PFF Ranking: Do the Detroit Lions Have a Top 5 D-Line?

The Detroit Lions have improved their roster and PFF believes they've done enough to rank the Lions with a top 5 defensive line! Is this true or is there still growth that needs to take place? Join Meko, Ryan, and Morgan as they discuss where the Lions should rank among the other defensive lines in the NFL.
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[@FrankIngram]

Finally, the voice of reason. The D-Line would have to prove it with the addition of the free agents if they can get healthy.

[@jtsam1]

I miss PODcast 😢. Plz come back

[@barrymcbain1360]

I did say in the beginning if we got di reader and kept mcneil healthy we could be a top 5 dline

[@LionsOnTheHunt313]

I think 4th is a very ambitious ranking. However, if Terrell Williams is as impactful as we hope for the DLine then it's possible IMO. The Lions have many young players up front that hopefully take a jump. DJ is solid as a rock. Hutch & Alim have already shown to be very good, with the potential to be great.

[@aaronfrederick7017]

If the top criteria for D-line is stopping the run. The Lions certainly get a lot of points in that regard. Hutch, Reader, McNeil, ? That 4th spot has a lot of potential from Houston, Pascal, etc. especially with our LB room as deep as it is and the secondary seemingly a weapon now. Pass rush was a little lacking last year as Hutch had little help in that regard and that’s where it would be nice to see the most improvement. Overall I can see how you might say 4th. It gives guys a lot more respect than I would’ve expected from sources not familiar or honed in on the lions which I’m not mad at. But I agree, this D-line has to show itself first because it’s just projection. I do think Lions in top 10 is not crazy. Top 5 is a bit of a premature flower giving but I am excited about the potential of this defense to do what it did great at last year and go a step further.

[@wolfebilt]

I just want the P.O.D.cast back. 😢

[@thomaswatkins3686]

Reading comments, fand need to understand a few things. 1. Betts is NOT a threat to Davenport. He is NOT a RDE. He is a threat to Houston at the JACK LB spot. Simply glancing at the depth chart would help people understand how they intend to deploy these guys. 2. Davenport is about the closest thing you can get to a RDE that isn’t Montez Sweat. Thats a suitable player at the non rush side of your line. He will only help improve contain, where he grades close to elite. Thats more a run game thing. He will rush the QB when they send 4+, but it’s not his job. Thats not how this defense operates. 3. DT is built the way superb rotations are. In the past, fans wanted elite DTs at all costs. Instead the team now has 5 or 6 guys who can rotate in, stay fresh and stonewall the run or rush the passer. This regime has told you they’re doing it this way and some fans absolutely hate it. It’s literally the first time in 4-5 decades they’re not wasting picks up front each season. And they’re winning. That should tell you something.

[@stevechosay8756]

To Ryan's point, the Lion's run defense did put teams in a lot of 3rd and long, it was just tough bc the secondary couldn't lock them down after they got to that point. Iirc, there were alot of 3rd down and long conversions. Hopefully the new secondary fixes that this year

[@jaybrick8973]

Reader was a huge addition but its all about staying healthy an im not sure Davenport will even be a factor hopefully betts can be the answer

[@berndb23]

I mean, isn't the simplest argument that PFF just grades run defense as fairly/very important? Like, yes, the Lions lack on pass rushers behind Hutch, but they will probably be the best run-stopping outfit in the league this year (they were right there last year, then added Reader). That seems like a top-5 case.

[@hassan2nd]

Run stuffing. Run stuffing. Run stuffing l. Only team that ran on us last year was Baltimore

[@jerrymiller442]

We are elite against the run it's not just about sacks! # Stop the Run

[@JoshArmstrong-wv9bp]

I agree with Ryan. We are not a top 5 unit. Maybe top ten but the productivity needs to be there. On paper we have dudes but pump the brakes on being number 4.

[@jerodjones6846]

Yeah, it's based on projection. They are looking at Hutch as the next TJ Watt. Reader and Alim in the interior as one of the best DT combos in the NFL. A healthy Davenport and James Houston off the edge opposite Hutch. A potential diamond in the rough with Betts. But until this Dline goes out and proves it on the field, the Lions Dline is still a big question mark. And I'm the biggest Lions fan since I was a youngster in the late 80s watching Barry Sanders but I have to be realistic

[@Brent6437]

2:53 but we have Alim and DJR and Davenport. I wanted a edge in the draft but I’m hoping Davenport can beat that guy. We also have so much depth. Also Hutch had 101 pressures. Those pressures will end up being sacks with the new secondary and having DJR and Davenport.

[@Brent6437]

Davenport was drafted @14 by The Saints. And he’s not that old he just has to stay healthy.

[@Brent6437]

I’m with you guys. The Jets get way to much attention just because they have Karen Rodgers. It’s all about the New York media. They will lay an egg.

[@rejukurian7168]

My concern if Davenport and Paschal can stays healthy.. Can James Houston and Comiskey replicate their 2022 season? We don’t know if Betts and Onwuzurike will make the roster

[@peterz22thomas5]

I think ranking them 4th best is insane. But I also think you guys under rate Hutch. And I'm a guy who thought Hutch was a reach when we drafted him. If Reader and Davenport can be better than Jones and Harris, Hutch will have a huge year.

[@leeyessir]

3 of the 4 starters are top 5 or 10 at there positions

[@Frank-wn2li]

All right I'm about to turn it off the raiders man come on Go Lions

[@Frank-wn2li]

How is it that you guys do not believe this defensive line is top five Hutchinson reader McNeil I mean that's three stars right there how many people play defensive line four at a time

[@thomaswatkins3686]

Hutchison didn’t receive a single all pro vote. He has weeks of being stonewalled, overrunning plays, whiffing on tackles. Then he has 2 games with 6 sacks and it completely skews what he is. He needs to improve, it’s really simple. He isn’t even a top 5 DE in this league nor is he currently a threat to enter the conversation.

[@thecure728]

They're getting paid because sacks sell tickets. And they are projecting what they will be this year, but what they have done. How could you have a# 1 run stop line not be in the top 5? You have pass rush and run stop. If you are the best in one of those, plus got the best line coach, plus Hutch, you guys are only thinking sacs and in the past. That's the the most important thing, but it does sell tickets

[@chiggenychiggen]

Raiders lol