Thinking @HSVLion wrote or contributed to this article….
Did Detroit Lions find difference-makers in defense-heavy NFL Draft haul?
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Whatever the reason, it’s an infusion of young talent that is sorely needed. If it was a coincidence, consider them blessed.
The Lions’ defensive problems — or at least, the root causes of them — have been less clear-cut than their offensive struggles when you put injuries aside, particularly in the passing game. There are acclaimed players at every level of the unit, but discussing their shortcomings with this in mind invokes a line from Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane in Moneyball: “If he’s a good hitter, then why doesn’t he hit good?”
The Lions’ pass rush had good sack and pressure production, but on a down-to-down basis, offenses were not afraid of it. They took advantage of their 30th-ranked average time to pressure and picked them apart when it mattered most. If they’re so good at rushing the passer, why don’t they rush the passer good more often?
Even with injury problems in 2025, the Lions’ secondary generally stuck to receivers like glue, leading the league in average separation, but was still torched with regularity and tied for the fourth-most explosive pass plays (20-plus yards) allowed. If they’re so good at sticking with their man, then why does their man get open downfield so often?
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But placing the onus entirely on the scheme is unfair, even if the consensus is that talented players are collectively underperforming.
The reality is Detroit hasn’t added a true difference-maker in the trenches since drafting Aidan Hutchinson with the second pick in 2022. In 2023, the only defensive lineman they added was Brodric Martin (Round 3) — arguably the worst pick of Holmes’ career, all things considered. In 2024, the only defensive lineman they added was Mekhi Wingo (Round 6), who only made the gameday roster twice last season. And in 2025, the only defensive lineman they drafted was Tyleik Williams (Round 1), who had a promising rookie season but is still a work in progress.
This draft aims to change that, both by giving defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard more pieces to work with and by giving the team’s best players a teammate who will uphold their end of the bargain.
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The reality is Detroit hasn’t added a true difference-maker in the trenches since drafting Aidan Hutchinson with the second pick in 2022. In 2023, the only defensive lineman they added was Brodric Martin (Round 3) — arguably the worst pick of Holmes’ career, all things considered. In 2024, the only defensive lineman they added was Mekhi Wingo (Round 6), who only made the gameday roster twice last season. And in 2025, the only defensive lineman they drafted was Tyleik Williams (Round 1), who had a promising rookie season but is still a work in progress.
This draft aims to change that, both by giving defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard more pieces to work with and by giving the team’s best players a teammate who will uphold their end of the bargain.
Detroit traded up in Round 2 for Derrick Moore, who was ninth among qualified edge defenders in college football in pressure rate on true pass-rushing snaps (which excludes screens, play-action, roll-outs, etc.), generating pressure on a whopping 36% of those snaps. He should help the Lions improve their average time to pressure, which would speed up the quarterback and allow the Lions to capitalize on tight man coverage.
While we wouldn’t expect Moore to have that same output in the NFL, it’s worth noting Marcus Davenport had a pressure rate of just 12.8% on true pass sets last season, ranking 82nd among qualified edges.
“I feel like it can do a lot, especially for a guy like Hutch,” Moore said of his bull rush. “We can help each other. He can help me, I can help him. Even the interior guys, it’s definitely going to help a lot just pushing the pocket and everybody getting home. Like I said, it’s going to take all four of us. As long as everybody’s on the same page, that’s all that matters so we can all get after the quarterback.”
More: Wojo: Brad Holmes, Lions finally get edgy, leap for Michigan’s Derrick Moore
Unlike last season, when the Lions used Davenport on early downs and Al-Quadin Muhammad on passing downs, the Lions now have two edges in Moore and DJ Wonnum who should be able to play in both phases, allowing Hutchinson to not only have a formidable partner but also to come off the field to save some of his energy for the game’s critical junctures. Though Hutchinson finished with a career-high 14½ sacks, it felt like he wasn’t always the best player on the field in moments that mattered, which is what you’re paying him to be.
Holmes said Wonnum and Moore are “a little bit different,” but “they both set good edges, they both can rush outside, they both can rush inside, and they’re also both good teammates, too.”
“(We’re) very selective on the type of guys that we get,” Holmes said of the edge position. “Hutch takes a lot of snaps, man. Just to have another body that literally can spell Hutch in that rush rotation.”
