Pride of Detroit
Evaluating how Levi Onwuzurike’s 2024 season made him a coveted free agent
The defining narrative of the Detroit Lions’ 2024 defense will undoubtedly be the wave of injuries that swept through the unit. However, one bright spot was Levi Onwuzurike, who—aside from Jack Campbell—proved to be the most consistently available front-seven player all season.
The second pick of the Dan Campbell-Brad Holmes era had a tumultuous journey to this point, but in his fourth season, he delivered his best performance yet—one that wasn’t always a certainty given his career trajectory. As a result, Onwuzurike has dramatically increased his market value compared to just a year ago.
With free agency approaching, the question now is whether the Lions see the soon-to-be 27-year-old as a foundational piece of their defense or if another team will swoop in with big plans for the big man.
Here’s a look at our previously written free agent profiles: QB Teddy Bridgewater, WR Allen Robinson, WR Tim Patrick, G Kevin Zeitler, OT Dan Skipper, EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad, DT Kyle Peko, LB Derrick Barnes, CB Carlton Davis, CB Emmanuel Moseley, CB Kindle Vildor, CB Khalil Dorsey, S Ifeatu Melifonwu, and K Michael Badgley.
Levi Onwuzurike entered the 2024 season as an unknown commodity. In his first three years, he had yet to start a game, appeared in only 51% of possible contests, and logged just 560 total snaps. Despite those limitations, he became one of the biggest stories of training camp, earning a significant role for the season ahead. In fact, three Pride of Detroit writers predicted him as the Lions’ Breakout Player of the Year.
Dan Campbell praised Onwuzurike’s transformation during camp:
“He’s earned it, I mean, it’s clear that he’s one of the best. I mean, it’s just clear, and he plays with violence, he’s stout, he’s fundamentally better than he’s ever been, and he’s shown that he has some versatility.”
Onwuzurike was projected to be a jack-of-all-trades versatile fifth defensive lineman — rotating as an edge player on early downs, lining up as a 5-tech defensive end in five-man fronts, and shifting inside on passing downs to spell Alim McNeill. In a deep, talented unit, he was poised to be the catalyst, finally realizing the potential that had long been evident.
Note: PFF grades combine regular season and playoffs and reflect a minimum 20% snaps at that position
16 games (10 starts): 28 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 tackle for loss, and 13 QB hits – 635 snaps
PFF grade: 69.4 (29th out of 146 interior defensive line)
PFF run defense grade: 64.1 (32nd)
PFF pass rush grade: 67.1 (37th)
PFF tackle grade: 45.9 (82nd)
Onwuzurike wasted no time making his presence felt in 2024. Through the first four weeks, he racked up 10 tackles, five quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks (recording 0.5 sacks in each of Weeks 1, 2, and 4). During that stretch, PFF credited him with 16 of his...
