Detroit enters this season with mostly the same defensive front as 2024, and while that familiarity can be a strength, it also means the same old question still lingers: Who will step up as the No. 2 pass rusher behind Hutch?
Marcus Davenport is a strong candidate. The Lions re-signed him this offseason, hoping he can shake off an injury-riddled year that saw him appear in just two games. He’s now bulked up to 285 pounds—20 pounds heavier than he was with the Saints in 2023—and with another offseason to adjust to the new frame, he could finally show what he’s capable of.
Al-Quadin Muhammad is also in the mix. He played nine games last year and built a quiet reputation for showing up in clutch moments. But statistically, he didn’t light things up, and his ceiling may not be as high as Davenport’s.
Inside the trenches, Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike are both back. They only combined for 3.5 sacks last season, but they regularly disrupted plays—even if it didn’t show on the stat sheet. Onwuzurike in particular could have a breakout year if he stays healthy, which is admittedly a big “if.” Still, the Lions gave him a one-year, $5.5 million deal—so clearly, there’s belief in his upside.
And then there are the rookies. First-round pick Tyleik Williams out of Ohio State is expected to bring pressure from the interior, especially with Alim McNeill rehabbing a torn ACL. Meanwhile, sixth-rounder Ahmed Hassanein is more of a developmental project, but his raw tools could make him a surprise contributor later in the year.
So who’s it gonna be?
The smart money’s on Davenport to fill that No. 2 role behind Hutchinson. He’s healthy, bigger, and entering camp with something to prove. But don’t sleep on Onwuzurike either—if he can stay on the field, he might be the breakout name we’re all talking about by midseason.
Let the training camp battle begin.
Lions’ 2025 D-Line Has Potential—But Who Emerges as Hutchinson’s Wingman?
