If the Detroit Lions are going to have a bounce-back campaign in 2026, it has to start on the defensive side of the ball. Despite the frustrations about John Morton's offense last year, the Lions still finished with a top-five offense for the fourth straight season. Barring major injuries on that end of the field, the Lions will have an elite offense.
Defensively, however, they have never been in the top half in the league in the Dan Campbell era. Last season, they were 18th in yards allowed and 22nd in points allowed.
A big reason for the disappointing defense was the inability to stop the run. In the second half of the season, the Lions were one of the worst run-stopping teams in the NFL.
That is why it has been a big priority for Campbell and Brad Holmes all offseason. They have talked incessantly about the need to improve in run defense.
Obviously, this requires a higher level of play from the interior defensive line. But the Lions refused to make a significant addition to their defensive tackle rotation. They are hoping that Tyleik Williams takes a big step forward in his second season and Alim McNeill returns to his pre-injury form. But it's an under-the-radar rookie who could be the X-factor on the defensive line.
Skyler Gill-Howard may make an impact quicker than many anticipate
Skyler Gill-Howard, Detroit's sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has emerged as a potential Day 1 difference-maker. He was one of the stars of the preseason, especially excelling in the last two games.
His performance caught the eyes of his teammates and the coaching staff, who are already expecting big things.
When asked about who he expected to have a breakout season on the team, Alim McNeill gave Gill-Howard's name, per Rainer Sabin of the Detroit Free Press. McNeill said, "Skyler is gonna have a great year. And it’s simply off of his attitude, his mentality and how he attacks the game. We call him Mike Tyson. And that’s what he acts like... He doesn’t care who it is, who’s in front of him. He is going to run through you. He’s going to run around you."
Having earned the nickname "Sun Bleach" from Dan Campbell, Gill-Howard also received praise from Brad Holmes. According to Kory Woods of MLive, Holmes praised the rookie's "innate violence" and said he has been better in the run game than they had anticipated.
How much of a chance Gill-Howard will get right away remains to be seen. He is currently behind Williams and McNeill, but he could very well be the next man up in the rotation. Injuries will inevitably and unfortunately hit, and when they do, Gill-Howard seems ready to take the next step in his already impressive career start.
Add us as a preferred source on Google