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Clelin Ferrell #96 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a sack against the New York Giants during the first half in the game at MetLife Stadium on November 02, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Throughout the course of the 2026 NFL offseason, the Detroit Lions have been looking to add a veteran pass rusher. So far, they have been unable to fill that need.

In the 2026 NFL Draft, the Lions were able to bring in Michigan pass rusher Derrick Moore. However, there could still be interest from the team in adding a proven veteran.

Aidan Hutchinson is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Detroit would be wise to invest in adding help alongside of him. One free agent has been suggested as a possible fit.

Pro Football Network’s Jacob Infante has predicted that the Lions will end up landing 28-year-old defensive end Clelin Ferrell, who played last season for the San Francisco 49ers.

“After playing in just one game for the Chargers as a practice squad player, Clelin Ferrell carved out a niche for himself in the 49ers’ defensive rotation as they dealt with numerous injuries on that side of the ball,” Infante wrote. “He’s hardly an impact defender off the edge, but he’s a solid enough contributor who had four sacks in eight games for San Francisco.”

What Would Clelin Ferrell Bring to the Lions’ Defense?

Last season, Ferrell played in eight games. One of those games came with the Los Angeles Chargers before playing eight with the 49ers. He recorded 25 total tackles to go along with four sacks on the year.

Originally drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Ferrell’s career has not gone according to plan. He has appeared in 98 career games and has totaled 184 tackles, 21 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 12 defended passes.

Perhaps a fresh start in Detroit could help him turn things around.

At this point in time, there have been no concrete reports of the Lions having interest in Ferrell. But, if Detroit is still looking to make a move for a cheaper veteran option, he could make a lot of sense.

Spotrac has projected Ferrell’s market value to be at around $4.7 million, which is likely a bit high. The Lions also could likely get him on a one-year deal.

Detroit Has the Talent to Bounce Back in 2026

Heading into last season, Detroit was widely expected to be a serious Super Bowl contender in the NFC. Unfortunately, those expectations were not proven to be true on the field.

When everything was said and done, the Lions missed the playoffs. They went 9-8 and finished third in the NFC North division race.

That has not sat well with head coach Dan Campbell and the rest of the team. Entering the 2026 season, Detroit will be focused on bouncing back and shaking off the down year.

Only time will tell if the Lions can make that goal become a reality, but there is enough talent on the roster to be a Super Bowl caliber team.