Levi Onwuzurike has fought through major adversity to become a valued member of the Detroit Lions defense. But just how valuable is Onwuzurike to Detroit?
We will find out in free agency.
Onwuzurike, who aligned almost evenly between end and tackle along the Lions defensive line in 2024, is an unrestricted free agent. Keeping him in the den won’t be cheap.
The salary projections are varied for Onwuzurike, an indication that nobody really has a great feel for his market value. Two reputable outlets, Over The Cap and PFF, each project Onwuzurike to ink a deal between $8 million and $8.5 million per year. Meanwhile, Spotrac lists Onwuzruike’s market value at just $4.5 million per season. Justin Rogers estimates a $15 million per year contract.
The variability in those salary projections is related to Onwuzurike’s availability concerns after undergoing lumbar fusion surgery, a procedure that no known player has ever returned from having. However, after two years of missing all but 10 games, Onwuzurike was a rare beacon of availability on Detroit’s defense in 2024. He led the defensive line in snaps while recording a career-high 1.5 sacks and 30 QB pressures, per PFF.
Those are solid numbers for a positionally versatile player, but not irreplaceable. With an extraordinarily deep defensive line class, the potential to get that same sort of production and DT/DE flexibility on Day 2 of the draft is very realistic. There are Day 3 prospects who can offer more as a pass-rushing tackle, if that’s the focus.
It’s hard to envision the Lions paying the lower-end market rate projections, even after the recent salary cap bump. Yet it’s also hard to see the team say goodbye so easily to a useful player who embodies their values of grit and passion for the game.