Alim McNeill’s contract is starting to draw some national ire.
CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, when naming his NFL “All-Overpaid Team” for 2026, slotted the Lions defensive lineman into the defensive tackle slot.
Podell wrote:
"He's been unable to stay on the field of late, a common theme for the Lions' defense these days, missing a combined 14 games since 2023. In 2025, his 52.5 defensive grade ranked 89th out of 127 interior defensive linemen grades by Pro Football Focus. McNeil's career-high 5.0 sacks came back in 2023, and he's accumulated just 4.5 across the last two seasons. Detroit needs much more out of McNeil with three years remaining on this albatross. "Garrett Podell, CBS Sports
McNeill signed a four-year, $97 million extension with the franchise before the 2024 season. He currently has three years left on the deal.
The contract ranks 10th among defensive tackles in average annual value.
McNeill's contract draws some criticism from CBS Sports
Last season, McNeill worked his way back from a torn ACL suffered in December 2024. He made his season debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers October 20. In 10 games, he recorded just 14 tackles, one sack and three quarterback hits.
He didn’t look at all like the disruptive interior force he was before the injury. The ACL tear was a bad break not just for him, but for the Lions since it happened the season after his extension. It’s fair to call his long-term health into question.
But at his best, McNeill is a stout run defender with pocket-crushing upside as a pass rusher. He acknowledged the limitations his injury still had on him in 2025, but said he’s ready to come back strong this season.
“Physically I just wasn't all the way there like I wanted to be,” he said. “…Now I’ve got two legs and I have no excuse, and I feel wonderful out here now. I really feel like I'm back to me playing like me, getting off the ball like me, getting off blocks like I usually do.”
A healthy McNeill would change the Lions’ defense. It would give the Lions a stout interior duo with second-year tackle Tyleik Williams, as well as some interior pass rush juice it sorely lacked last season. With how much Aidan Hutchinson figures to be double-teamed, they need guys who can capitalize on those opportunities.
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"Sometimes Mac (McNeill) is going to have to take advantage of that matchup. Then your nose tackle or the other defensive end has to win,” head coach Dan Campbell said. "There will be times when Mac or Hutch isn't doubled, and they have to win. Mac has the ability to win one-on-one."
The Lions need a lot out of their front seven this season, particularly in the early parts of the year. They’ve got a shaky secondary and must compensate for it with their down lineman and linebacker play.
This is a make-or-break season for McNeill in a way— a rebound season could show he’s well worth the No. 10 highest AAV at his position.
But another down year could solidify him as having one of the worst contracts in the NFL. It’ll be on him to lead the Lions’ interior to a season where they hope to field a top-half defense in the league.
If he really is healthy, he can do it.
“(My job) is to stop the run and get to the quarterback,” he said. “So that falls on us directly. I take that super personal and we're going to go into the season thinking that same way.”
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