The Detroit Lions can't afford to have their highest earners hold them back. That's why all eyes will be on Alim McNeill early on in the season, as the veteran defensive tackle is finally back to full strength after an injury-riddled campaign.
Realistically, the Lions couldn't move on from McNeill in the offseason — nor did they want to. However, that doesn't mean they shouldn't keep him on a short leash if he doesn't live up to expectations in the first month of the season.
Given his steep salary and how he's proven that he can be a disruptive presence in the interior, the bar should be significantly higher for McNeill as he enters the third season of his huge contract extension.
Lions need to get their money's worth early with Alim McNeill
The Lions gave McNeill a four-year, $97 million deal in 2024. His $29.8 million salary is the third-highest on the team, behind only Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown, according to Over The Cap. That comes with expectations.
Dan Campbell's team will kick off the season at home vs. the New Orleans Saints before a road date with the Buffalo Bills. Then, they'll host the New York Jets and close out the first month of the season with the Carolina Panthers on the road.
That means Kelvin Sheppard's defense will have to contain the likes of Travis Etienne Jr., James Cook, and Breece Hall, three potential 1,000-yard rushers, before squaring off with a committee of Chubba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks.
That will put McNeill to the test after he struggled mightily against the run in limited action last season. Pro Football Focus gave him the worst run-defense grade of his career (47.2), and he logged just eight run stops in 10 games played.
On the bright side, McNeill has always been an excellent pass rusher at his position. His bull rush is one of the most efficient in the NFC North, and the Lions could certainly use someone other than Aidan Hutchinson to put pressure at the line of scrimmage.
At the end of the day, the Lions have every reason to be patient with McNeill. Not only are they stuck with him because cutting him isn't really an option, but they've always been high and confident in his ability to turn the corner.
Hopefully, last year's struggles were just an injury-related fluke. He's already shown what he's capable of when he's locked in and healthy, and after such a disappointing season in 2025, the Lions will need all hands on deck and their veterans to step up right out of the gate.
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