Lions free agent pitch lands former $21 million Bears defender for valuable depth

The Detroit Lions need help at edge rusher. Outside of Aidan Hutchinson, the team doesn't have another starting-caliber player at the position and could also add some more depth to the group.

General manager Brad Holmes may be hunting for a big name to bolster the pass rush, but Pride of Detroit's Jeremy Reisman believes the Lions should sign former Chicago Bears edge rusher DeMarcus Walker in free agency to help out Hutchinson.

"Walker brings some inside/outside versatility along the defensive line. And while he only has 7.0 sacks in the past two seasons (as a starter with the Bears), his size (6-foot-4, 280) and violence make him an above-average run defender," Reisman wrote.

Though he isn't a high-level starter, Walker would be a fantastic addition to Detroit's defense. The 30-year-old started all 17 games for the Bears in 2024, totaling 3.5 sacks and 39 quarterback pressures with seven tackles for loss and 25 defensive stops. He also hasn't missed a game in three years.

Walker could serve as a starter on Kelvin Sheppard's defense, but he would be best suited in a rotational role as a solid depth piece. Additionally, the Florida State product shouldn't cost too much to sign, and the Lions still have $42 million in cap space to utilize.

Overall, Walker isn't an electric player and wouldn't elevate the Lions, but the veteran could play a valuable depth role on the defense and take some pressure off Hutchinson. However, he wouldn't completely solve Detroit's edge rusher issue.

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