The good: The Detroit Lions have put a ton of resources into bolstering the interior of their defensive front since GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell arrived in 2021, clearly making it a priority to be strong in the middle of their defense.
Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill were taken in the second and third rounds in Holmes' first NFL Draft in 2021, with both making it past their rookie contracts – McNeill with an extension and Onwuzurike on a one-year free agent deal last offseason.
Detroit also drafted defensive tackles Brodric Martin (third round; 2023), Mekhi Wingo (sixth; 2024) and Tyleik Williams (first; 2025) in the last three drafts.
They've also signed free agents DJ Reader and Roy Lopez. Reader has been a key player upfront over the last couple seasons and Lopez stepped in and had a really nice first season in Detroit in 2025.
It was kind of a tale of two seasons for Detroit's run defense this season – which we'll talk about more in the next section – but Detroit still finished in the top half of the league in rushing defense, allowing 114.5 yards per game (ranked 14th) with a 4.37 yards per carry average (21st). The 16 rushing touchdowns by Detroit also ranked in the top half of the league (14th).
Lopez ended up being a nice free-agent signing by Holmes last offseason as he finished the year as Detroit's top-graded interior defender by Pro Football Focus. He played in all 17 games with 30 tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, five quarterback hits and one pass defended.
Williams showed steady improvement throughout the season that has teammates and coaches excited about what he could bring to the table alongside a fully healthy McNeill, who's expected to be back to form in his first full season removed from an ACL injury in 2026. Williams ranked sixth among rookie interior defenders in PFF grade at 62.6. He said improving his pass rush win rate is his focus going into his first NFL offseason.
| Name | Games | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | QBH | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roy Lopez | 17 | 30 | 4 | 2.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DJ Reader | 17 | 28 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyleik Williams | 17 | 18 | 2 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Alim McNeill | 10 | 14 | 2 | 1.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Tyler Lacy | 10 | 21 | 0 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat O'Connor | 8 | 10 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mekhi Wingo | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The bad: Over the first seven games before their Week 8 bye, Detroit had one of the best run defenses in the league, allowing on average just 87.7 yards per game on the ground (ranked fourth in the NFL) and only two 100-yard rushing performances.
Something shifted the rest of the way as that number rose to 133.3 over the next 10 weeks. Detroit held only three opponents under 100 yards rushing over their last 10 contests. Detroit generated just 20 negative rushes this season, which were the second fewest in the NFL.
The Lions tied for fourth in total sacks this season with 49, but only five of those came from the defensive interior – Lopez (2.0), McNeill (1.0), Williams (1.0), Tyler Lacy (1.0).
Key stat: Detroit had a run stop win rate of 28 percent, per ESPN statistics, which ranked 29th in the NFL. A defender can earn a run stop win by beating his blocker so he's in a better position to stop the runner, disrupting the pocket or running lane by pushing his blocker backward, containing the runner such that he must adjust his running lane, or recording a tackle within three yards of the line of scrimmage.
Free agents: Reader (Unrestricted), Lopez (unrestricted), Onwuzurike (unrestricted).
Given Detroit's current salary cap situation plus the expectation of Williams becoming a key player in the middle of their defensive front next season, it seems unlikely that both Reader, 31, and Lopez, 28, would be re-signed, though never say never.
It will be interesting to see where Onwuzurike fits into Holmes' plans. After dealing with injury the first couple years of his career, he had a breakout season in 2024 before missing all of this season with a torn ACL. Is one breakout year enough for a show-me veteran contract? Or has it reached a point where a change in scenery is the best course of action for both player and team?
It's not a particularly strong free-agent class of defensive tackles but there are veteran players available who can elevate the floor of some units around the league. A few names to consider include John Franklin-Myers (Denver), David Onyemata (Atlanta), Calais Campbell (Arizona), DaQuan Jones (Buffalo), Teair Tart (Tennessee), Sebastian Joseph-Day (Tennessee) and Sheldon Rankins (Houston).
View photos of the Detroit Lions defensive linemen from the 2025 NFL season.
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) makes a sack on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) intercepts a pass during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) deflects a pass during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) in action during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad (96) makes a sack on Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad (96) during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 in Baltimore. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad (96) sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad (96) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman DJ Reader (98) applies pressure to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman DJ Reader (98) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman DJ Reader (98) during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman DJ Reader (98) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) makes a tackle during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez (51) makes a tackle during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez (51) during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez (51) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez (51) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Marcus Davenport (92) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Marcus Davenport (92) in action during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Marcus Davenport (92) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyler Lacy (78) during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyler Lacy (78) during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025 in Landover, Md. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyler Lacy (78) makes a tackle during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyrus Wheat (99) during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 in Baltimore. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyrus Wheat (99) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyrus Wheat (99) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo (94) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo (94) applies pressure to Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Draft: It's not as strong a class as we've seen in previous drafts.
Peter Woods (Clemson), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Caleb Banks (Florida), Christen Miller (Georgia) and Gracen Halton (Oklahoma) are some defensive tackles to consider in the first couple days of the draft.
Quotable: "He's a special talent," Lopez said of Williams after the season. "You don't see somebody that size that athletic, that's for sure. He's going to be very, very, very, very fun to watch. He knows he's good and that's something that's special. Confidence in a young player goes a long way and seriously, I can't wait to see him grow. I'll be a fan of his for sure."
