The Detroit Lions have spent the offseason rebuilding their roster in meaningful ways, and one of the most important spots they have looked to fix is defensive end.
Detroit knows they need more pass rushing talent, and have tried to find it in both free agency and the draft. Whether they have done enough to turn around their defensive fortunes is the big question entering 2026, and the reaction to that remains mixed.
While most believe the Lions have improved, there is still a world where a worst-case scenario plays out for the franchise. If it should happen, it won't be one that fans aren't familiar with. Bleacher Report analyst Gary Davenport revealed the best and worst case scenarios for the defense this season, and both revolved around the pass rush.
In terms of the worst case, Davenport hinted at a scenario where nobody develops opposite Aidan Hutchinson, the pass rush sags again and that exposes problems in the secondary.
"The fact is that until we see otherwise, Hutchinson remains the clear focal point of the front. Star safety Brian Branch is working his way back from an Achilles tear and iffy at best for Week 1. Cornerback Terrion Arnold's status for 2026 is in doubt following an offseason arrest on serious charges, per multiple reports, and any extended absence would leave the Detroit secondary exposed. If the pass defense is a liability again, the Lions will be pressed into trying to win shootouts—again."
Detroit's secondary has notable issues, but without a consistent pass rush, the entire group will surely be doomed again. If a front is able to stop the run and get home consistently, often times, it doesn't matter the players they have on the back end.
It's clear that everything will be hinging on the likes of DJ Wonnum and Derrick Moore, Detroit's biggest offseason additions up front. The hope is both of them can help Hutchinson provide some punch in the trenches and make the Lions tougher defensively. Seeing if that plays out could be the key for Detroit's entire season defensively.
Kelvin Sheppard believes Lions made the right kind of rush upgrades
Even though many continue to sounds the offseason alarms with regards to the defense, the Lions' brass believes they have solid players on the roster to achieve their goals. As defensive coordinator, Sheppard has a unique understanding of the type of player the Lions have needed up front.
Specifically, Sheppard said during the OTA period that he has appreciated the competition that the players have been having, and likes the look of the new additions to the roster. He believes the front office has done a nice job to add the right type of players to boost the defense.
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"The biggest thing that stands out to me is length. That's something that we attacked and we saw that we needed. We mentioned it and the front office did a great job trying to go out and attain and attract some of the top guys per what we were looking for. I thought they did a great job. It is a good mix and blend. You have some long (and) you have some more shorter, powerful type players. (It's) going to be a lot of competition come training camp with that unit. It's six, seven guys (deep) right now, and they all look like they can play and have potential. It's just a matter of when the pads come on, how does that look?"
The Lions have tried plenty in the past in terms of throwing lower cost options at the problem up front. The hope is they finally get things right this year and see it pay off with more consistent pocket pressure. There is, however, still the chance for things to go either way in this moment. That's a scary proposition to consider until the season begins.
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