It appears that former NFL edge defender Aaron Lynch is attempting to make a comeback. Lynch, who last suited up in an NFL game in 2020 and who has been in the business world since hanging up his cleats, had a “positive” workout with the Browns last week, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
A fifth-round pick of the 49ers in 2014, Lynch was a useful pass rusher in the early stages of his career, racking up six sacks in his rookie campaign and 6.5 sacks the following year. Unfortunately, he was limited to just seven games in each of the subsequent two seasons due to suspension and injuries, so he hit the open market in 2018 with little momentum. He ultimately signed a one-year deal with the Bears in March 2018 and did enough in his first year in Chicago to secure multiple free agent visits the following offseason.
He returned to Chicago on another one-year accord in 2019, but his playing time and overall production took a dip that year. He nonetheless found a home with the Jaguars in May 2020, and though he announced his retirement several months later, he subsequently unretired and returned to Jacksonville. In eight games with the Jags, he recorded one sack and six total tackles.
Despite limited statistical success since his second professional season ended, Lynch managed to stay in the league for another five years without being waived or released. Given the importance of pass rushing depth in today’s NFL, it would not be terribly surprising to see a club take a low-risk flier on the USF product at some point in the coming months.
“Now that is a name I haven’t heard in a very long time”
I was actually thinking the same thing. Take this thumbs up, sir.