The Detroit Lions have taken a cautious approach in free agency, focusing on depth rather than making splashy moves. Aside from signing D.J. Reed to a three-year, $45 million contract early in the legal tampering window, the Lions have stuck to their strategy of adding value signings to enhance their roster.
While this approach isn’t surprising given their strong 15-2 season last year, the team has particularly concentrated on strengthening the interior of their defensive line. With Alim McNeil’s status uncertain for the start of next season due to an ACL injury he sustained last December, the Lions have responded by re-signing Levi Onwuzurike and bringing in Roy Lopez to complement DJ Reader.
On Tuesday, the Lions made another move to bolster their defensive line by re-signing Pat O’Connor for his second season in Detroit. The 31-year-old O’Connor joined the Lions after spending six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his first season in Detroit, he recorded 18 total tackles and a sack across 12 games. Although these stats are modest, Pro Football Focus highlighted that O’Connor generated 10 pressures on 134 pass-rushing snaps, translating to a 7.7% career pressure rate. He also achieved a 6.5% win rate on pass-rush snaps, offering further depth for the team.
Detroit’s general manager, Brad Holmes, emphasized the importance of depth when speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, noting that depth players like O’Connor could turn out to be critical pieces for the team throughout the season. While the Lions have re-signed several of their own key depth players, including Onwuzurike, edge rusher Marcus Davenport, wide receiver Tim Patrick, and offensive tackle Dan Skipper, the team’s focus on depth could be pivotal in making a Super Bowl run.