The Detroit Lions are reportedly still looking for edge help, and Matthew Judon is someone they’ve already considered.
The Detroit Lions may not be done adding defensive end talent before the start of the 2025 regular season. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Lions are “still in the market” for a defensive end , and they’ve even discussed a notable, local free agent.
Per Birkett, the Lions have “had dialogue about” former Ravens fifth-round pick Matthew Judon.
Judon, who turns 33 in August, grew up in West Bloomfield and went to college at Grand Valley State. And while he had a slow start to his NFL career, he eventually became a premier player for the Ravens, making the Pro Bowl for two seasons in Baltimore and the next two seasons with the New England Patriots . His best statistical years were in 2021 and 2022, when he produced 12.5 and 15.5 sacks, respectively. However, after a torn bicep cut his 2023 season short, he left New England for a season with the Atlanta Falcons last year. There, he started 15 games and finished with 5.5 sacks.
Listed at 6-foot-3, 275 pounds, Judon remains a pretty well-rounded player. While his bread and butter was certainly his pass rush in his prime, his size allows him to be an adequate run defender. He also has a somewhat extensive history dropping into coverage, logging at least 90 coverage snaps in his first five years as a starter, per PFF.
Despite the Lions’ reported interest, coach Dan Campbell said on Friday he’s focused on the players they have in-house at the moment.
“Just worried about evaluating the guys we got here right now,” Campbell said. “We’ve got a good crop of guys in here, young players. We’re about to go see what we can pull out of them, see what we can develop, see what comes from it and we’ll take it from there.”
The Lions will get their first opportunity to see their current depth—including players like rookie Ahmed Hassanein, Nate Lynn, Isaac Ukwu, and Mitchell Agude (all 26 or under)—perform in a game situation next Thursday when they open the preseason with the Hall of Fame game against the Los Angeles Chargers .