Alim McNeill is heading into 2026 with something he did not have a year ago: a healthy offseason and fresh legs. That matters for the Detroit Lions, because his absence in 2025 was felt all over the defensive front, especially when it came to the pass rush.
Now McNeill is back in the mix, and Detroit’s line suddenly looks much sturdier. With McNeill, Tyleik Williams, Levi Onwuzurike, Aidan Hutchinson, and either DJ Wonnum or rookie Derrick Moore, the Lions appear to have one of their better defensive line groups in recent years. It may not be the best version they’ve rolled out, but it’s a clear step up from what they had last season.
McNeill doesn’t have much personal pressure hanging over him this year. He already locked in his extension with Detroit, and he’s paid through 2028. But there is one thing he can do that would make life a little awkward for another defensive tackle: make Jalen Carter’s new contract look excessive.
The Eagles just handed Carter a massive deal, with Adam Schefter reporting: "Breaking: Eagles are signing two-time Pro-Bowl selection Jalen Carter to a four-year, $152 million extension worth up to $160 million, including $106 million guaranteed that now makes him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history, per his agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus.… pic.twitter.com/R8VZfbsKTy"
Carter, a two-time Pro Bowler, is going into his fourth NFL season after what was described as an OK 2025 campaign in Philadelphia. He was also mentioned in trade chatter this offseason, including a possible framework involving Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
Instead, Carter is now tied to the Eagles through at least 2032, and he’s doing it as the highest-paid defensive tackle in league history. That kind of money brings a bigger spotlight, and with only three seasons of work and just two truly strong years behind him, the pressure is on for Carter to keep matching the contract.
McNeill’s own deal still sits at four years and $97 million, signed in 2024. At that point, he had shown enough to look like a quality tackle, but not yet like a true top-tier player at the position.
As Brad Berreman wrote ahead of last season, "There's was never much doubt the Lions were going to give McNeill a fairly lucrative contract extension. But they probably didn't have to make him one of the five highest- paid defensive tackles in the league, and doing so came with the idea the resume he was building would justify that investment."
The same basic question now hangs over Carter. His 2025 numbers dipped, with just three sacks in 12 games, and he finished with 3.5 stuffs. Even so, he still made an impact against the pass, breaking up seven throws.
If McNeill can put together the kind of season that matches the money Detroit is paying him, while adding strong stuff numbers and more sacks, his contract will start to look a lot better than the one Philadelphia just gave Carter.
In Other News...
Lions Left Guard Battle Just Took A Sudden Turn In Camp
Training camp has a way of sorting out the depth chart quickly, and the Lions already have one of their more interesting battles taking shape on the interior of the offensive line. Left guard is open enough that Detroit is sorting through multiple options, with the staff using camp reps to get a clearer read on who can handle the job when the pads come on and the competition gets real.
Christian Mahogany is part of that mix, along with Ben Bartch, Juice Scruggs, Miles Frazier and potentially Giovanni Manu, which gives the Lions both experience and upside to weigh as they build out the line. Campbell has made clear the team will let the competition unfold, and the wrinkle here is that Detroit may be watching more than one player at the same time as it tries to settle a spot that could matter a lot once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Campbell Finally Reveals Why He Passed On The Lions
At Big Ten Media Days, Matt Campbell explained the thinking behind the career move that took him from Iowa State to Penn State, and in the process revisited a decision that still resonates in Detroit. Back in 2021, the Lions were searching for their next head coach amid a full-scale reset, and Campbell was among the names tied to the opening before the job eventually went to Dan Campbell.
What stood out in Campbells remarks was the kind of place he wanted to land, one with history and a feel that matched his own background. He said Penn State checked those boxes, which helps frame why Detroit did not, even as the Lions were trying to climb out of the wreckage of the Matt Patricia era and build something new. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookie Suddenly Has A Real Shot In Crowded DT Battle
Training camp has already put the Lions defensive tackle group under the microscope, and the opening weeks of the battle have given rookie Skyler Gill-Howard a legitimate path to stick. Detroit is sorting through multiple roster competitions, and after the team moved on from veteran Jay Tufele, the interior line picture got a little clearer for a sixth-round pick who is still working his way back from ankle surgery.
Gill-Howard is trying to carve out a role in a crowded room that also includes Levi Onwuzurike, who is returning from injury and looking to reestablish himself. For a rookie with limited college action last season, every rep matters, and the early camp setup suggests the Lions will keep giving him a chance to prove he belongs in the mix. [Read more 🡒]