Breakout Lions Free Agent Coming Back on Major Value Deal

The Detroit Lions have made enforcing the interior of their defensive line a priority in the opening days of free agency. After signing D.J. Reed to help the secondary, the Lions turned their focus to the trenches, signing Roy Lopez on Wednesday morning.

With Alim McNeill’s status for the start of next season in question due to a torn ACL suffered last December, Detroit needed to add another piece to bring everything together next to current starter D.J. Reader. But they took another step toward that process by bringing back a key free agent on a major value deal.

Lions Re-Sign DT Levi Onwuzurike to One-Year Deal

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Lions have agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with Levi Onwuzurike. A second-round pick by the Lions in the 2021 draft, Onwuzurike overcame struggles with a back injury that caused him to miss the entire 2022 season and play 10 games in the 2023 season to collect 28 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a tackle for loss in 16 games.

Onwuzurike’s signing is notable for a few reasons. Not only does it provide depth along the defensive line, but it also makes him the fifth player from the 2021 draft class to sign an extension, joining McNeil, Penei Sewell, Derrick Barnes, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. The contract also is a value compared to Over The Cap’s $8.2 million valuation for Onwuzurike’s play last season.

The return puts the Lions defense in good hands next season, even with the departure of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who took the head coaching job with the New York Jets. Aidan Hutchinson is set to make his comeback from a broken leg suffered last October and the potential of a blockbuster trade or addition in the draft could make Detroit one of the top units in the NFL.

If that happens, the Lions should be on track to contend for their first trip to the Super Bowl in 2025.