Jaelan Phillips
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Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips.
The Detroit Lions have taken some big swings in a bid to boost their pass rush in recent seasons, but may have dodged a bullet with one of the most sought-after targets this offseason.
The Lions were named as a top potential landing spot for veteran edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who ultimately landed with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers gave him a massive contract, one that has attracted some criticism.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport identified the worst free agent “overpays” this offseason, putting Phillips at the top of the list. He noted that the four-year, $120 million contract is a high price for a player with a shaky track record and recent injury history.
“Phillips is a talented player entering his prime who had 35 pressures in 2025—good for 12th in the league per Pro Football Reference,” Davenport wrote. “But we’re talking about a player whose best season in terms of sacks (8.5) came back in his rookie season in 2021. A player who suffered an Achilles tendon tear and torn ACL in consecutive seasons. And a player who hasn’t had seven sacks in a campaign since 2022.
“Sure, Phillips has potential. But $30 million a season is a lot to pay for ‘maybe.’ “
Phillips had been pegged as a top potential target for the Lions, dating back to last season’s trade deadline, when Marlowe Alter of the Detroit Free Press named him as a top candidate to replace the injured Marcus Davenport.
“Phillips was the 18th overall pick by Miami in the 2021 NFL Draft,” Alter wrote. “After playing in 17 games in each of his first two seasons (15½ sacks combined), he played in eight games in 2023 with 6½ sacks and four in 2024 with one sack. He has nine tackles in three games for the 0-3 Dolphins. He is playing on the final year of his rookie deal.”
Lions Could Still Make Additions
The Lions were also seen as a potential suitor for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby before his failed trade to the Baltimore Ravens and subsequent return to the Las Vegas Raiders. Though the Lions may no longer be a contender to land Crosby — especially as the Raiders have no immediate plans to put him back on the trade block — some analysts believe they will look for edge rushing help in the NFL draft.
They could also add more firepower in free agency. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox called named the Lions as one of the top fits for free agent Joey Bosa, who is coming off a productive season with the Buffalo Bills..
“Pass-rusher Joey Bosa may turn 31 in July, but he remains an effective and disruptive rotational defender. This past season, he recorded five sacks, 24 quarterback pressures, and nine tackles for loss for the Buffalo Bills,” wrote Knox.
“While Bosa’s level of play would still justify a multi-year deal, he’s best suited for a legitimate contender at this stage of his career. He may still be impactful in 2027 and beyond, but that doesn’t mean he’s the right fit for a rebuilding team.”
Knox suggested that Bosa would be a particularly good fit in Detroit.
“Bosa would be a great fit for the Detroit Lions, who still don’t have a high-end complement to Aidan Hutchinson,” Knox wrote. “Detroit added D.J. Wonnum in free agency, but it has room for Bosa in the pass-rushing rotation.”