The Derrick Moore Hype Train Needs a Reality Check
Listen, I get it. We drafted Derrick Moore in the second round. Pass rush upside. The crowd at rookie minicamp goes nuts every time he gets penetration. But if you’re sitting here expecting him to be a Week 1 starter opposite Aidan Hutchinson, you might want to pump the brakes.
Moore is going to start this season coming off the bench as a pass-rush specialist. That’s not a knock. That’s the plan.
The reason is simple. While Moore can get after the quarterback, he still has to get better at stopping the run. The Lions could throw him into the fire and hope he figures it out on the fly, or they can bring him along the right way. The front office did not draft a project to ruin him in September. Dan Campbell is not going to trot out a rookie who can’t set the edge just because the fanbase is buzzing.
D.J. Wonnum Is Probably Your Week 1 Starter
Yeah, I said it. Wonnum.
I know a lot of Lions fans look at Wonnum after the Moore pick and assume he’s just the rotational guy now. But what you’re probably looking at is Wonnum starting opposite Hutchinson in Week 1. He can set the edge in the run game on first and second down. Then, on third downs and obvious passing situations, you bring Moore in to pin his ears back and go get the quarterback.
By November or so, once Moore has had time to develop his run defense, you can flip the script. Moore becomes the every-down starter. Wonnum slides into that rotational role. But early on, Wonnum is your guy, and that’s not a bad thing.
Aidan Hutchinson Is Still the Center of the Universe
Hutchinson is coming off an All-Pro season, and we know exactly what to expect from him. Pressure. Attention. Double teams. Triple teams. Chip blocks from running backs who have no business being asked to slow him down.
What you’re hoping for in 2026 is that the additions around him create more one-on-one opportunities, both for Hutchinson and for the guys who benefit from the chaos he creates. The Lions are banking on that. So are we.
Ahmed Hassanein Needs to Calm Down
This is technically Hassanein’s rookie year because he missed his actual rookie season. He only got some training camp reps and a preseason game or two before that. The expectations are high on him, and they should be tempered. He could be a good player in this league. But he’s not going to be a Pro Bowler or All-Pro this year, so let’s all take a breath.
Dan Campbell brought up something you can see on film. Hassanein plays with his hair on fire. He needs to be more intentional with what he does. He goes out there thinking I got to tackle this guy and throws technique to the side. If he can learn to control that energy and channel it, he could be dangerous. For now, think of him as a big end who sets the edge in the run game with opportunities to rush the passer.
Tyler Lacy vs. Levi Onwuzurike Is an Either Or Situation
Lacy and Onwuzurike are both big-end types who can set the edge and provide some pass rush. This is the role Detroit tried to make work with Marcus Davenport for years but never could figure out. Lacy has been repping ahead of Onwuzurike at OTAs and minicamp. While that’s still the pajama-party portion of the offseason, it’s notable.
I don’t think both of these guys are on the roster when the season starts. I’m leaning toward Lacy being the one who sticks. With the Lions thin in the middle of the defensive line, I could see either of them sliding inside to that defensive tackle spot more than working as a traditional edge rusher.
Payton Turner Is a Low Cost Experiment
Turner is a former first-round pick, and the Lions were intentional this offseason about getting big, wide, and long with their edge rushers because they want to stop the run. I can say it until I’m blue in the face. The Lions want teams to be one-dimensional. When all you can do is pass, you become predictable, and that’s where the pass-rush opportunities and turnovers come from.
Turner brings that edge-setting ability and some pass-rush upside, but he’s never stayed healthy and has struggled everywhere he’s been. This is a true kick-the-tires situation. If it works, Detroit looks like a genius. If it doesn’t, it didn’t cost much. That’s smart roster management.
Anthony Lucas and Tyre West Round Out the Group
Lucas, the undrafted free agent from USC, is the one who makes you wonder how he wasn’t drafted. The word on him is that he flashes in one area while struggling in another, and he hasn’t put it all together yet. If he does, the Lions have a real steal in terms of getting rotational reps out of him earlier than expected.
West, the seventh-round pick out of Tennessee, is one to watch during preseason. I don’t think he makes the 53-man roster, but he projects as a practice squad candidate with a chance to earn some elevations and grow into a bigger role in 2027.
So where does that leave us? With an edge rusher room that has actual depth for the first time in years. With a plan that makes sense even if it’s not the sexiest one. With Derrick Moore as a future starter who’s going to need some time to get there. Is patience still a thing Lions fans are capable of, or are we already penciling Moore in for Defensive Rookie of the Year? Drop your take below.
