By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions may be inching closer to adding a familiar NFC North face to their roster, and it’s a move that could bring some serious firepower to their defense.
As the NFL offseason kicks into high gear — especially with the 2025 NFL Draft just two weeks out — teams are scrambling to fine-tune their rosters. While much of Detroit’s attention is understandably on this year’s incoming rookie class, there’s still plenty of time for general manager Brad Holmes to make a few veteran additions before the big night. And it seems one name that’s staying on Detroit’s radar is former Chicago Bears defensive end, DeMarcus Walker.
Walker, an experienced pass rusher, recently caught the Lions’ attention enough to warrant a visit. According to ESPN‘s Jeremy Fowler, the 30-year-old met with Detroit’s brass last week. Whether or not a deal is imminent remains to be seen, but the signs are pointing in a promising direction for Lions fans.
In fact, Detroit’s odds of landing Walker appear to have improved thanks to some recent developments.
Fowler also reported earlier this week that Walker had a scheduled meeting with the New York Giants on Wednesday. Normally, competition for a free agent might make things tricky, but in this case, the outcome favors the Lions — Walker reportedly left New York without signing a deal.
If the Giants didn’t do enough to seal the deal, that opens the door wider for Detroit. With the Lions needing to beef up their pass rush following several key departures this offseason, Walker could fill a critical gap.
Detroit’s defensive front has taken a few hits recently. Veteran John Cominsky surprised many when he announced his retirement in March. Meanwhile, Jonah Williams opted to head south and signed with the New Orleans Saints. The status of another key contributor, Za’Darius Smith, remains unclear — he’s still on the market, but his disappointing playoff performance may have cooled the Lions’ interest in a reunion.
That leaves defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard with some holes to patch — and a player like Walker might be the right fit.
A former second-round pick out of Florida State in 2017, Walker brings a solid resume to the table. Over his eight-year NFL career, he’s appeared in 100 games, notching 117 solo tackles, 26.5 sacks, two pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. Most recently, he suited up for the Bears in 34 games across two seasons, starting 29 of them. He’s clearly a guy who knows how to handle significant snaps and could immediately slot into Detroit’s defensive rotation.
Perhaps even more encouraging for the Lions is Walker’s status in the free-agent market. After being bought out by the Bears in February, he may come at a more team-friendly price. And with Detroit holding over $42.8 million in cap space, according to Spotrac, Holmes won’t need to pinch pennies if Walker ends up drawing interest from other franchises.
NFL front offices typically like to have a clear picture of their roster before the draft rolls around, and the Lions are likely aiming to make a decision on Walker sooner rather than later. That gives Detroit a two-week window to strike a deal and potentially bring in a veteran who can deliver some much-needed disruption off the edge.
If everything lines up, it might not be long before Lions fans are checking their favorite gear shops, ready to add a new jersey to the collection — one with a name they never thought they’d be cheering for.