After the Detroit Lions navigate a postseason that will hopefully end with the first Super Bowl victory in franchise history, general manager Brad Holmes will do his best to keep Detroit’s supremely talented roster together.
One player the Lions will have to make a decision on is defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike, who was a major disappointment over his first three years in the league after being selected with a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
However, Onwuzurike turned the corner in 2024 and has become a valuable member of Detroit’s defense in what was a make-or-break season for him. Now, the Washington product has set himself up nicely ahead of free agency.
After Onwuzurike played out his four-year, $8.1 million rookie contract, Isaac Zuniga of Last Word on Sports believes Onwuzurike will land a two-year, $20 million deal in free agency.
Zuniga would also like to see the Chicago Bears make a run at Onwuzurike.
Ranking among the best defensive tackles in pass-rush win rate, Onwuzurike could be a key addition to bolster Chicago’s defensive line.
Contract Projection: Two years, $20 million
As Zuniga points out, Onwuzurike improved as pass-rusher this past season. Not only did he have a top-25 pass-rush win rate (11.2%) among interior defensive linemen, he posted a career-high 1.5 sacks and 45 pressures.
Onwuzurike wasn’t shabby against the run, either, with Detroit’s breakout defender posting a career-high 64.1 PFF grade in that area.
The Lions will most certainly have interest in bringing Onwuzurike back. Not only is he valuable depth, but the Lions have a question mark in defensive lineman Alim McNeill, who suffered a torn ACL last month and isn’t guaranteed to be ready for the start of next season.
The problem is the Lions can’t guarantee Onwuzurike a starting job, something other teams can do. After all, with McNeill and D.J. Reader coming back, Onwuzurike will be relegated to backup duty, barring injury.
What the Lions can offer Onwuzurike is a chance to start in 2026, when Reader will be a free agent. However, having the opportunity to start right away and garner significant money might be too good for Onwuzurike to pass up on.
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