Lions urged to sign former No.1 overall pick for 2025 NFL season

The Detroit Lions could sign a former No.1 overall pick before the start of the 2025 NFL season.

USA Today's Nick Brinkerhoff lists Detroit as a potential landing spot for free agent edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, who was released by the Carolina Panthers in May.

"Clowney is a complementary piece that can work into a pass-rushing rotation, likely for a team that is dreaming big," Brinkerhoff wrote.

Clowney played 14 games for the Panthers in 2024, posting 5.5 sacks and 44 quarterback pressures with 24 defensive stops. The veteran pass rusher signed a two-year deal worth $20 million with Carolina last offseason after a 9.5 sack campaign with the Baltimore Ravens.

Though he hasn't lived up to the hype as the top pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Clowney can still provide value as a rotational pass rusher for a championship contender.

The Lions, who lack starting talent at edge rusher outside of Aidan Hutchinson, would greatly benefit from Clowney's 127 games of starting experience. The 32-year-old would form a solid duo with Hutchinson and add more pass-rushing production to Kelvin Sheppard's defense.

Detroit still has $48 million in cap space, per OTC, so the team should look to use some of that money to upgrade the defensive line by signing Clowney. The former Houston Texan should also come on a cheap deal, as there isn't much time left until training camp and the preseason kicks off.

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