By Moses Joshua 
With Aidan Hutchinson returning from injury, Lions face renewed pressure to fortify pass rush before training camp begins
Judon Emerges as Logical Fit in Lions’ Thin Edge Rotation
The Detroit Lions have made bold strides toward becoming a perennial contender, but cracks still linger in the defensive front—particularly at edge rusher. While star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is expected to return strong from a season-ending injury, the Lions remain in search of a consistent presence to complement him.
Now, with training camp just around the corner, one name is generating buzz as a solution: veteran pass rusher Matthew Judon.
Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire recently spotlighted Judon, a Detroit native and four-time Pro Bowler, as a possible fit. “Judon bagged 15.5 sacks playing OLB for New England in 2022 and was leading the NFL in sacks in 2023 before suffering a torn biceps in Week 4,” Risdon noted. “If he’s got a late-career rebound in him, Judon’s length and craftiness at EDGE are exactly what the Lions covet at the position.”
Despite an underwhelming stint in Atlanta in 2024—part of a broader team-wide struggle—Judon still managed 5.5 sacks and 41 tackles. His $54.5 million pedigree speaks to his upside, and his experience could be invaluable in bolstering a Detroit pass rush that notched just 37 total sacks last season.
Detroit’s Edge Depth Leaves Room for Veteran Reinforcements
The Lions have tried to build depth behind Hutchinson, but their recent efforts haven’t solidified the position. Once-promising edge rusher James Houston showed flashes during his rookie year with 8.0 sacks in just seven games but fell short of expectations last season, eventually being released.
Za’Darius Smith, who was acquired midseason and registered 4.0 sacks in the stretch run, was also let go earlier this offseason—though analysts believe a reunion could be in play.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox pointed to Smith as a fallback option if Hutchinson’s recovery doesn’t proceed as planned:
“While it would be great to have a healthy Hutchinson in training camp and under contract long-term, Detroit should be looking for more at the position.”
Knox emphasized that Detroit’s second-highest sack total behind Hutchinson was just four, further underlining the need for pass-rush insurance.
Front Office Weighing Veteran Help After Quiet Draft
The 2025 NFL Draft yielded only one edge rusher for Detroit—Boise State’s Ahmed Hassanein, a developmental prospect not expected to start early. ESPN analyst Matt Bowen sees the lack of rookie competition as another reason to explore the veteran market:
“The Lions took only one edge rusher in the 2025 draft… leaving a need for a veteran opposite Aidan Hutchinson. So even though Detroit released Smith in March, bringing him back on another deal makes a lot of sense.”
Whether the team opts to bring back a familiar face like Smith or gamble on a veteran rebound from Judon, it’s clear Detroit must act decisively if it hopes to maintain defensive balance.
The Clock Is Ticking
As training camp nears, the Lions front office faces a critical choice: stand pat with unproven depth, or make a calculated addition to shore up their title hopes. For a team with Super Bowl ambitions and a franchise pass rusher returning from injury, the time to reinforce is now.
If Judon still has gas in the tank, Detroit may just be the ideal destination to reignite his career—and finally close the gap opposite Hutchinson.