Wednesday open thread: In 2025, who will serve as the Lions’ second-ranked pass rusher? After the draft and free agency, the Detroit Lions return a unit that is nearly identical to that of 2024, despite the fact that they entered the 2025 offseason with the same need for pass-rushing assistance as the previous three offseasons.
Aidan Hutchinson, who sustained a broken leg during a game against the Dallas Cowboys, is expected to regain his complete health and serve as the group’s anchor. However, there are numerous uncertainties that persist beyond his influence. Marcus Davenport, who was injured in 2024 and was unable to play in more than two games, was re-signed by the Lions.
They also kept Al-Quadin Muhammad, who played in nine games during the final stretch of the previous season and developed a reputation as a pass rusher with a clutch trait. Nevertheless, the stat sheet was not particularly noteworthy in the end. The Lions are optimistic that some of their familiar characters will become more consistent on the interior. In 2024, Josh Paschal and Levi
collectively recorded only 3.5 sacks; however, they consistently generated pressure and disruptions amid a scarcity of edge-rushing talent. And then there are the novices. The Lions are optimistic that Tyliek Williams, a defensive tackle from Ohio State and a first-round decision, can serve as the replacement for Alim McNeill while McNeill recovers from a torn ACL he sustained late in the year.
Nevertheless, those are substantial responsibilities for an inexperienced individual to assume. Additionally, there is a glimmer of hope regarding newcomer Ahmed Hassanein, who was selected in the sixth round. However, his collegiate career trajectory and relative inexperience in the sport suggest that there is a significant amount of potential for growth.
Question of the Day: In 2025, who will serve as the Lions’ second-ranked pass rusher? Davenport is expected to position himself above Muhammad on the depth chart. Davenport did not exhibit much at the outset of his tenure with the Lions, but Muhammad did as well. I anticipate that Davenport will adjust more quickly when given the same amount of time.
Furthermore, Davenport may capitalize on Onwuzurike and Paschal’s similar pressure bursts that manifested during the 2024 season. In contrast, Muhammad was already utilizing that advantage. The icing on the cake is that Davenport is listed at 285 pounds on the Lions’ roster, a weight that is higher than his 265 kilos playing weight with the Saints in 2023.
Davenport has been concerned about his size throughout his career, and the additional time he has to adjust to competing at a heavier weight will enable him to capitalize on it effectively. Interiorly, I am more optimistic about Onwuzurike’s capacity to maintain a high level of play than I am about Paschal’s.
If Onwuzurike’s health issues are disregarded (which is, undoubtedly, a significant if), his one-year, $5.5 million contract appears to be an exceptional value. I am of the opinion that Tyleik Williams will have an impact in his first year; however, I do not believe that it will be fully realized until later in the season, given his dearth of detailed pass rushing experience at Ohio State.
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