The Detroit Lions had a major question mark at edge rusher ahead of the NFL trade deadline following the season-ending injuries to Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport, but they have since shored up that problem.
General manager Brad Holmes secured veteran edge rusher Za'Darius Smith in a trade with the Cleveland Browns ahead of the deadline, a move that will greatly bolster Detroit's chances of making a Super Bowl run.
Smith is under contract in 2025, but there's no guaranteed money left on his deal after this year and he's not a certainty to be back. That will depend upon how the 32-year-old performs the rest of the way.
With that in mind, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox believes the Lions could be players for Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence, who is in the final year of a three-year, $40 million contract.
The biggest concern with Lawrence right now is that he's on injured reserve with a foot injury. The timing of his return and his play following it will heavily impact where he's ranked in the spring.
However, Lawrence was simply superb this season before the injury. He tallied 14 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, 10 quarterback pressures and a forced fumble in four games. Lawrence should appeal to teams seeking pass-rush help or an improved run defense, though he's best suited for those utilizing a four-man front.
Lawrence would find a terrific fit with the Lions, who should have star edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson back by the spring. Hutchinson will remain Detroit's primary pass-rusher, but the Lions desperately need a high-end complement.
Lawrence was once one of the better edge rushers in the NFL after tallying double-digit sacks in 2017 and 2018. However, he hasn't tallied more than 6.5 in any year since, and he has dealt with injury issues.
If Smith pans out, the Lions aren't going to make a significant move for an edge rusher next year. On top of that, any interest Detroit has in Lawrence will depend upon his medicals, especially after he suffered a Lisfranc injury this season.
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