The Detroit Lions just watched a huge overpay pass them by, with former Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins pass rusher Jaelan Phillips agreeing to a humungous deal with the Carolina Panthers to the tune of four years and $120 million. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter was first with the news.
Of note, Aidan Hutchinson's recent extension with the Lions was worth $180 million over four years.
This was not a price that the Lions would've ever been able to match, let alone get close to, considering the fact that Brad Holmes has never really paid for a blockbuster pass rush signing like this. Even though Detroit may need to replace Al-Quadin Muhammad this offseason, Phillips at this price would've been seen as a big hinderance to their ability to build out the rest of their roster.
With so many other needs on the table, including on their offensive line at center and tackle, Detroit was smart to let this opportunity slip them by.
Phillips set to land with Carolina in huge deal
Pass rusher remains a huge need for Detroit, as Muhammad is a free agent and Marcus Davenport hasn't proven to be a reliable defender next to Aidan Hutchinson. This is also an interesting free agency class where Holmes could feasibly land a starting pass rusher with a proven track record of getting to the quarterback without breaking the bank. Cam Jordan comes to mind.
With their cap space pretty up in the air thanks to Taylor Decker's release being unofficial, it feels likely that the Lions are looking on the margins to make deals.
READ MORE: Lions Free-Agency Tracker 2026: Signings, departures, cap space analysis, and more
The Eagles traded for Phillips last season, edging out other pass rush needy teams for his services. The result? Two sacks and one postseason game. A third rounder for that return now looks a little foolish. And, it shows why Holmes might be a little hesitant at the deadline to shake things up too much.
The Lions remain players for other notable pass rushers on the market, including Jordan and Joey Bosa, although the latter would be more of the same from their recent edge rusher signings: injury woes and inabilty to stay healthy.