The Post-June 1st Shopping List
June 1st hit the calendar like a starter’s pistol. Teams across the NFL are about to start slashing veteran contracts to clear cap space, and that means opportunity for Brad Holmes and the Lions front office. Several impact players could hit the market as early as Tuesday, including a player who might be exactly what Detroit’s pass rush needs.
Here’s the thing about post-June 1st cuts: if these guys are vested veterans, they can sign wherever they want immediately. No waivers, no waiting around. That’s good news for a Lions team that still has some holes to fill before training camp starts.
Uchenna Nwosu Could Be the Missing Piece
The Seahawks edge rusher had himself a year. Fifty-five pressures, nine sacks, and an interception in a notable game. Not bad for a 30-year-old who might be on the chopping block because his team can save nearly $12 million by cutting him loose.
Nwosu would slide perfectly into Detroit’s rotation. He can play the Sam linebacker role and give Dan Campbell another weapon to rotate with D.J. Wonnum and Derrick Moore opposite Aidan Hutchinson. This is the kind of veteran addition that can take a good pass rush and make it dangerous.
Interior Line Help on the Horizon
The Lions need depth on the interior defensive line. Two potential answers could come from unexpected places.
Mazi Smith, the former Michigan Wolverine and first-round pick, might be available from the Jets. He’s not going to start, but he can be exactly what Detroit needs right now: a run stuffer who can rotate and eat up space in the middle.
Grover Stewart from the Colts is another option. Indianapolis can save $12 million by moving on from the 33-year-old, and while he may not be a starter anymore, he’s exactly the type of nose tackle the Lions could use in their rotation. Sometimes the missing piece isn’t flashy. Sometimes it’s just reliable.
Safety Depth with a Purpose
Isaiah Pola-Mao from the Raiders is an interesting name to watch. The Lions have a solid safety group with Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Chuck Clark, Thomas Harper, Christian Izien, and Avonte Maddox, but Pola-Mao brings something specific: he’s a strong run defender. Given how much Dan Campbell’s defense is focused on stopping the run, adding another piece who excels in that area makes sense.
The beauty of June 1st cuts is that they often create opportunities to add proven veterans without breaking the bank. Holmes has shown he knows how to find value in these situations. Don’t be surprised if the Lions are active in the coming days.
Which of these potential additions has you most excited, or are you hoping Holmes has his eye on someone else entirely? Let us know in the comments below.
