By Blessing 
With the NFL Draft just over a week away, the Detroit Lions still have a glaring hole on their roster—one that’s lingered since the start of free agency. They’ve yet to secure a solid No. 2 edge rusher to line up opposite Aidan Hutchinson. And while most of the big names in free agency have already been scooped up, there are still a few intriguing options out there.
One name that’s starting to gain traction is veteran pass rusher Emmanuel Ogbah, who’s spent the last five seasons with the Miami Dolphins. In a recent piece highlighting one free agent each team should still consider, Mark Stolte of Pro Football Network pointed directly at Ogbah for Detroit. He sees the former Dolphin as a near-perfect match for what the Lions need on defense.
Ogbah might not be a flashy signing, but he brings consistency—a trait Detroit could use more of on the edge. He’s posted five or more sacks in six of his nine NFL seasons, including six sacks and 33 total pressures just last year in Miami. That’s the kind of steady production that could really take some pressure off Hutchinson.
What’s more, Ogbah isn’t a liability against the run. In fact, he quietly put together a strong season in that area, racking up 26 stops—ranking 28th among all edge rushers, per Pro Football Focus. And financially, he shouldn’t break the bank either. After costing the Dolphins only $3.25 million in 2024, he could be a budget-friendly addition for Detroit.
Bringing Ogbah on board wouldn’t just be a depth move. It would give the Lions a reliable veteran presence, someone who can hold down the fort until a long-term solution develops. “He was one of the options I liked when I wrote about the Lions needing a ‘bridge’ edge,” Stolte wrote, “and he remains somebody the Lions should be looking at as a late addition to their roster.”
Time’s ticking—but if the Lions want a smart, steady playmaker, Ogbah may be their best bet.