5 free agent edge rushers Detroit Lions should have on their radar

4. Emmanuel Ogbah

Ogbah was moved inside more by the Dolphins after the acquisition of Bradley Chubb in 2022, and his sack production dropped (6.5 over the last two seasons, with an injury ending his 2022 season early). He still had 5.5 sacks and 15 pressures last season, over 246 snaps (15 games), but with cap concerns he has an easy offseason cut for Miami.

Ogbah is versatile, able to line up inside or outside, standing up or with his hand on the ground out on the edge. A rotational role would suit him best at this point in his career, and as mentioned he thrived in a role like that last year. That also happens to be the kind of role the Lions would slot him into to help their pass rush.

Plenty of teams could see Ogbah as a valuable veteran to add to their defensive front. The Lions should be among them.

3. Carl Lawson

Lawson is a popular post-draft edge rusher target for the Lions in other places, so let's get on the bandwagon here.

After playing all 17 games for the New York Jets in 2022, Lawson played in just six games for them last season. He was often a healthy scratch due to the depth the Jets had, and he was the subject of trade rumors. But that 2022 campaign was a solid bounce-back (seven sacks) after he missed the entire 2021 season with a torn Achilles, and now he's further removed from the injury.

Lawson makes a lot of sense for the Lions as a cheap flier, and at this point his options look thin. Being devalued by the Jets is absolutely not a knock on what he can offer to another team (see Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers).