The Detroit Lions made an effort to revamp their defensive line this offseason. They made significant changes both on the interior and on the outside.
For Lions fans who have long been waiting for upgrades in the pass rush rotation, this was a welcome development. The rotation behind Aidan Hutchingson certainly looks different, but whether it will be better than last year remains to be seen.
The Lions let Al-Quadin Muhammad and Marcus Davenport walk in free agency. They replaced them by signing DJ Wonnum and Payton Turner. They followed that up by using a second-round pick on Derrick Moore out of Michigan.
Moore and Wonnum will play the lion's share of defensive snaps opposite Hutchinson on the defensive line. How the rest of the EDGE depth will shake out will be a fascinating storyline this summer.
Ahmed Hassanein's place on the Lions' roster will be a fascinating storyline
Which brings us to Ahmed Hassanein. The sixth-round pick in last year's draft, Hassanein has been an afterthought after suffering a pectoral injury last preseason. But he has as good a chance as any backup to make the 53-man roster.
It may be forgotten by now, but Hassanein was a bright spot for the Lions last summer. He emerged as a potential immediate contributor in the preseason. In the Hall of Fame Game against the Chargers, he was the highest-graded Lion per Pro Football Focus. In 20 defensive snaps, he wreaked havoc against the Bolts and received an 85.7 defensive grade.
His impressive preseason was cut short by an unfortunate injury. He was waived with an injury settlement before the season. Despite having a ton of offers elsewhere in the NFL, the Boise State product wanted to stay in Detroit. He then signed with the Lions' practice squad and finished the season there.
Hassanein has made an effort to stay in Detroit and make an impact here. He is the type of character Dan Campbell likes to keep around and develop. This should give him an advantage in the OTAs and training camp, but he actually has to deliver.
Things move quickly in the NFL, especially for late-round draft picks. One day, you are on top of the world, and a couple of injuries later, you are desperately trying to stick on a practice squad.
Hassanein is in a fascinating spot right now as his career can go either way. With a strong summer ahead of his second season, he can easily earn a spot on the final roster. This would give him a chance to earn consistent snaps.
At the same time, there are players like Tyre West, Tyler Lacy, and Turner who will be battling Hassanein for the roster spot. At least two of these players will be left outside the 53-man roster. They will hope to get back on the practice squad, but that would be a disappointing outcome for Hassanein.
There are snaps available in the Lions' defensive end rotation. Hassanein will either stake his claim during training camp or his 2025 preseason will be remembered as the high-water mark of his brief career with the Lions.
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