The Super Bowl Teams Make Detroit’s Top Offseason Priority Obvious
Credit: Kimberly P. Mitchell via Imagn Images
When the Kansas City Chiefs battle the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, it will kick off a highly-anticipated re-match. While America may be excited about the commercials or the giant plate of chicken wings they’re preparing to consume, fans of the Detroit Lions may need some help getting into the mood.
All season, Lions fans believed they would be playing in this game. With a 15-2 record and the highest-scoring offense in the NFL, Detroit was three wins away from seeing Dan Campbell grinning from ear to ear while hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Hell, they felt like the team of destiny, right up until they were upset by the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round.
But when Lions fans are done shedding tears over what could have been, the focus will come down to what they need to do to get to the Super Bowl in 2025. While the complete overhaul of their coaching staff has stolen the headlines, the real answer can be found in the trenches, which is how both the Chiefs and Eagles have paved their road to New Orleans.
That might feel counterintuitive to some. When you think about the Chiefs, you don’t think about their defense. You think about Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, and Travis Kelce. You may even think more about Taylor Swift than anyone in their secondary. But when it comes to how Kansas City is on the verge of a third-straight championship, the defensive line has played a major role.
It started back in 2016, when the Chiefs selected Chris Jones in the second round of the draft. The Mississippi State product developed into one of the most dominant interior defenders of the past decade, racking up 80.5 sacks over his nine seasons.
The draft continued to be kind to the Chiefs when they found Mike Danna in the fifth round in 2020. Kansas City added Tershawn Wharton as a free agent at the end of the 2020 Draft and struck again by selecting George Karlaftis in the first round two years later. Mike Pennel and Charles Omenihu were added as depth signings in free agency, and the Chiefs had a deep unit that could battle some of the toughest teams in the AFC.
The Eagles have used a similar blueprint over the past several years. Philadelphia already had Brandon Graham, a 15-year veteran who may return for Sunday’s game. Fletcher Cox‘s retirement didn’t cause them to skip a beat, because the Eagles were proactive in replacing his talent, taking Milton Williams in the third round of the 2021 Draft. They also grabbed Jordan Davis in the first round of the 2022 Draft, then Jalen Carter in the first round of the 2023 Draft.
The Eagles aren’t as deep as the Chiefs, mainly due to their myriad injuries coming into the Super Bowl, but Philly still boasts the high-end talent to dominate the trenches.
So if the Chiefs and Eagles both heavily invested in the defensive line, where does that leave the Lions? And how much needs to be done until Detroit has a championship-caliber unit?
Part of the work is already done. Aidan Hutchinson was on his way to establishing a Defensive Player of the Year campaign with 7.5 sacks and 45 pressures in five games(!!!) before suffering a broken tibia and fibula in October. The Lions traded for Za’Darius Smith at the trade deadline, and while he was serviceable (four sacks in eight games), his contract calls for four void years after he becomes a free agent in 2026. With a buyout this spring, Detroit is likely to move on.
There’s also the chance the Lions swing big and land Myles Garrett. This move could play into Detroit’s favor, considering Garrett will likely be a post-June 1 trade due to cap penalties on his contract and the Lions can sneak him under the cap with $46.5 million in cap space. But it’s also contingent on Cleveland budging on their stance to keep Garrett, which could lead to the standoff of the summer.
With an underwhelming free-agent class, the Lions’ best move could be tapping into the draft. Many believe that the strength of this year’s class resides in interior defenders and snagging Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams or South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders could add some depth next to Alim McNeill and a potential replacement for Levi Onwuzurike. The Lions also could stand to find a cheaper partner for Hutchinson in the draft, with Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton, Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku, and Landon Jackson of Arkansas leading a list of potential targets.
The Lions’ defensive line was pretty solid in 2024, but boosting it should nonetheless be a priority this offseason. If Detroit can find some reinforcements, it can go from a Super Bowl-contending team to one that’s actually playing in The Big Game.
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