The Detroit Lions have spent two seasons searching for a reliable pass-rushing complement to Aidan Hutchinson, but their efforts have yet to yield lasting results.
A new report suggests the Lions might make another attempt during the upcoming offseason, with a focus on acquiring a young edge rusher experiencing a breakout season. Bleacher Report’s Kris Knox identified New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari as an ideal target for the Lions.
The Lions recently bolstered their pass rush by acquiring Za’Darius Smith at the trade deadline, with his contract extending through next season. However, Knox argued that Ojulari could provide a more sustainable solution.
“Smith will turn 33 at the start of next season, and Detroit should be searching for a long-term complement to Hutchinson on the edge,” Knox wrote. “If they’re going to find one in free agency—they’re projected to have $65 million in 2025 cap space available—Azeez Ojulari would be the perfect target.”
Lions’ Defense Could See Significant Boost
Ojulari showed promise during his rookie season in 2021, recording eight sacks. However, injuries limited him to just 18 games over the following two seasons. This year, Ojulari has bounced back with six sacks so far, putting him on track to set a career high.
“At just 24 years old, Ojulari is just now stepping into his playing prime,” Knox wrote. “Though injury and a reduced role pulled him from the spotlight after his eight-sack 2021 rookie season, he’s shown that he can be a high-end No. 2 edge while filling in for Kayvon Thibodeaux this season.”
While Smith could temporarily fill the gap during Hutchinson’s recovery from a fractured leg, Ojulari could serve as a long-term solution, Knox suggested.
“Ojulari and Hutchinson could be a dangerous combination for the next half-decade or more,” he wrote.
The Lions have already made strides in improving other areas of their defense, particularly their secondary, but consistency in the pass rush remains elusive outside of Hutchinson’s breakout contributions.
Slim Hope for Hutchinson’s Return
Despite suffering a severe injury in the team’s October victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Hutchinson has a small chance of returning to action this season—if the Lions make an extraordinary playoff run.
On October 19, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Hutchinson’s injury involved a clean break, which simplifies his recovery and could enable a return for the final game of the NFL season.
“Sources say there are several factors that point to Hutchinson potentially being back at the early benchmark of four months — which would be right at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025 — provided Detroit makes it, of course,” Rapoport wrote.
“Though Hutchinson’s injury was horrific and chilling to watch, the fracture itself was actually a clean break, sources say. There was no ligament damage. There was no nerve damage. The kinds of issues that can result with such a serious break were not present — very good news.”
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