Lions' pass-rush savior (and future Hall of Famer) just fell into their laps

The Detroit Lions have an obvious answer to their pass-rush problem.

Before free agency started, Von Miller was released by the Buffalo Bills after three seasons, and he remains available. The 36-year-old recently resurfaced to confirm he intends to play in 2025, while also ruling out a reunion with the Denver Broncos.

John Breech of CBS Sports has narrowed down four potential landing spots for Miller. Of course, the Lions made the list, along with the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, and Houston Texans.

"If you take one look at the Lions' schedule, you'll see why adding Miller might help," writes Breech. "During the 2025 season, Detroit will be facing Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, Matthew Stafford and Dak Prescott."

"If you're facing a gauntlet like that, you need pass rushers. The Lions do have Aidan Hutchinson, but they don't have much outside of that. Last season, the Lions pass rush absolutely disappeared after Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury that saw him break his tibia and fibula."  

Miller's best days are behind him, but he was quite good in a situational role for the Bills last year. Over 279 defensive snaps, he tallied six sacks with a top-15 pass rush win rate among edge rushers (18.4 percent, according to Pro Football Focus). His overall PFF grade (85.5) was 11th-best among qualifying edge rushers, and his pass rush grade (84.5) was 10th-best.

Lions look like a nice match for future Hall of Fame pass rusher Von Miller

Despite suffering a season-ending left leg injury in the fifth game, Aidan Hutchinson led the Lions with 7.5 sacks last season, and a player who wasn't even on the team for the full season came in second with four sacks.

Hutchinson's return will be an automatic boon to the pass rush. But the Lions' action to add a suitable running mate on the opposite edge has been limited to re-attaching themselves to the unfulfilled promise of Marcus Davenport and using a Day 3 pick on Ahmed Hassanein. Oh, and releasing the aforementioned acquisition at last year's trade deadline (Za'Darius Smith), with a flimsy excuse for doing that from general manager Brad Holmes.

The Lions seem content to enter the season as-is with their edge-rusher mix, not that there are many viable options available as June approaches anyway. Re-signing Smith lingers as a potential option. When it comes down to it, it's entirely possible they're back in the mix for an edge rusher during the season before the trade deadline (if only there was a way to have made that less of a possibility...).

That brings us back to Von Miller, who intends to continue playing this season.

Miller is certainly not looking to break the bank at this stage of his career, nor will he be able to at this point in the offseason. He also might like to chase a third Super Bowl ring, with a narrow list of teams who fit that bill and need a capable edge rusher.

The Lions should have interest in Miller, as there has been some case for all offseason. Now that he has confirmed his intent to play this season, it's worth wondering if they'll show any interest or sit and watch as one of their NFC rivals possibly signs him.