Detroit Lions camp preview: Retooled edge personnel should help increase Hutchinson's efficiency
The Detroit Lions made a concentrated effort to refresh the edge defending talent surrounding superstar Aidan Hutchinson this offseason.
The team let Al-Quadin Muhammad walk in free agency after last year’s breakout performance, made no effort to re-sign Marcus Davenport after two injury-plagued seasons, and bid farewell to former second-round pick Josh Paschal after he missed the 2025 campaign with an injured back.
To restock the cupboards, the team signed DJ Wonnum and former first-round pick Payton Turner, then traded up a handful of spots in the second round of the draft to select Michigan standout Derrick Moore.
As we near training camp, here are the questions surrounding the position group.
Can less mean more?
Hutchinson quickly proved he was fully recovered from the broken leg he’d suffered the previous season, racking up 100 quarterback pressures and a career-best 14.5 sacks to earn second-team All-Pro honors.
Importantly, Hutchinson took a step forward with his consistency, tallying at least five pressures in 13 of the team’s 17 games. His pressure total tied for second in the NFL, while his 22.9% win rate was third among edge defenders, behind only Will Anderson and Myles Garrett.
The primary criticism regarding Hutchinson has been his workload. He was on the field for nearly 91% of the team’s defensive snaps, an unusually high figure for a defensive lineman. That reflects the team’s over-reliance on the player, but also putting too much say in Hutchinson’s hands. He’s a fierce competitor with outstanding cardio, so he’s not going to pull himself off the field if given the choice.