Few would argue that the Detroit Lions could not benefit from an upgrade at defensive tackle for the 2024 season. Free agency begins on March 13, and veteran Christian Wilkins is widely regarded as the finest available defensive lineman on the market.
On March 10, ESPN’s Dan Graziano vaguely linked the Lions and Wilkins.
“After Chris Jones landed a big deal on Saturday night, Miami’s Christian Wilkins is likely to be a hot name, with contending teams such as the Texans and Lions looking to upgrade at that position,” Graziano noted in an email.
Graziano was referring to the Kansas City Chiefs’ record-setting contract with Chris Jones. With $95 million guaranteed, Jones will become the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history based on average yearly salary.
On March 8, the Baltimore Ravens signed fellow defensive tackle Justin Madubuike to a four-year, $98 million deal.
According to several NFL free agency rankings, Wilkins is the only elite defensive lineman still available. Pro Football Focus placed Wilkins ninth among all potential 2024 free agents, trailing only Jones and Madubuike at defensive tackle.
PFF also predicted Wilkins to get a four-year, $100 million contract in free agency.
Lions in the market for Christian Wilkins?
Graziano is hardly the first person to essentially beg the Lions to sign Wilkins. On March 3, Christian Booher of SI.com’s All Lions suggested that Wilkins “could be a game-changer for the Lions.”
“Wilkins will be a big addition wherever he winds up, and has the ability to be a difference-making element,” Booher said in a statement. “With the Lions’ needs, it would be a significant move that would signal Detroit’s desire to compete for a Super Bowl.”
Wilkins had a career-high nine sacks and 23 quarterback hits in 2023. He has also averaged 84 total tackles over the last three seasons. Wilkins has not missed a game during that time.
Placing him on Detroit’s defensive line with Alim McNeill may alter the Lions’ defensive front. Wilkins would improve Detroit’s pass rush (23rd in sacks last season) and run defense, which finished second in 2023.
While the necessity exists, it’s worth noting that Graziano didn’t directly relate Wilkins to the Lions.
“This doesn’t mean the Lions are necessarily ‘in’ on Wilkins,” SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit’s Ryan Mathews commented on X (previously Twitter) in response to Graziano. “They might be, but nothing Graziano says here suggests that.
“There’s a lot of dot connecting here by simply identifying the Lions as a team who is ‘looking to upgrade at that position.'”
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, “at least seven teams will pursue” Wilkins. He cited the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, and Cleveland Browns as prospective suitors, but did not name the other teams.
Other potential defensive tackle targets for the Lions
Wilkins is the biggest fish left at defensive tackle, but there will be plenty of talented defensive linemen available in the NFL free agent market.
PFF ranked 12 defensive tackles among the top 100 prospective free agents this offseason. Grover Stewart, Leonard Williams, and D.J. Reader were among those named on the list.
According to PFF, Williams and Reader are both among the top 20 free agents this summer. Stewart was ranked No. 52 overall.
If the Lions want to upgrade defensive line without spending around $100 million on a single free agent, those are the most likely choices.
However, the Lions certainly have the cap capacity to make a major splash if they want to. On March 10, Spotrac ranked the Lions sixth in available cap space, with around $53.3 million to spend.
