D.J. Wonnum Signs One-Year Deal to Boost Lions Pass Rush

The Detroit Lions added D.J. Wonnum on a one-year deal to strengthen the pass rush opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit moved after losing Al-Quadin Muhammad and deciding not to retain Marcus Davenport, leaving the edge rotation thinner than it had been.

Wonnum Fits Detroit’s Edge Plan

Wonnum brings 30 career sacks in six NFL seasons, with a career-high eight sacks in a season. The Lions believe he can handle an every-down role against the run and as a pass-rusher, which is the shape of the job Detroit has been trying to fill on the other side of Hutchinson.

That fit starts with the snap count. Wonnum played 68 percent of Carolina’s defensive snaps despite missing a game, a workload that points to a player trusted for more than obvious passing downs. Detroit is not signing him just to chase quarterbacks on third down.

What Detroit Lost Last Season

Muhammad’s 11 sacks last season gave Detroit production, but he also played only 41 percent of the Lions’ defensive snaps in 17 games. His 59.3 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus showed the issue Detroit had to weigh when sorting out the edge group.

That is the friction point in this move. The Lions needed more stability around Hutchinson, not just sack numbers. Wonnum’s 61.8 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus in Carolina gives Detroit a player it believes can stay on the field in more situations, not only when the offense is forced into obvious dropback mode.

Aidan Hutchinson’s Running Mate

The line opposite Hutchinson has now been reshaped around a different type of body of work. Wonnum’s profile gives Detroit another option who can play through the down-and-distance mix and help cover snaps if Hutchinson needs a break.

For the Lions, the move is less about splash than structure. A one-year deal keeps the commitment short, but the role is direct: add edge depth, support the run, and give Detroit a better chance to keep pressure on the quarterback without overloading one side.