The Detroit Lions found a promising young player in edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, but struggled the prior year to sustain a reliable pass rush after their breakout sophomore campaign.
The Lions are a strong contender for Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones when he hits free agency, so there is hope for change in the approaching offseason.
Despite obtaining a $80-million contract in 2020, Jones returned to the Chiefs last season on a one-year agreement, contributing heavily to their consecutive Super Bowl titles.
Alex Kay of Bleacher Report reports that Detroit could be Jones’ final destination in the upcoming season, provided the Lions are prepared to pay his high contract demands.
“There is no doubt that Jones would have a huge influence on Detroit’s ability to both get after opposing quarterbacks and slow down the run, even though his services will be expensive. The five-time Pro Bowler would be a fantastic companion for Aidan Hutchinson, the No. 2 overall pick in 2022, who has had a scorching start to the season with 21 sacks in his first two seasons.
Kay underlined the Lions’ narrow escape from the NFC Championship game, particularly their 17-point deficit against the San Francisco 49ers. This game revealed the team’s obvious defensive shortcomings, which Kay felt Jones—who was considered a “superstar”—could solve.
Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson were added by the Lions in an attempt to strengthen their secondary over the summer, however both players passed away from chronic injuries. Although the Lions strengthened their defense, Kay admitted that the team finished the season with a defensive rating that was in the lower half of the league for both total and scoring defense.
Although it would come at a high cost, stopping Jones would surely give them pass rush a big boost. However, if the Lions believe they are just one or two wins away from winning the Super Bowl, then they must act now. Chris Jones’ signing might be the risky step the squad needs to take in order to compete for a championship.