The good: Detroit tied with Minnesota for the fourth most sacks in the NFL this season with 49 as the Lions were one of just three teams in the NFL in 2025 with two players to finish with double digit sacks – Aidan Hutchinson (14.5) and Al-Quadin Muhammad (11.0).
Hutchinson, 25, was named Second-Team All-Pro after setting a new career single-season high in sacks and leading the NFL with 100 total pressures. His 14.5 sacks tie Ezekiel Ansah (2015) for the second-most sacks a Lions player has logged in a single season, trailing only Robert Porcher (15.0 in 1999). Hutchinson is the first player in franchise history to log multiple 10.0-sack seasons through the first four years of a player's career.
Muhammad turned in an 11-sack season with 20 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss and 53 total pressures, which tied with Maxx Crosby and Brian Burns. Muhammad signed a one-year contract last offseason and had all that pass-rush production playing 41 percent of the defensive snaps (457) as Detroit's main edge rusher opposite Hutchinson.
Muhammad was the NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 14 after recording 3.0 sacks, three tackles for loss and four quarterback hits in Detroit's win over Dallas.
| Name | Games | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | QBH | FF | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aidan Hutchinson | 17 | 54 | 14 | 14.5 | 35 | 4 | 1 |
| Al-Quadin Muhammad | 17 | 25 | 9 | 11.0 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyrus Wheat | 15 | 15 | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Marcus Davenport | 9 | 14 | 1 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
The bad: Edge rushers not named Hutchinson or Muhammad recorded just 2.5 sacks, which is significant given Muhammad is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
While Detroit's 49 sacks were the fourth most in the NFL this season, Detroit's average time to pressure of 2.92 seconds was the slowest in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. Opposing passers averaged nearly three seconds to get rid of the football, the highest in the NFL.
So while the Lions did generate a lot of pressure, it wasn't always the kind of pressure that affected the timing of opponent passing attacks. Opposing passers finished with a 92.5 rating against Detroit's defense, which ranked 19th.
Most of Muhammad's reps this season were pass-rush reps and his 59.3 run defense grade by Pro Football Focus ranked 85th among edge defenders who played at least 200 snaps this season. His final pass rush grade of 71.9 ranked 40th.
The Lions generated the second-fewest negative non-kneel down rushes on the season with just 20.
Key stat: Breaking down Detroit's sacks - the Lions recorded 11 sacks on first down, 20 on second down, 16 on third down and two on fourth down. The 20 sacks on second down trailed only the Rams (24).
Free agents: Muhammad (unrestricted), Marcus Davenport (unrestricted), Tyrus Wheat (restricted).
It will be interesting to see what happens with Muhammad. He had an 11.0-sack season but will turn 31 in March and played less than half of Detroit's defensive reps.
Wheat has some nice movement skills and finished third in special teams tackles with 11. He's got some upside to his game.
This is a pretty strong free-agent class of edge rushers. Some of the names that could be available include Trey Hendrickson (Cincinnati), Odafe Oweh (LA Chargers), Jaelan Phillips (Philadelphia), Boye Mafe (Seattle), Joey Bosa (Buffalo), Cameron Jordan (New Orleans), Khalil Mack (LA Chargers), Jadeveon Clowney (Dallas), Dre'Mont Jones (Seattle) and Arnold Ebiketie (Atlanta).
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: This year's class isn't filled with elite talent at the top, but it's one of the deepest classes of edge rushers we've seen in some time.
The Lions are in a prime spot picking at No. 17 to snag one of the top pass rushers if they so choose. Some of the names to consider in the first round and into Day 2 of the draft include Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), Keldric Faulk (Auburn), David Bailey (Texas Tech), T.J. Parker (Clemson), Cashius Howell (Texas A&M), Akheem Mesidor (Miami), Zion Young (Missouri), Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State) and R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma).
Quotable: "Yeah, I mean it would be the same approach that we took last year in terms of the position wasn't ignored in the draft, it just didn't come together like how we would have liked it to be from a draft standpoint," Holmes said of his approach to adding an edge rusher this offseason.
"But you know Muhammad played really well. I'm not sure many other teams had an 11-sack and a 14.5-sack guy. I thought the rush was good, but I understand he's a free agent. Davenport is a free agent, so we're definitely going to have to look and replenish opposite of Hutch for sure."
