4 potential options for Detroit Lions to replace John Cominsky

4. Josh Paschal

Let's start with an internal option. Injuries have impacted Paschal through his first two seasons (22 regular season games). He's an edge rusher by labeled trade, but he has played across the defensive line in each of his two seasons when he's been available. That's the type of versatility Cominsky has offered, which is also not necessarily easy to replace.

In their rookie season, 2022, Paschal's pressure rate (pressures divided by pass rush snaps, according to PFF) was not that far below Aidan Hutchinson's (8.9 percent, vs. 9.4 for Hutchinson).

This is a pivotal season for Paschal. Cominsky's injury could now open the door for him to have a big role as a versatile piece across the Lions' defensive line. The stats may not always pop, but health may be all that holds Paschal back from having a third-year breakthrough.

3. Shaq Lawson

Lawson had a pretty rough 2023 season for the Buffalo Bills, coming in as PFF's 107th-graded edge rusher out of 112 qualifiers (one sack over 321 defensive snaps). But overall he's been a solid pass rusher over the course of his career, with alignment versatility as a defensive end and an edge rusher.

From 2017-2022, Lawson posted a PFF run defense grade of at least 61.8 each season. Free agent options that look like a fit aren't plentiful, but Lawson stands out from others as a possible fit for the Lions as they possibly survey outside options to replace Cominsky.