The Detroit Lions didn’t make a habit of chasing headlines this offseason, and that’s part of what makes D.J. Wonnum such an interesting addition.
He wasn’t the loudest move. He wasn’t the flashiest.
But he may end up helping solve one of the defense’s quietest and most stubborn problems.
Detroit’s biggest signing was Cade Mays, the center expected to start and help usher in the next phase of the offensive line. Wonnum, though, could matter just as much on the other side of the ball. The former Carolina Panther and Minnesota Viking arrived with a reputation as a useful veteran edge presence, but his value may come less from pure pass-rush production and more from the steadiness he brings against the run.
That matters in a big way for a Lions defense that needed help in 2025. Wonnum is viewed as a slightly stronger run-stopper than pass rusher, which gives defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard another piece to lean on while trying to clean up that area.
His size helps, too. At 6-5, he brings the kind of length Detroit was missing in 2025, and that gives the Lions a defender who can fit a few different jobs.
Wonnum’s résumé is part of the appeal. He has 126 run stops and 193 quarterback pressures, numbers that likely stood out when Detroit made the signing. He also says he’s ready to be used in a variety of ways.
“They told me they'll be able to use my versatility within the defense,” Wonnum said of his role in defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's scheme. “I'm excited about that. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to win.
“I feel like I can do it all. I make plays in every phase of the game.
I set the edge hard. I've gotten to the quarterback.
I've dropped in coverage and gotten interceptions and things like that. I feel like I can bring a lot to the defense.”
There’s also the injury piece, which makes his outlook even more intriguing. According to Tim Twentyman’s reporting, Wonnum had been dealing with injuries that have now been addressed and rehabbed heading into the offseason. That opens the door for Detroit to get the best version of him at camp.
That version could matter immediately. Wonnum is set to battle rookie Derrick Moore for the EDGE2 job, and his mix of strength, speed, and length gives him a real chance to carve out a meaningful role. Even if the box score doesn’t always jump off the page, he has the tools to help the Lions in more than one phase - pressuring quarterbacks, setting the edge, and giving a run defense in need of help a sturdier foundation.
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