Burning Questions: What must Lions answer to maximize defensive potential in 2024?
Allen Park — With the start of the 2024 season around the corner, here are six key questions the Detroit Lions will look to answer on defense.
What’s the next level for studs up front?
Aidan Hutchinson is a star and Alim McNeill isn’t far off from being viewed in the same light. What should be abundantly clear is both defensive linemen are on the verge of massive paydays. In Hutchinson’s case, it will be his second after scoring more than $35 million guaranteed as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
Through two seasons, Hutchinson has been worthy of that selection and the contract that came with it. He’s paced the Lions in sacks each of the past two years, dropping opposing quarterbacks 11.5 times in 2023. His impact as a pass rusher is accentuated by 101 total pressures, which were second only to Dallas’ three-time All-Pro Micah Parsons.
What separates Parson — and some of the league's other elite edge rushers — from Hutchinson is the consistency of their production. Parsons had a sack in 11 of 17 games in 2023, only registering a goose egg in back-to-back weeks once. Hutchinson, meanwhile, had four stretches where he went multiple matchups without a sack, including six of seven games from Week 5 to Week 12.
Still, Hutchinson earned Pro Bowl recognition last year. He’s a good player. No, he’s a very good player. But to join the conversation of the league’s elite at his position — the best five or so players — he has to eradicate that inconsistency.