2026 Detroit Lions Offseason Thread

[Mr.TaterSalad]

13 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

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.

But Muhammad was on the field. He had 11 sacks, 26 pressures, and 457 snaps. So he did them a decent amount of good last year and had availability in numerous situations. I'm going to die on this hill, but given the production and injury history, I would have paid Muhammad. This guy seems more like a Josh Paschal replacement than a Muhammad replacement. 

[1984Echoes]

20 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

... If he’s James Houston with an ounce of run defense ability, that’s a good player to have.

And a far superior option to Muhammed.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

19 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

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.

I'm not wanting to rely on a guy why was an injured rookie and didn't play a single snap last season.  But let's suppose Hassanein is the situational pass rusher and isn't as strong against the run. What's to believe they would keep him beyond this year? If he can't play against the run, be a 3 down guy, or slide along the line, why wouldn't they just get rid of him like every other situational pass rusher they've had?

[buddha]

2 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I'm not wanting to rely on a guy why was an injured rookie and didn't play a single snap last season.  But let's suppose Hassanein is the situational pass rusher and isn't as strong against the run. What's to believe they would keep him beyond this year? If he can't play against the run, be a 3 down guy, or slide along the line, why wouldn't they just get rid of him like every other situational pass rusher they've had?

an undersized late round project pick who played zero snaps as a rookie?

color me unimpressed if the lions go into the season with that as their starting defensive end.  or their backup.

the lions are a super bowl contender.  be serious and go get a proven nfl player.  clowney, epenessa, and jordan are still out there.  

be a gm, brad holmes.  not the most clever guy in the room.

[1984Echoes]

15 minutes ago, buddha said:

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.

You're really trying to sell Wonnum as a scrap heap player. A bargain basement player only...

Why is that?

Why are you trashing this guy so badly?

[Mr.TaterSalad]

1 minute ago, buddha said:

an undersized late round project pick who played zero snaps as a rookie?

color me unimpressed if the lions go into the season with that as their starting defensive end.  or their backup.

the lions are a super bowl contender.  be serious and go get a proven nfl player.  clowney, epenessa, and jordan are still out there.  

be a gm, brad holmes.  not the most clever guy in the room.

Muhammad could have beg their guy if the didn't want to pay a Cam Jordan or Nick Bosav type player. For $12 million they could have brought back Muhammad and signed DJ Wonnum. They'd have their 3 down guy and a pass rusher opposite Aiden for obvious passing situations. Maybe the thought $12 million for DE was too rich for the DE position. 

If the one Wonnum and the unproven Hassanein are their answers at DE, I'm with you. I will be unimpressed and won't feel they're meeting the moment of where they are at. 

[buddha]

5 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

You're really trying to sell Wonnum as a scrap heap player. A bargain basement player only...

Why is that?

Why are you trashing this guy so badly?

you like him because the lions signed him.  no other reason.

he's "fine."  he moves no needles.  he's a body in the locker room who could be fine next to hutch.  that's it.

it's a fine depth signing.  its no reason to get excited.

[Sports_Freak]

56 minutes ago, buddha said:

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.

And you want to draft an OL in the 1st round? Yes, our defense was the problem, our offense was the 5th best. They better take all defense in the first 4 rounds.

[Jason_R]

AQM's deal was $4 million base with $2 million in incentives ($500k for 40% of defensive snaps, $500k for 60% of defensive snaps, and $250k for 6, 8, 10, 12 sacks). I think AQM would make $5.25 million if he reproduces his numbers from last year. Will be interesting to see what Wonnum's base and incentives are.

The market is the market. Defensive ends are expensive on the market. Wonnum won't be a major factor but he will do his job when called on which is to set the edge.

They will pick a DE to go into the rotation as well.