Lions Predicted to Move on From Former Second-Round Pick Just Two Months After Re-Signing Him

The Detroit Lions have a lot of options at defensive tackle right now and that has led to a player they just re-signed this offseason being named an option to be cut or traded.
The Detroit Lions have an abundance of options at defensive tackle right now.

They made sure of that when they re-signed Levi Onwuzurike and added Roy Lopez this offseason.

However, those two one-year signings didn't do much to address their potential needs beyond the 2025 season.

With that in mind, the Lions spent their first-round pick on Tyleik Williams, who also plays defensive tackle.

   Detroit Lions defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike

David Reginek-Imagn Images

That has made things even more crowded at the position and could have some of the veterans questioning their job security.

Pro Football and Sports Networks' Sterling Xie believes Onwuzurike should be especially concerned.

In a recent article, Xie named Onwuzurike as a player who could be cut or traded by the Lions this offseason.

I have a hard time seeing how this one would make sense for the Lions.

Yes, the Lions currently have too many defensive tackles to actually be able to fit them all into their defensive rotation and will need to move on from at least one before the season begins.

Onwuzurike seems pretty unlikely to be the one they move on from.

Releasing him after June 1 only saves $721 thousand of the $4.22 million cap hit he carries from a contract he signed in March. 

Spending $3.5 million on a player to only carry him during the pre-season doesn't really add up for a team that won't spend the money to get a starting edge rusher.

Onwuzurike is also coming off of the best season of his NFL career. He played 61% of snaps for the Lions in 2024 and finished 15th among defensive tackles with 45 pressures according to Pro Football Focus.

He would need to seriously regress to become a better cut candidate than D.J. Reader.

The Lions could save $11,7 million if they make Reader a post-June 1 release. Reader also played less than Onwuzurike (53% of snaps) and was less effective while he was out there.

There is almost certain to be somebody at defensive tackle who is on the Lions' depth chart right now and won't be in September. I just don't think it will be Onwuzurike.