Where Detroit Lions landed in NFL defense rankings ahead of 2024 season
Where Detroit Lions landed in NFL defense rankings ahead of 2024 season
The Detroit Lions have made some significant additions to their defense during the offseason, but is that enough to garner some respect as one of the better defenses in the NFL in the rankings of analysts?
Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department recently compiled a list ranking every unit in the NFL and the Lions’ defense landed at No. 10 on the list, which is certainly a more than respectable ranking.
Here’s what was said about Detroit’s defense:
Why They’re Ranked Here
The Detroit Lions had the promise of a strong defense in 2023, but it was still in the theoretical stage. A weak secondary was the major reason behind the Lions finishing 25th in scoring defense. They gave up 7.4 yards per pass (30th) while the run defense was stingy (3.8 yards per carry) and the front led the league in pressure percentage.
The secondary will look much different this year. They traded for Carlton Davis and signed Amik Robertson before drafting Terrion Arnold. Throw in Brian Branch, who had a strong rookie season, and you have the makings of a good group. The addition of Marcus Davenport makes a highly productive pass rush all the scarier.
The additions of Davenport and D.J. Reader are huge, as both can make a major impact upfront in 2024. The concern, however, is that both come with an injury history. If both can stay healthy, the Lions will have one of the best fronts in the league, with Davenport, Reader, Alim McNeill and Aidan Hutchinson.
Davenport in particular needs to stay healthy and produce, as the Lions must be able to get after the quarterback consistently if they want to compete for a Super Bowl with some of the other best teams in the league.
The secondary has seen massive changes. Cameron Sutton is gone but the Lions have also added Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson in free agency, and Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw in the draft. If all goes well, the Lions have the potential to have a special cornerbacks room that is loaded with depth.
All that said, the Lions should still be in the market for an edge rusher to provide insurance for Davenport, and safety is another position Detroit could look to add to, assuming the plan is to keep Brian Branch in the slot.
Thankfully, Detroit has the cap space to do both, with the team sitting with $23.4 million in effective cap space, per Over The Cap.