The Detroit Lions recently bolstered their defensive line by signing D.J. Wonnum to a one-year deal, but that move may not be the end of their efforts at the position. On Wednesday, Bill Barnwell suggested the team should continue adding talent off the edge and even mentioned Jadeveon Clowney as a potential fit.

Barnwell initially brought up Joey Bosa as another veteran option, though he noted Bosa might be better utilized in a limited or rotational role. That line of thinking naturally shifted the focus toward Clowney, who remains a productive pass rusher.

Clowney delivered a strong 2025 season with the Dallas Cowboys, recording 8.5 sacks in 13 appearances, along with 12 tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits. Barnwell proposed that pairing a player like Clowney—or even Bosa—in a rotation with Wonnum could help strengthen Detroit’s pass rush, though he admitted it may not excite every fan. Still, he emphasized the team likely needs to bring in at least two more edge rushers before the season.

Over the course of his career, Clowney has earned more than $100 million, according to Spotrac, and despite moving between teams frequently, he has maintained solid production. In fact, he has averaged over 7.5 sacks per season across the last three years.

Last season in Detroit, Aidan Hutchinson led the team with 14.5 sacks, while Al-Quadin Muhammad added 11 before leaving in free agency to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Outside of those two, no Lions defender surpassed five sacks, highlighting the lack of depth at the position.

Adding Clowney could help offset Muhammad’s departure in the short term, while the franchise continues to look for a long-term answer in the draft. Many analysts expect Detroit to target an edge rusher early in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Lions have already been active this offseason. On offense, they traded for Juice Scruggs in a deal involving David Montgomery, and also signed players like Cade Mays, Larry Borom, Isiah Pacheco, and Teddy Bridgewater in free agency.

More recently, their focus has shifted to defense. Along with Wonnum, the team also brought in linebacker Damone Clark. Wonnum, who previously posted two separate 8-sack seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, is expected to compete for a key role, though he managed just three sacks last season with the Carolina Panthers.

Clark, meanwhile, had a rough 2025 campaign after starting every game for Dallas in 2023. He was released midseason and finished the year with the Houston Texans.

While both Wonnum and Clark could contribute in 2026, their arrivals alone don’t fully solve Detroit’s issues on defense. As Barnwell pointed out, even with these additions, the Lions still need more depth and impact players on the edge moving forward.