his final three seasons as a Charger.
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While his sack production still wasn't elite with the Bills this season, with five quarterback takedowns over 15 regular season games, Bosa rebounded back to being a top-30 graded edge defender by Pro Football Focus with a top-10 pass rush grade among his positional peers. He also forced a league-high five fumbles, with nine tackles for loss.
Bosa has put himself in position to get a multi-year deal from someone this offseason, and that's what Spotrac is projecting. But it's safe to assume he'd take another one-year deal if it meant joining a contending team, and the match with the Lions makes more sense this time around.