One week after the start of the legal tampering period, seven-year veteran edge rusher Aaron Lynch has joined the free agent pool. A fifth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, there was a time when Lynch was a reliable edge defender. From 2014 to 2020, the South Florida product recorded a collective 21 sacks, 111 tackles, 37 tackles-for-loss, and 66 quarterback hits. Most of his success came with the San Francisco 49ers, as Lynch recorded 12.5 sacks, 47 tackles, 22 tackles-for-loss, and 35 quarterback hits during his first two years in the league.
The edge defender to hang up the cleats following the 2020 season. However, Aaron Lynch has apparently had a chance of heart and wants to restart his career as a free agent. Even though he hasn’t seen the field in three years, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes the Cleveland Browns gave him a workout, so there is a chance he lands with a new team.
Comeback? Former #Jaguars, #Bears and #49ers edge rusher Aaron Lynch, who last played for the #Jaguars before entering private business, had a positive workout for the #Browns today, source said. A potential low-risk, high-reward addition to a roster. pic.twitter.com/ZdiTfPwhMH
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2024
Aaron Lynch Unretires, Joins Free Agent Edge Defenders
Chances are, this Browns visit was nothing more than due diligence. Aaron Lynch hasn’t played in the NFL in quite some time, and the free agent wasn’t too effective the last time we saw him either. The edge defender spent the 2020 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, playing just 150 total snaps while recording a subpar 50.8 PFF grade. If you prefer traditional stats, Lynch finished the season with just one sack, six tackles, one tackle-for-loss, and three quarterback hits in eight games.
Aaron Lynch will be 31 in Week 1, which is even more bad news for the free agent. Even though he hasn’t had to take NFL contact since 2020, he’s still gotten older, and he’s past the age where most players start slowing down. Still, he’ll cost next to nothing, and there is a chance one of the following five teams kicks the tires on Lynch to see if he has anything left in his tank.
Possible Team Fits
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars finished the 2023 season with the fewest sacks in the league and they haven’t done too much to address the underwhelming pass rush. While Josh Allen will be back, the rest of the depth chart needs some serious help. While they should go after top options like Jadeveon Clowney, Aaron Lynch could be a decent free agent depth piece or consolation prize. Travon Walker is a phenomenal athlete, but he needs a veteran who can help him turn his physical gifts into on-field production.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have some work to do if they want to replace Brian Burns. While they already signed D.J. Wonnum and K’Lavon Chaisson, they should consider adding Aaron Lynch as a free agent. With so few options to get after the quarterback, the Panthers might as well take a low-risk, medium-risk dart throw on the veteran. After all, a similar strategy worked wonders with Adam Thielen last year.
Detroit Lions
On paper, Aidan Hutchinson and the newly-signed Marcus Davenport are a ferocious duo. In reality, however, Davenport is an inconsistent player and one injury will sink the entire ship. Aaron Lynch is nobody’s dream free agent signing, but a coach like Dan Campbell should be able to get the most out of the former fifth-round pick.
New Orleans Saints
If the motivated version of Chase Young shows up for the New Orleans Saints, they won’t need Aaron Lynch as a free agent. However, Young has some serious consistency questions and this team could still use a cheap backup plan in case the signing doesn’t go according to play. New Orleans never found a true replacement for Marcus Davenport, and second-round pick Isaiah Foskey didn’t do much of anything to establish himself as a rookie. While it’s too early to completely give up on him, the Saints should consider bringing in an established veteran who can teach the youngster the nuances of the game while also filling in if Foskey can’t make the second-year leap. After all, the Saints will need to do something to slow down the new and improved Falcons.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons spent free agency bolstering the offense with big-name signings like Kirk Cousins and Darnell Mooney. Now, however, it’s time to turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball. Seeing as they probably don’t have the financial resources to go after top edge rushers, they could look for a cost-effective free agent like Aaron Lynch. After finishing with just 42 sacks last year, they’ll need to do something to get after the quarterback more efficiently.
Main Photo: Mitch Stringer – USA Today Sports
