With Detroit officially eliminated, this is the moment for the Lions to start thinking aggressively about what comes next. And Maxx Crosby should be at the top of that list. The Lions don’t need a rebuild. They need more defensive force, especially up front.

Detroit’s season is over, and while the disappointment is real, the clarity it brings may be even more valuable. This is not a franchise staring into the abyss or searching for an identity. The Lions are no longer rebuilding, no longer hoping to become relevant. They are relevant.

What they lack is the final layer of dominance required to turn playoff contention into championship reality, and that layer starts on the defensive line.

The Lions’ offense has proven it can compete with anyone in the league. Jared Goff operates comfortably within Ben Johnson’s system, the offensive line remains one of the NFL’s best, and the skill-position depth continues to stress opposing defenses.

But as the season wore on, the same weakness kept resurfacing at the worst possible moments: the inability to consistently disrupt elite quarterbacks without blitzing or schematic risk. That flaw ultimately caught up with them.

This is where thinking aggressively matters. Detroit does not need patience right now. It needs precision. It needs a move that sends a message to the locker room and the rest of the NFC that the Lions intend to close the gap immediately.

Maxx Crosby represents exactly that type of move.

Crosby is not just a productive edge rusher. He is a tone-setter, a relentless force who alters game plans before the ball is even snapped. His motor is elite, his durability unquestioned, and his leadership is evident every time he steps on the field.

Opposing offenses know where he is at all times, and even then, they struggle to contain him. That kind of presence is something Detroit simply does not have on its current roster.

The Lions’ defense has talent, but it lacks intimidation up front. There are capable players, rotational contributors, and developmental pieces, yet no single defender who forces offenses to change protection schemes every snap. Crosby does that by default.

He generates pressure without needing help, which in turn makes everyone else better. Interior defenders face fewer double teams. Linebackers can play faster. Defensive backs get an extra half-second that often makes the difference between a breakup and a touchdown.

From a roster-construction standpoint, this is the window to strike. Detroit’s core is largely in place. The offense is built to win now, not two years from now. Waiting for draft picks to develop into impact pass rushers carries risk the Lions no longer need to take.

Trading for an established star is expensive, but so is wasting prime seasons while hoping internal growth magically solves structural issues.

Crosby’s fit in Detroit would be seamless. His work ethic aligns with Dan Campbell’s culture. His intensity mirrors the identity the Lions have worked hard to establish. This would not be a splashy move for attention’s sake; it would be a calculated addition that amplifies everything Detroit already does well.

Crosby thrives in physical, high-effort environments, and Detroit has become exactly that.

Critics will point to cost, both in draft capital and cap space, and they are not wrong. Acquiring a player of Crosby’s caliber would require a significant investment. But championship teams rarely play it safe.

The NFL’s elite franchises understand that windows close quickly, and when the opportunity exists to add a difference-maker, hesitation is often more damaging than risk.

Detroit’s elimination should not be viewed as failure, but as confirmation. The Lions are close. Very close. What separates them from the league’s true heavyweights is not scheme or belief, but consistent defensive dominance in high-leverage moments. Crosby brings that dominance instantly.

There is also a psychological element that cannot be ignored. Adding a player like Crosby changes expectations. It signals to the locker room that management believes this group can win now and is willing to act accordingly.

It energizes a fan base that has waited decades not just for competitiveness, but for ambition backed by action.

The Lions do not need to tear anything down. They need to sharpen the blade. Maxx Crosby would do exactly that. With Detroit officially eliminated, the conversation should no longer be about what went wrong, but about what bold step comes next.

If the Lions are serious about transforming sustained success into a Super Bowl pursuit, then targeting an elite defensive force is not optional. It is essential.