If the Lions are going to be as good defensively as they hope in Kelvin Sheppard's second season as coordinator, they're going to need the middle of their defensive line to have a big impact.

Alim McNeill enters 2026 a full year removed from the ACL tear he suffered late in 2024 and the hope is he'll regain his 2023 and 2024 pre-injury form when he was one of the top young defensive tackles in the league.

Last year's rookie first-round pick Tyleik Williams should make the natural progression we see young players take from Year 1 to Year 2. There's a lot of optimism at the Meijer Performance Center about his potential with an offseason to work on his craft, an expected increase in workload and some experience now under his belt.

Then there's Levi Onwuzurike, who missed last year because of a torn ACL. In 2024 the Lions finished fourth in the NFL in pressures generated from the interior of the defensive line with 132. Onwuzurike was responsible for 47 of those playing in all 17 games for the Lions that season. Can he get back to that form?

The Lions haven't shut the door on a potential DJ Reader return, though he remains a free agent. Detroit will have to replace veteran Roy Lopez, who was arguably their most productive interior defender last season. He signed with Arizona in free agency.

There's room to add talent and competition to the current group of interior defenders in Detroit.

Defensive tackle class draft strength: Run defenders. It's a strong and stout group of interior defenders in this class, especially against the run, but it's a class short on marquee players at the top.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler lists seven defensive tackles among his final list of the Top 100 players available in this draft class, but the first one doesn't appear until No. 32 with Ohio State's Kayden McDonald.

If teams are looking for stout run defenders with some pass rush upside, there's plenty of players in this class. There are 16 players who hold at least a fourth-round grade from National Draft Scout.

Lions defensive tackle depth chart: McNeill, Williams, Onwuzurike, Myles Adams, Tyler Lacy, Mekhi Wingo, Chris Smith.

Lions defensive tackle draft priority: Moderate. Onwuzurike has missed two full seasons out of his first five because of injury, so there's a little bit of uncertainty heading into the season. If he can be the player we saw in 2024, the Lions have a solid top three with veteran experience behind them for depth.

Adding another interior defender to compete for playing time is never a bad thing. Being able to roll in waves of fresh defenders upfront to throw at offenses has been super successful for the last two Super Bowl champions - Seattle and Philadelphia.

Five defensive tackles who could fit the Lions:

1. Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

6-2, 326. 27 reps on bench press

McDonald is considered the top interior defender in a class that's deep but lacks top-of-draft talent. He had 84 combined tackles the last two seasons in Columbus, and the Buckeyes allowed 3.0 yards per carry or fewer in both seasons with McDonald front and center on defense.

2. Peter Woods, Clemson

6-2, 298. 1.67 seconds 10-yard split in 40-yard dash

Woods wins more with quickness and explosive hands than he does with raw power. At just 21 years old, there's a good base to work with and a lot of room for growth. Woods is a terrific athlete as Clemson used him on 15 offensive reps in goal line and short-yardage situations leading to eight carries for 15 yards and two touchdowns.

3. Caleb Banks, Florida

6-6, 327. 32-inch vertical jump

The medicals are going to be important with Banks as he missed most of last season with a foot injury. He's got rare athletic traits for a player with his big frame and length. He's got a ton of upside and a high ceiling as both a run defender and pass rusher when he taps into his full potential.

4. Christen Miller, Georgia

6-4, 321. 33-inch arms and 10-inch hands

Miller played a number of different roles upfront as a starter the last two seasons for the Bulldogs. He's an athletic big man who excels against the run and could be a instant impact early-down player as a rookie.

5. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech

6-3, 318. 1.79 seconds 10-yard split in 40-yard dash

Hunter is an instinctive run defender who can make an early impact in the run game. He was extremely productive in college, recording 156 tackles and 31.5 tackles for loss as a starter at UCF (2023 & 2024) and Texas Tech (2025) the last three seasons.