Detroit Lions free agency: Bargain bin, second-wave options at EDGE

With the first wave of free agency essnetially over on Monday, the Detroit Lions turn to some of their more pressing needs still left unaddressed. Detroit took care of some offensive line needs on Monday. Now let’s turn our focus to the defensive line—specifically on the defensive end position.

Aside from Aidan Hutchinson, the only edge defenders currently on Detroit’s roster are Josh Paschal, Tyler Lacy, and Ahmed Hassanein. Ideally, only one of those three ends up making the 53-man roster given the level of upgrades needed to make the defense more disruptive against opposing quarterbacks.

Fortunately, there are several capable options in free agency who could provide upgrades as base defensive ends. Here are my bargain-bin choices at defensive end for the second wave of NFL free agency.

A.J. Epenesa (Buffalo Bills | 6-6, 260 | Age 28)

Epenesa signed a second contract with the Bills two offseasons ago ($6M AAV), but it may be time for the former second-round pick to seek a new home after spending five of his six seasons primarily as a rotational player rather than a full-time starter (only six starts outside of 2024).

Even if the Lions re-sign Muhammad, they’ll still need an early-down defensive end, which will be a theme among the players in this article. Epenesa shares some physical similarities with Marcus Davenport, though he has been far more durable, missing just three games over the past three seasons (10 in his career).

The former five-star recruit—who also holds the Illinois high school discus record and was a standout prep basketball player—fits the rugged mold Detroit prefers. He can make life difficult for blockers on early downs and has the versatility to kick inside over offensive tackles when needed, which fits well within Detroit’s five-man front packages.

Epenesa is a downhill, heavy-handed defender who uses his length effectively against the run and as a power rusher. He recorded 30 defensive stops in 2024 (t-23rd among edge defenders) and 33 total QB pressures (66th among edge defenders).

He also logged the fourth-most snaps in a game in his career (53) against the Lions in 2024, generating multiple pressures against Taylor Decker.

Tyquan Lewis (Indianapolis Colts | 6-3, 257 | Age 31)

Lewis was a second-round pick in the Colts’ foundational 2018 draft class, selected after Quenton Nelson, Shaquille Leonard, and Braden Smith, which made him one of the longest-tenured players on that team. After eight seasons and three defensive coordinators, the former Al-Quadin Muhammad linemate may be looking for a change of scenery.

Lewis has played double-digit games only four times in his career, though three of those seasons have come in the past three years, suggesting his early injury issues may be behind him.

Lewis uses leverage well, has massive mitts to control blockers, and possesses an above-average first two steps that helps him create early advantages. He recorded a career-high 44 QB pressures in 2023 along with 4.0 sacks and 13 QB hits.

Like several players on this list, Lewis also brings interior versatility, having logged over 350 career snaps inside where his quickness can stress interior offensive linemen.

Arnold Ebiketie (Atlanta Falcons | 6-2, 250 | Age 27)

The Cameroon native may not have fully developed into the player the Falcons envisioned when they selected him 38th overall, but he also hasn’t benefited from stability, playing under four defensive coordinators in four seasons. Still, he is a durable and versatile dirty work defender.

Ebiketie is a purposeful, explosive player with long arms and powerful hands who can set the edge, create disruption on stunts, and even drop into coverage when needed. That versatility could make him a fit for some of the SAM linebacker roles the Lions have used with Derrick Barnes and Trevor Nowaske.

Ebiketie recorded 6.0 sacks in both 2023 and 2024 along with at least 11 QB hits in each of his first three seasons. While slightly undersized, he plays above his weight class, which is something the Lions could find appealing.

Cameron Sample (Cincinnati Bengals | 6-3, 272 | Age 27)

Sample is a thickly built, physical defender with strong upper-body power, traits the Lions typically value in their base defensive ends. He has played in at least 14 games in four of his five seasons, with the lone exception being a torn Achilles suffered during 2024 training camp in the middle of a contract year.

Across his three most recent healthy seasons, Sample recorded at least six QB hits and 12 defensive stops each year.

Sample occasionally kicks inside to defensive tackle but has also been deployed in coverage situations similar to Ebiketie. He has quick hands and a solid pass-rush toolbox and could give Lacy, Paschal, and Hassanein a run for their roster spot.

Samson Ebukam (Indianapolis Colts | 6-3, 245 | Age 31)

The Nigerian-born edge defender was originally drafted by the Rams while Brad Holmes was still in their front office.

Earlier in his career, Ebukam tested as an elite athlete, ranking in the 96th percentile among defensive ends in the broad jump, vertical jump, 40-yard dash, and 10-yard split. He could represent a cost-effective replacement for Al-Quadin Muhammad as a designated pass rusher if Muhammad becomes too expensive to retain.

Ebukam recorded at least 45 QB pressures in each season from 2021–2023 and would now be two years removed from the Achilles injury that ended his 2024 season following a career-high 9.5-sack campaign.

If fully healthy, he could bring his fastball for at least one more season off the edge.