The Detroit Lions have had a quiet offseason overall, and it’s been almost silent when it comes to upgrading their edge rusher group. While they have one of the best pass rushers in football in Aidan Hutchinson, they’ve had issues finding someone who could help on the other side, leaving them searching for a bargain signing as they enter the second week of free agency.
That changed on Tuesday as MLive’s Benjamin Raven reported that the Lions hosted former Carolina Panthers edge rusher D.J. Wonnum for a visit. Wonnum’s stats are attractive as a player who has racked up 30 sacks in 86 career games with the Panthers and Minnesota Vikings, but the prospect of him joining Detroit only works if he signs on the dotted line.
It’s a lesson Detroit may have learned with it's pursuit of offensive tackle Jedrick Wills earlier this offseason and may make it imperative to seal the deal before they lose out on another free agent that could help the Lions in 2026.
Lions Must Add D.J. Wonnum to Pass Rush Puzzle After Reported FA Visit
Like Wonnum, Wills would have looked real good wearing a Lions uniform next season. The Lions’ offensive line was a massive talking point entering the offseason and got even bigger when they released left tackle Taylor Decker. One day before the news of Decker’s release became official, the Lions hosted Wills for a visit, but did not come to a deal. Three days later, Wills signed with the Chicago Bears, and the Lions' search for a left tackle continued without an immediate answer.
Looking at Wonnum, the Lions can’t risk the same fate. Detroit is presumably set to lose Marcus Davenport in free agency, and Al-Quadin Muhammad signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While Wonnum is unlikely to match the career-high 11 sacks Muhammad collected with the Lions last season, he could be the valuable rotational piece that Davenport wasn’t, according to a description of his role by Panthers head coach Dave Canales last November.
“We’re counting on DJ; he’s done an excellent job, gives us a lot of flexibility in terms of our stunts and packages,” Canales said via Panthers team reporter Kassidy Hill. “He’s a very cerebral guy, and really playing the run tough on the edge. He sets edges for us like we count on, and then that just lets [defensive tackles] Tershawn Wharton, and Derrick Brown, A’Shawn Robinson, and Bobby Brown III, and those guys kind of cut it loose on the inside.”
Based on Canales’s quote, Lions players would be excited for Wonnum to join the team. The Lions have a strong interior with Alim McNeill, another year removed from a torn ACL suffered in December of 2024, and Tyleik Williams coming off a strong finish to his rookie season. Hutchinson can also get to the quarterback on the other end, and Wonnum could also free up the Lions’ linebackers to make plays, including Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez.
The benefits should shed light on why Detroit is hosting Wonnum, but again, they need to get him to put pen to paper for him to matter. If Wonnum signs, he could be a veteran piece to the puzzle, which may also include a selection in next month’s draft and could be well worth the Lions taking some initiative to get the deal done.