All Lions: Detroit Projected to Land Pass Rusher in Free Agency

Would Bryce Huff be upgrade for Lions' defense?

The Detroit Lions have a chance to make a splash in free agency.

With over $40 million in cap space, the Lions may elect to sign one of the league's top free agents. Particularly on defense, the organization has been linked to several big names who are set to hit free agency. 

On Thursday, Pro Football Network paired each NFL team with an offseason acquisition that would be a good fit. 

"The Lions could move in various directions this offseason, with free agent additions at WR, G, DT, and CB all in play over the next month," wrote Dallas Robinson. "Detroit could also keep a strength a strength by bolstering its already-talented pass-rushing corps, which includes 11.5-sack artist Aidan Hutchinson and a host of other complementary talents."

Robinson paired the Lions with New York Jets edge rusher Bryce Huff. A Memphis product, Huff has recorded 17.5 career sacks in four NFL seasons.

"Bryce Huff ranked top-two in pressure rate in each of the past two seasons, but he was never a full-time player for the New York Jets," Robinson wrote. "He’s never played 500 defensive snaps in a single campaign. The Lions have the depth to account for Huff’s lack of availability, but they might also see if he could be similarly effective in an expanded role."

The Lions will also have to make decisions on which internal players to retain, as several starters are set to hit free agency. Among them is Jonah Jackson, whom Robinson projects to land with the New York Giants.

"Detroit, already spending heavily on OL, may be unable to afford Jonah Jackson," Robinson explained. "But the Giants could use a veteran guard like Jackson, who should be comfortable in any scheme after playing in Ben Johnson’s creative Lions offense."

Here are other storylines surrounding the Detroit Lions on Feb. 22. 

• MLive's Kyle Meinke released a first-round mock draft, with the Lions selecting Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry at No. 29 overall.
• LionsWire teamed up with OurLads Scouting to examine the Lions' biggest offseason needs.
• Bleacher Report released its best fits for the top free agent at every position, and the Lions were named the best fit for a top defender.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press explained why he had Ennis Rakestraw Jr. as the Lions' choice in his first mock draft.