5 realistic free agents the Lions could sign in 2024

5. EDGE Bryce Huff

The Lions should be honing in on some edge rushers on the free agent market. The question is to what level they'll pursue them, and if some high-end options (Brian Burns, Josh Allen) will be available to sign. But it's deep group of free agents at the position, and not getting one of some note will be malpractice.

Huff had a breakout season in 2023, registering 10 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 21 quarterback hits. He also only played 42 percent of the New York Jets' defensive snaps, but he maintained his pass rushing efficiency with a notable uptick in workload. The Jets are unlikely to be able to keep him given their cap situation, and signs continually point to them not valuing him nearly enough to be able to keep him.

Huff led the league with a 21.8 percent pressure rate last season, and he has been top-two in that metric in back-to-back seasons. Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Network outlined the fit for the Lions.

"Bryce Huff ranked top-two in pressure rate in each of the past two seasons, but he was never a full-time player for the New York Jets. He’s never played 500 defensive snaps in a single campaign. The Lions have the depth to account for Huff’s lack of availability, but they might also see if he could be similarly effective in an expanded role.”

Huff does give off some "one-trick pony" vibes, as a sheer pass rusher and not much else. He has also never played more than 500 defensive snaps in a season. But those 10 tackles for loss last season point to him being impactful as a run defender too, and another bump up in his role should not diminish what he does getting after the quarterback.

The caveat here for the Lions is the number of suitors Huff seems likely to have. Getting involved in a bidding war doesn't seem likely, with the number of other options there should be. But Huff is a projectable player with seemingly untapped potential, and that makes him someone the Lions would target.