The Detroit Lions' defense withstood an onslaught of untimely injuries in 2024, but the repeated depth hits were a big reason the team failed to meet their lofty expectations in the playoffs.
Entering the offseason, some focus will be on how best to improve the defense. Retaining some of their own free agents will obviously be in play.
In that conversation is defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike. He was finally healthy this season (16 games) and while his surface stats are not eye-popping (28 total tackles, 1.5 sacks), he had 45 quarterback pressures during the regular season (according to Pro Football Focus) with a top-25 overall PFF grade among defensive tackles.
Adding the layer of Alim McNeill's torn ACL that has his availability for the start of next season in natural question, it's not a surprise Dalton Wasserman of PFF named Onwuzurike the one free agent the Lions can't afford to lose.
"Amidst all of the Lions’ defensive injuries, Onwuzurike led the team's defensive linemen with 697 snaps played while turning in a solid 70.2 PFF overall grade. He also paced Detroit in quarterback pressures (47) and has the ability to play a variety of positions along the line. Adding pass-rush depth is surely a priority for Detroit this offseason. Keeping Onwuzurike around would aid that cause."
Re-signing Onwuzurike looks like a viable way for the Lions to maintain some defensive line depth after the rash of injuries this season. But it won't be an easy decision.
Lions have to decide if Levi Onwuzurike is worth a big-money gamble
Onwuzurike battled back issues to some extent in each of his first three seasons. A significant surgery cost him the entire 2022 season, and threatened his career. But without having to rehab an injury last offseason, he was able to add weight good work during OTAs and camp carried right into the season.
So Onwuzurike represents a conundrum. The Lions have to be encouraged by his development this season, simply fueled by better health. But back issues don't just go magically away, and his history there is impossible to ignore. Was this season his ceiling? Or can he continue to improve?
The Lions like to reward their own, and in that vein they may not bat an eye to bring Onwuzurike back on a fairly lucrative multi-year contract. But it's a tougher decision than some may think, and if Onwuzurike can get more than the Lions are willing to offer he should absolutely take it.
