ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions waited and waited for Levi Onwuzurike to show the flashes that made him a high second-round pick after an injury-riddled start to his career.
Onwuzurike finally delivered last season. The 2021 second-round pick was tied for second on the team with 45 created pressures, finishing in the top 15 at his position with a 12.5% pass-rush win rate. Onwuzurike was back at his preferred playing weight and another year removed from the spinal fusion surgery that derailed the first two years of his career.
Also, it’s hard to ignore the feeling that this $5.5 million deal is a team-friendly one.
The going rate for breakout defensive linemen exploded over the last week, and Pro Football Focus projected Onwuzurike’s next deal at two years, $20 million with $13 million guaranteed.
Milton Williams got four years and $104 million from the New England Patriots, Grady Jarrett scored $43.5 million and three years from the Chicago Bears, and even Javon Kinlaw got $45 million and three years from the Washington Commanders.
The Lions kept Onwuzurike around, even when it looked like he might not develop into a key piece or step on the field again. Now, he’s back to bolster their defensive line by adding inside-outside pass-rush versatility.
He’s also the latest member of general manager Brad Holmes' first draft class to get another deal in Detroit.
“Not self-doubt -- you talking about with my back? Yeah, not self-doubt, but it was, hey, I’ve got to work hard and get back after this surgery,” Onwuzurike said back in training camp. “If it works out, I’ll play football. If it doesn’t work out, I won’t play football. It was clear cut as that, so when you make a clear cut (decision), I was able just to put 100% of my efforts into getting better, into getting stronger and healing.
“Oh yeah. I love football. Before, I liked football, but when you’re healthy, you understand why guys love this. One, when you’re healthy. Two, when you go to the playoffs, like you truly understand the reason why you started playing football. I’m truly blessed to be healthy now. Life is good.”
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The 27-year-old was ineffective as a rookie, then missed all of 2022 due to those continued back injuries. He managed 10 games in 2023, then looked like a potential breakout piece to watch from the time training camp started.
Onwuzurike played 16 games, starting 10 times for the Lions last year, delivering the inside-outside versatility they needed. He had 200-plus interior snaps and 200-plus snaps at both big defensive end spots, with his powerful style working well at either spot.
When Marcus Davenport went down with an injury, Onwuzurike helped fill a ton of those empty snaps. His role grew even larger when Aidan Hutchinson suffered a leg injury, and then the rest of the defense limped to the finish line.
The Lions certainly need all of that they can get for next season. They re-signed defensive lineman Myles Adams and edge rusher Marcus Davenport and parted ways with Za’Darius Smith. Roy Lopez was signed away from the Arizona Cardinals, with the nose tackle filling the role behind veteran DJ Reader.
Onwuzurike immediately fills a role that will come with a ton of snaps on this defensive line. He is no stranger to the big defensive end spot or on the interior defensive line.
PFF ranked Onwuzurike 29th among interior defensive linemen who played at least 25% of their team’s snaps. His 45 pressures ranked him in the top 15 at his position.
This one-year deal came in lower than most expected on the local or national level. It’s team-friendly in terms of price, not to mention the fact it also allows Onwuzurike to prove he’s ready to handle a heavier load for the long haul.
“I feel like there’s always been a sense of urgency, it’s just he’s lacked the confidence because the body hadn’t felt right. That’s hard,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said ahead of last season. “When you’re doing everything you can but your body’s behind you, you’re trying to drag it along with you, that’s a hard place to be in.
“So, I would say the mindset is the same, it’s just, now, ‘OK, hey, these work. This works. OK.’ And his confidence is just going sky high.”