The Lions ability to rush the passer in 2017 could be problematic, and the options to bolster it are limited, but for a creative general manager, there are choices available.

In my recent Lions Roster Stack Pre-Training Camp edition, I projected the Lions to keep five defensive ends: Ezekiel Ansah, Cornelius Washington, Kerry Hyder, Anthony Zettel and Armonty Bryant. But the recent four-game suspension of Bryant has put the fifth defensive end role in flux.

DL Armonty Bryant suspended 4 games (again) https://t.co/5qCggNiW2z — The Lions Wire (@thelionswire) July 18, 2017

In 2016, Bryant played only 104 snaps but was able to record three sacks. That level of production isn’t outstanding, but for a team who struggled to get sacks (26), Bryant’s skills were a welcomed addition.

The Lions will likely choose to wait until training camp to find a replacement for Bryant as they have some upside in-house options in: versatile DE/OLB Brandon Copeland, 2017 seventh round pick Pat O’Connor or undrafted free agents Alex Barnett and Jeremiah Valoaga. If they chose to look outside the organization, there are five ways I think they could bolster their pass rush.

Trade for an instant impact defensive lineman

Sheldon Richardson is in the final year of his rookie contract and the New York Jets have been actively shopping him this off-season. His trade value has slowly declined with the biggest obstacles being his fully guaranteed contract of $8,069,000, potential future contract and off-the-field issues.

As of today, the Lions don’t currently have the cap room to make this trade. Although, contracts can easily be restructured, and they would likely try to give him an extension (which would further alter his cap number) if they decided to make this trade.

Richardson is the mold of what the Lions look for in a defensive lineman, big and strong. While he won’t solve the Lions pass rushing threat alone (one and a half sacks over 761 snaps in 2016), he is an impact player who would allow others to step-up their games.

If Bob Quinn is concerned about the Lions front four and he feels comfortable with Richardson’s contract situation, offering as little as a fifth round pick to the Jets could land them the 26-year-old former rookie-of-the-year and pro-bowler.

Add a veteran free agent as a situational pass rusher

Dwight Freeney is 37 years old but he showed last year that he still has some gas left in the tank as a situational pass rusher. In 2016, he played 415 snaps over 15 games and recorded three sacks. Not quite as high of a snap-to-sack rate as Bryant but still effective enough as a defensive role player.

Mario Williams is another big name pass rushing free agent but his career has had a much faster fall-off than Freeney. In 2016, Williams played 449 snaps over 15 games and recorded one and a half sacks, but was a healthy scratch in week 17 and was released by the Dolphins in February. The big question is, at 32 years old, how much does he have left?

Add a versatile free agent defensive lineman

Jared Odrick is capable of playing closed defensive end and defensive tackle in the Lions scheme but an elbow injury limited his 2016 season. While he has never been a prolific pass rusher (six and a half sacks in last 22 games), his ability to stop the run and play different roles would allow the Lions to be more creative how they use other players.

Jason Jones wasn’t re-signed by the Lions in 2016, instead he went to Miami and a decent season, 516 snaps over 14 games, producing three and a half sacks 36 tackles. He was a surprise release before their playoff game. His familiarity with the Lions scheme could get him a look.

Wait for a veteran to be released

Desmond Bryant missed all of 2016 with a torn pectoral muscle but was a productive pass rusher in his three years prior as a Cleveland Brown, registering 14.5 sacks. With a $4,000,000 cap hit in 2017 and the Browns adding players to their defensive lineman in the off-season, Bryant is firmly on their roster bubble. With the size to play closed defensive end or defensive tackle for the Lions, Quinn will likely be keeping a close eye on the Browns during the pre-season.

Former Lion George Johnson is entering his third season with Tampa Bay but he has yet to register a sack for the Bucs. He came up empty in 2015 and missed 2016 with a hip injury, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Bucs continue to be patient with him in the final year of his contract. His one year in Detroit he registered six sacks and thrived in the Lions attacking scheme.

Find a player who hasn’t lived up to his potential

Cornellius “Tank” Carradine was one of my favorite players in the 2013 draft class and despite tearing his ACL, he was still selected by the 49ers with the 40th pick in the draft. San Francisco allowed him time to heal and tried him at different positions, finally settling on using him as a situational pass rushing linebacker.

Tank Carradine Sack #2 https://t.co/707ZSwtszw — Greg Valerio (@Timor_Domini) December 17, 2014

He was re-signed by the 49ers to a one-year deal this past off-season, but he has struggled to acclimate to the 34 outside linebacker position and appears to be on the roster bubble.

I believe Carradine is a more natural 43 defensive end and he would be successful in an attacking system like the Lions operate. Quinn could wait to see if Carradine is released at roster cuts or offer a Lions roster bubble player in a trade, but if he ends up in Honolulu Blue, he could see his career revived.

Marcus Smith of the Eagles and Dion Jordan of the Seahawks (formerly Dolphins) are former first round pass rushers who the Lions may keep an eye on at roster cuts but aren’t likely players Quinn would pursue in a trade.