The Detroit Lions won't have any margin for error in 2026. They missed the playoffs in 2026, and failing to reach the promised land in back-to-back seasons could cost plenty of people their jobs, and not just the players.
That's why those who might be on borrowed time or may not have been at their best last season must turn the corner. Notably, that includes veteran defensive tackle Alim McNeill, who hasn't necessarily lived up to his big contract.
McNeill has struggled with injuries, and while that's not his fault, this is a business first and foremost, and the Lions need some return on their investment. With that in mind, Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew gave him another vote of confidence, citing that he'll be much better now that he's fully healthy.
This will be a make-or-break season for Alim McNeill
"I think Alim will have a great year,” Agnew said, per Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network. “I think he’ll have a bounce-back year. Usually, with an ACL, it’s the second year you come back where you’re fully healthy. I expect great things out of him."
McNeill is also expecting bigger and better things from himself in 2026, stating that he's "(more) explosive and being able to do what [he] needs to do, yeah, absolutely. It’s a night-and-day difference between last year and now."
The Lions gave McNeill a four-year, $97 mlilion contract back in 2024. Per Spotrac, he's signed through the 2027 season, and his $28.966 million cap hit will be the third-highest on the team behind only Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
McNeill will make $23.8 million next season, so the Lions can only hope that he can give them something on the trenches. The bar isn't particularly high, though, as he posted a grand total of 1.0 sacks last season, and has amassed 12.5 in five years.
The Lions hoped that McNeill would be a factor against the run, but that wasn't the case at all last season. He posted a career-worst Pro Football Focus run grade (47.2), and while he only played in 10 games due to injuries, his 8 run stops were vastly disappointing.
Of course, there are still plenty of reasons to give him another chance, even beyond the financial repercussions of his contract. He's shown to be a productive player, and he may just need to get his legs back under him to make an impact for Kelvin Sheppard's defense.
The Lions are pretty much stuck with him for at least another season, but there are reasons to be optimistic. He can be a defensive disruptor in the interior, and his ability to keep the quarterback on his toes is evident. His ACL injury is finally way behind him, so there definitely won't be any more margin for error or room for excuses.
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