If the Detroit Lions wish to fulfill their Tremendous Bowl hopes in 2024, they might be sensible so as to add a dominant pressure to their protection.
EDGE rusher Aidan Hutchinson had a standout marketing campaign in his second NFL season, however usually drew double groups and additional consideration from opposing offensive strains. Consequently, the workforce would profit from including one other presence on the line of defense.
One potential choice is Miami's Christian Wilkins, who’s headed to turn into a free agent after stories that the Dolphins don’t plan to franchise tag him.
Consequently, he might be obtainable for buy when free company opens on March 13.
Wilkins has 20.5 profession sacks in 5 NFL seasons, together with a career-high 9 in 2023. He additionally had 65 tackles, together with 10 for a loss, and 23 tackles final season for the Dolphins.
“Whereas Miami's stance is that every one choices are on the desk for defensive deal with Christian Wilkins, a number of league sources say he seemingly received't be franchise-tagged,” ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote. “That will launch an awesome deal with who had 63 tackles and 9 sacks in 2023.
The gifted quarterback has already been linked to the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns, each younger groups with excessive playoff hopes this coming marketing campaign.
Wilkins is a flexible lineman who can contribute in a giant approach in opposition to each the move and the run. He completed final season with a 70.8 pass-rush grade and a 69.5 run protection grade, per Professional Soccer Focus.
“Wilkins is a basic piece for the Dolphins, a defensive tone-setter and chief, and was additionally the workforce's first selection after they started their huge rebuilding undertaking in 2019,” wrote All Dolphins' Alain Poupart. “He has confirmed to be a prime defensive software over time and added a move speeding factor to his recreation final season as he produced 9 profession sacks.”
The linebacker recorded 61 pressures final 12 months, which might have ranked second on the Lions roster behind Hutchinson. Getting the warmth on the quarterback from the defensive inside would do wonders for a protection that struggled in 2023.
“Wilkins had a strip-sack/compelled fumble/fumble restoration in opposition to the Buffalo Payments within the common season finale, which was his spotlight play of the season,” Poupart wrote. “Wilkins led all NFL defensive linemen in tackles in 2022 with 98, tying the document on the place that was damaged by Derrick Brown of the Carolina Panthers final season.
Detroit ranked final within the league in sacks in 2023, as Hutchinson was the one double-digit sack producer. Defensive deal with Alim McNeill had 5 and no different participant on the roster had greater than three.
McNeill has confirmed to be a stable a part of the Lions' defensive inside, however Wilkins has the flexibleness to maneuver across the line of defense and would pair nicely with the gifted linebacker.
Detroit was strapped for scoring depth final 12 months on the line of defense and was particularly uncovered when McNeill acquired harm. The Lions relied closely on veteran Tyson Alualu all through the season.
There are two fascinating and comparatively unproven choices with Levi Onwuzurik and Brodric Martin. Onwuzurike missed all of 2022 with a again damage and was restricted final season. In the meantime, Martin was lively in solely three video games.
Wilkins shall be an awesome addition wherever he finds himself and has the power to be a distinction maker. With the wants of the Lions, this is able to be a major transfer that may sign Detroit's need to compete for a Tremendous Bowl.
