2026 Detroit Lions Offseason Thread

[Sports_Freak]

21 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

PS: Wonnum has 30 sacks, 32 TFL's, 59 QB hits, 15 PD's and 3 FF's so far in his career... so he has some ability. Not certain what his pass-rush win rate is... But I think there's enough there for Detroit's coaches to work with...

Anything he has done before will now be better with Hutch on the other edge.

[MichiganCardinal]

26 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

PS: Wonnum has 30 sacks, 32 TFL's, 59 QB hits, 15 PD's and 3 FF's so far in his career... so he has some ability. Not certain what his pass-rush win rate is... But I think there's enough there for Detroit's coaches to work with...

His problem (surprise-surprise) is an injury history.

He was great with the Vikings, but went down late in 2023 with a non-contact torn quad. After the surgery to repair it, his body rejected the stitches, he developed MRSA, and then developed blood clots as a side effect of his IV antibiotics. Those are the kind of complications unhealthy people die from.

But he came back midway through 2024 with Carolina. He’s just not quite returned to anything like his 2023 form. Recorded 8 sacks, 62 tackles, and 15 QB hits over 16 games in 2023… 7 sacks, 69 tackles, and 10 QB hits in 24 games since.

[buddha]

1 hour ago, 1984Echoes said:

PS: Wonnum has 30 sacks, 32 TFL's, 59 QB hits, 15 PD's and 3 FF's so far in his career... so he has some ability. Not certain what his pass-rush win rate is... But I think there's enough there for Detroit's coaches to work with...

he's a reclamation project, settle down.

[MichiganCardinal]

What he does have over AQM is that he’s a three-down player.

I still expect them to at least draft an edge, if not add a cheap option in free agency (Cam Jordan will probably not be that). Justin Rogers had a good reminder that they carried eight edge rushers into camp last year. AQM merely emerged.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

3 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

What he does have over AQM is that he’s a three-down player.

I still expect them to at least draft an edge, if not add a cheap option in free agency (Cam Jordan will probably not be that). Justin Rogers had a good reminder that they carried eight edge rushers into camp last year. AQM merely emerged.

Does everyone on the line have to be 3 tech who can play against the run too? Can't we just have one, pure, situational pass rusher? Muhammad seemed to be that and then they dumped him. James Houston was the guy before Muhammad and they ditched him. 

[1984Echoes]

36 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

... He’s just not quite returned to anything like his 2023 form. Recorded 8 sacks, 62 tackles, and 15 QB hits over 16 games in 2023… 7 sacks, 69 tackles, and 10 QB hits in 24 games since.

My only question would be:

Is it him? Or was it how Carolina was using him. I sort of... don't trust Carolina.

I think he was used much more at DE by the Vikings, and almost exclusively by Carolina in space as an OLB...

 

9 minutes ago, buddha said:

he's a reclamation project, settle down.

Yes I know this. I still like him as a reclamation/ rotational/ depth DE guy for the Lions.

Just a WAG...

But I think Detroit gets a lot more out of him than Carolina did... and he'll be back to as effective as he was with Minny. Not as a dominant All-Star type DE... but just as a rotational/ depth DE that...

This team also needs. That's all I'm saying.

I like the guy and I think it's a good signing.

I don't think Carolina used him effectively.

Just my 2 cents.

[1984Echoes]

6 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

What he does have over AQM is that he’s a three-down player.

I still expect them to at least draft an edge, if not add a cheap option in free agency (Cam Jordan will probably not be that). Justin Rogers had a good reminder that they carried eight edge rushers into camp last year. AQM merely emerged.

Yes.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

I don't why they wouldn't pay Muhammad $6 million after the season he just had for them, which admittedly wasn't spectacular, but solid enough for what his skill set was. But they'll pay an injury prone guy, who had fewer sacks and pressures, the same amount of money. I would have preferred Muhammad. 

[Hongbit]

I think they will come to the determination that BPA at 17 will be an Edge.  

[MichiganCardinal]

Just now, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Does everyone on the line have to be 3 tech who can play against the run too? Can't we just have one, pure, situational pass rusher? Muhammad seemed to be that and then they dumped him. James Houston was the guy before Muhammad and they ditched him. 

I’m not saying you’re wrong, but I don’t think they prioritize it in any way. James Houston was that player and he was the first Holmes draft pick released despite lighting up the stat sheet. Hassanein was a one-trick pony to start his Boise State career and probably won’t be good against the run this year.

But they only get 48 players every game day. 25 starters leaves 23 spots. Have to use each one wisely, and you’re in a tough spot if there is a player like Houston who you physically cannot put in the game except in one role.

[1984Echoes]

1 minute ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Does everyone on the line have to be 3 tech who can play against the run too? Can't we just have one, pure, situational pass rusher? Muhammad seemed to be that and then they dumped him. James Houston was the guy before Muhammad and they ditched him. 

Wonnum is NOT a 3-tech. That's a DT if you didn't know that.

He's a 3-DOWN defensive end. He's best at stopping the run. Yeah, that's needed too.

Why do you want someone who can ONLY rush the passer?

the Lions HATED that Muhammed was **** against the run. That's why he is no longer with the team... aside from any money concerns.

Put a pass-rusher ONLY on the field and he can be taken advantage of.

I don't agree with this philosophy.

I'll take Wonnum's rotational ability to do both: stop the run and rush the passer. He had 8 sacks for the Vikings when he was starting as a DE. Each... in two years 2021 and 2023.

[1984Echoes]

3 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I don't why they wouldn't pay Muhammad $6 million after the season he just had for them, which admittedly wasn't spectacular, but solid enough for what his skill set was. But they'll pay an injury prone guy, who had fewer sacks and pressures, the same amount of money. I would have preferred Muhammad. 

Muhammed was horse**** against the run, that's why.

[MichiganCardinal]

2 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I don't why they wouldn't pay Muhammad $6 million after the season he just had for them, which admittedly wasn't spectacular, but solid enough for what his skill set was. But they'll pay an injury prone guy, who had fewer sacks and pressures, the same amount of money. I would have preferred Muhammad. 

I don’t think they’ll pay him $6MM. We’ll see when the details come out, but Pelissori was reporting directly from the agent. “Up to $6MM” may well mean “$2MM with a $1MM bonus for every five sacks up to 20 sacks”

It won’t be that, but you get the idea. His “$6MM” and AQM’s $6MM are very unlikely to be created equal.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

They gave that spot to Bob Muhammad last year, but like the other situational pass rusher they get, they don't keep them. Thy injury visit with Wonnum worries me a bit. But we know these guys provide the value and potential upside Brad loves.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

2 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

Wonnum is NOT a 3-tech. That's a DT if you didn't know that.

He's a 3-DOWN defensive end. He's best at stopping the run. Yeah, that's needed too.

Why do you want someone who can ONLY rush the passer?

the Lions HATED that Muhammed was **** against the run. That's why he is no longer with the team... aside from any money concerns.

Put a pass-rusher ONLY on the field and he can be taken advantage of.

I don't agree with this philosophy.

I'll take Wonnum's rotational ability to do both: stop the run and rush the passer. He had 8 sacks for the Vikings when he was starting as a DE. Each... in two years 2021 and 2023.

I want a situational pass rusher because we had one of the worst pressure rates and allowed QBs for some of the longest time in the pocket and to throw. This defense needed to get more pressure on the QB.

[1984Echoes]

14 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

... AQM merely emerged.

PS: I wouldn't say that he "emerged" as much as "survived" the rash of injuries that struck the rest of the line and therefore was available versus... not.

They had no choice but to put him on the field.

[1984Echoes]

1 minute ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I want a situational pass rusher because we had one of the worst pressure rates and allowed QBs for some of the longest time in the pocket and to throw. This defense needed to get more pressure on the QB.

Then get better players.

A one-trick-pony pass-rusher-ONLY is NOT the answer.

[1984Echoes]

1 hour ago, Sports_Freak said:

Anything he has done before will now be better with Hutch on the other edge.

I think between Detroit's coaches, scheme, and Hutch...

That there could actually be some hope for this.

But I would wait'n'see.

I think he has upside. I think he'll be a good rotational DE for Detroit. Good depth.

Anything more than that will be gravy.

So...

We'll see.

[buddha]

a guy that had a good year in the past but is now always injured?

oh good, we've just signed marcus davenport 2.0.

[buddha]

Just now, 1984Echoes said:

I think between Detroit's coaches, scheme, and Hutch...

That there could actually be some hope for this.

But I would wait'n'see.

I think he has upside. I think he'll be a good rotational DE for Detroit. Good depth.

Anything more than that will be gravy.

So...

We'll see.

youre really overrating hutch and kelvin sheppard.

what about detroit's defensive scheme gives you sudden confidence that players will suddenly be great when they come here?  the defense was not very good last year.

[1984Echoes]

3 minutes ago, buddha said:

a guy that had a good year in the past but is now always injured?

oh good, we've ...

Wonnum played in 16 games this past year, starting 15.

Whatchu talkin' about Willis?

[1984Echoes]

2 minutes ago, buddha said:

...  the defense was not very good last year.

I'm not going to mistake a defense suffering from a slew of injuries as a bad defense like you are...

[MichiganCardinal]

21 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I want a situational pass rusher because we had one of the worst pressure rates and allowed QBs for some of the longest time in the pocket and to throw. This defense needed to get more pressure on the QB.

There’s got to be some give and take though. If your situational pass rusher is never on the field, because you’re never in a 3rd and long, because the opponent can just run to the OT opposite Hutch and gain four yards every play, your situational pass rusher does you no good.

I wouldn’t discount the possibility that Hassanein is the situational pass rusher either. He had a stretch of nine straight games with a sack at Boise State. If he’s James Houston with an ounce of run defense ability, that’s a good player to have.

[sagnam]

34 minutes ago, Hongbit said:

I think they will come to the determination that BPA at 17 will be an Edge.  

It’s amazing how often that happens. Best player just so happens to play a position of need. Seems like it’s almost against all odds.

[buddha]

16 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

I'm not going to mistake a defense suffering from a slew of injuries as a bad defense like you are...

the lions defense wasnt great last year even when it was healthy, which wasnt very often.

i'm just curious as to why you think a free agent scrap heap bargain basement guy with track record of being injured that was passed over by most other clubs will somehow be a great signing for us.