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Lions should be all over recently released Browns veteran edge rusher once scouted by Brad Holmes

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Mike Payton | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 11:51 AM ET

Detroit Lions fans really want an edge rusher pretty bad, but the team showed that they are not in a place where they can go out and get an expensive one, and they favored other positions over drafting one high. They are willing to bring in some veteran help, though.

One interesting option just hit the market, and he has some ties to Brad Holmes.

The #Browns have released edge Ogbo Okoronkwo, a former big-ticket free agent in the final year of his 3-year, $19M deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 26, 2025

Okoronkwo was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft while Holmes was the Rams' Director of College Scouting. Okoronkwo went on to be a solid rotational edge for the Rams and helped them win the Super Bowl in 2021,

He left for the Texans, and that's where he really shone. In one season, he put up 36 pressures and five sacks. That was enough to get him a big deal with the Browns, where he rotated in with recent Lions edge Za'Darius Smith.

The Lions aren't getting a Pro Bowler here or anything like that; he's a rotational edge rusher, but he could be an upgrade over the rotational guys the Lions have now. He's able to bring pressure and get hurries, and that is something the Lions hold in high regard.

On top of that, since he's 30 years old, he's likely to come at a pretty cheap rate and be a short-term contract as well. The Lions sure do love a bargain.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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