Defensive tackle Alim McNeill was once a "hidden gem" for the Detroit Lions on track to becoming a "household name." He certainly lived up to that promise in 2024, dominating his way into Pro Bowl and All-Pro contention.
However, a late-season ACL tear cut McNeill's season short. After a lackluster 2025 returning from that injury, McNeill finds himself back to "hidden gem" status, according to FanSided's Wynston Wilcox on his list of each teams hidden gem that can become a household name in 2026.
"Alim McNeill is a key part of this defensive line when he's healthy. He hasn't played a full season since 2022. He was limited to just 10 games last year. It will be hard to be a player people know when you play alongside Aidan Hutchinson, but because he’s going to garner a lot of attention, that could open up guys like McNeill. The Lions have desperately needed another defensive lineman to step up and McNeill is that guy when he's healthy. Give him a few more years and Lions fans won't be able to get enough of him."
It's clear McNeill wasn't himself in 2025. In his ten games, McNeill had a 52.1 grade on Pro Football Focus, good for 90th of 134 interior linemen. His run-defense especially was a paltry 47.2 grade, a staggering contrast to what was one his biggest strengths to go along with his elite pass rushing pre-injury. His five solo tackles were a sharp decline from the 17 he had in each of the past three seasons, and his two tackles for loss were the lowest in his career.
McNeill enters 2026 in a much healthier place than in 2025, saying during OTAs, "I'm me again now." He also added that how he feels is a "night and day difference between last year and now."
If that's the case, then McNeill's ceiling for 2026 should be All-Pro. That's the level he was playing at the last time he was healthy and feeling like himself, making it easy to see why Wilcox and many others are going all-in on McNeill this season.
McNeill now the veteran on the interior line
The Lions defensive interior has opened up a bit with the departures of D.J. Reader to the New York Giants and Roy Lopez to the Arizona Cardinals. McNeill will find himself lined up alongside second-year first-rounder Tyleik Williams, with Levi Onwuzurike and Mekhi Wingo competing for snaps.
Williams showed some promise during his rookie season, but saw less playing time after McNeill's mid-season return. Williams has generated some hype himself as a potential breakout candidate now that he's expected to take on a greater role, while being paired with a healthier McNeill.
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Behind them, Onwuzurike missed all of 2025 with his own torn ACL, while the third-year Wingo played only two games in 2025. The Lions did also draft DT Skyler Gill-Howard in the sixth round. While expectations should be reasonably low for a rookie sixth-rounder, the Gill-Howard selection was viewed as an underrated one with ESPN's Field Yates saying that the rookie "has the traits to be a pest as a pass rusher."
Still, that's a lot of question marks in regards to the interior D-line depth, but if McNeill is truly feeling like his old self again and remains healthy, it shouldn't matter. The Lions' IDL will be a force to be reckoned with, allowing McNeill to finally get the recognition as a household name he deserves.
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