Pride of Detroit
PFF continues to praise the Detroit Lions for one particular free agency move.
The Detroit Lions may not have been recognized for many splashy signings in free agency this year, but PFF is impressed with at least one low-cost move they made.
Re-signing Levi Onwuzurike to a one-year, $4 million contract made their list of the top five best value signings in 2025 NFL free agency.
“The Lions get Onwuzurike back on a one-year, “prove it” deal, as past injuries and inconsistent play likely paved the way for them to be able to re-sign him,” the PFF staff wrote. “2024 was Onwuzirike’s healthiest and most productive season to date, and he notched 45 quarterback pressures in the regular season, including a career-high nine in Detroit’s Week 18 win over Minnesota.
The move was later praised again by PFF, with the deal being listed as Detroit’s “signing with the most upside.” Here’s what PFF’s Ben Cooper had to say:
Onwuzurike’s 47 quarterback pressures, 70.2 PFF overall grade and 20 stops in 2024 were all career highs, and his 12.5% pass-rush win rate was a top-15 mark at the position. The Lions’ defensive line, barring another injury storm, is shaping up to be a strong unit with Onwuzurike anchoring the interior.
We’ve previously talked about Onwuzurike’s deal on several occasions. And while some of the statistics out there are a little misleading because he played so much of 2024 at the edge defender position when he’s constantly being compared to interior defenders, he is a productive pass rusher no matter where you line him up, and that is something the Lions will need in 2025.
Onto the rest of your notes:
Speaking of defensive linemen with high upside, Dave Birkett talked to Mekhi Wingo’s personal defensive line coach at Michigan’s pro day, and he thinks Wingo is “going to be special.”
Congratulations to Malcolm and Kennedy Rodriguez!
Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network did his best to create a Lions depth chart after the first few waves of free agency.
A nice, classy exit from Philadelphia from new Lions cornerback Avonte Maddox:
ESPN dropped some post-free agency power rankings, with the Lions coming in third overall.
More Maddox: a Detroit native, he already has some Lions ink from several years ago:
