It would be prudent for the Detroit Lions to bolster their defense if they wish to win a Super Bowl in 2024.

In his second NFL season, EDGE rusher Aidan Hutchinson had an outstanding year, but opposing offensive lines often double-teamed him and gave him additional attention. Therefore, the club would gain from having an additional defensive lineman.

Christian Wilkins of Miami, who is leaning toward becoming a free agent due to rumors that the Dolphins do not want to franchise tag him, is one possible choice.

He could thus be available to sign on March 13, when free agency begins.

Over the course of five NFL seasons, Wilkins has amassed 20.5 career sacks, with a career-high nine in 2023. Additionally, he played for the Dolphins last season, recording 23 QB hits and 65 tackles, including 10 for loss.

“While Miami’s stance is that all options are on the table for defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, several league sources say he probably won’t be franchise-tagged,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN said. “That would put a big-time tackle who had 63 tackles and nine sacks in 2023 on the market.”

The young clubs with strong playoff aspirations for the upcoming season, the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans, have already been connected to the gifted defense.

Being a versatile lineman, Wilkins can make a significant impact both against the run and the pass. He concluded the previous season with a 69.5 run and a 70.8 pass-rush grade.

Pro Football Focus’s defensive grade.

“Wilkins is a foundational piece for the Dolphins, a tone-setter on defense and a leader, and also was the team’s first draft pick when they started their massive rebuilding project in 2019,” Alain Poupart of the Dolphins wrote. “He has emerged over the years as a top-end defensive tackle, adding a pass-rushing element to his game last season when he produced a career-high nine sacks.”

With 61 pressures in the previous season, the defender would have been second only to Hutchinson on the Lions’ squad. For a defense that failed to do so in 2023, getting pressure on the quarterback from the defensive interior would be extremely beneficial.

“Wilkins had a strip-sack/forced fumble/fumble recovery against the Buffalo Bills in the regular season finale, as his highlight play of the season,” Poupart said. “Wilkins led all NFL interior defensive linemen in tackles in 2022 with 98, setting a record for the position that was broken this past season by the Carolina Panthers’ Derrick Brown.”

Hutchinson was the lone player to record ten or more sacks in 2023, which helped Detroit finish near the bottom of the league in sacks. Only Alim McNeill, a defensive tackle, has five There were more than three on the roster.

Although Wilkins is able to roam throughout the defensive line, he would make a good combination with McNeill, who has established himself as a reliable member of the Lions’ defensive interior.

Last year, Detroit’s defensive line was occasionally thin on depth, which became particularly apparent after McNeill sustained an injury. Towards the end of the season, the Lions found themselves largely dependent on veteran Tyson Alualu.

There are two intriguing, yet rather untested, options: Brodric Martin and Levi Onwuzurike. Onwuzurike was sidelined last season and missed the all of 2022 due to a back issue. Martin, meanwhile, participated in just three games.

Wilkins is going to be a valuable asset wherever he ends up It has the potential to be a factor that makes a difference. Given the requirements of the Lions, it would be a big deal that would indicate Detroit wants to be a Super Bowl contender.