The Detroit Lions are going to be looking for defensive line help during free agency and the draft. Especially on the interior of their defensive line. They had a lot of turnover there in 2023. Isaiah Biggs, Benito Jones, Brodric Martin, Levi Onwuzurkie, Quinton Bohanna and Tyson Alualu all played rotated in and out in 2023 and now only two of those guys are under contract with the team.
One of the best players at the position has just become available after the Dolphins have decided to not franchise tag Christian Wilkins and let him become an unrestricted free agent. With Justin Madubuike being tagged by the Ravens, Wilkins is now the top guy at the position on the open market. Could the Lions have interest in him?
I’m sure they will. I’m sure a lot of teams will have interest in him. Wilkins is coming off a 10 sack and 58 pressure season. For the analytics crowd, Wilkins has also been one of the highest graded interior lineman by Pro Football Focus for the last few years as well. He’s a stud and the Dolphins will miss him if they don’t ultimately find a way to bring him back.
Now, if the Lions are interested, what is Wilkins going to cost them? Our on staff cap analysts project that Wilkins will get a 4 year deal worth $92 million. That deal will pay him $23 million a year and give him $50 million guaranteed.
That would make Wilkins one of the highest paid defensive tackles in football. It would make him the fourth highest paid to be exact. Do the Lions want to spend that much money? History tells you they don’t and they more than likely won’t. Especially since they’ll soon have to work out a deal with Alim McNeill. A deal that we project will pay McNeill $64 million. It seems unlikely.
The Lions would be very good with Wilkins, but spending that money just goes against what they’ve been so far and what they’ve told us they’re going to be.