2026 Detroit Lions Defense and Specialists

 

Defensive Tackle

Alim McNeill

6th year in Detroit

2021 Round # 3 (72)

Lions stats: 71 games 59 starts 151 tackles 12.5 sacks 5 PBU 2 FF

Lions Playoff 3 starts 4 tackles 1 sack

Preseason: 4 starts 2 tackles

College Stats: NC State 36/19 games 78 tackles 10 sacks 2 FF 1/18/1 int

Pro Day: 6017 317 5 27 30.5" 900 7.68 4.65 

Contract: 3 years $28.966 mil

Hometown: Raleigh, NC

Age: 26

Mekhi Wingo 

3rd Year in Detroit

2024 6th Round Pick

Lions Stats: 13 games 12 tackles

Preseason: 3 starts 3 tackles

College: LSU 22/20 51 tackles 7.5 sacks

Missouri 12/4 27 tackles 1 sack 1/40/1 int

Combine: 6002 286 4.85 28 31.5" 801 7.33 4.45

Contract: 2 years $1,121,700

Hometown: St. Louis

Age 23

Tyleik Williams 

2nd year in Detroit

2025 1st round pick (28)

Lions Stats: 17 games 10 start 18 tackles 1 sack 4 PBu

Preseason 1 start
College: Ohio State 51 games 25 starts 137 tackles 11. sacks 10 PBU
Combine: 6027 334 1.74 10 yard dash

Contract: 3 years $3,745,473
Hometown: Masassas, VA
Age: 23

Tyler Lacy

4th year in the NFL 2nd in Detroit

2025 Waivers (Jags)

2023 4th round pick (130) Jags

Lions Stats: 10 games 4 starts 21 tackles 1 sack

NFL Stats: 38 games 12 starts 58 tackles

College: Oklahoma State 44 games 43 starts 113 tackles 11.5 sacks

Pro Day: 6043 279 5.11 30 31" 908 7.59 4.68

Contract: 1 years $1.145 million

Hometown: Sachee, TX

Age: 27

Chris Smith 

4th year in Detroit

2023 UDFA

Lions stats: 5 games 2 tackles

Playoffs 1 game

Preseason: 10/6 games83 tackles 0.5 sack

College: Notre Dame 13 games 5 starts 17 tackles

Harvard 29 games 71 tackles

Pro Day:6012 302 5.08 37 31" 901 7.25 4.26

Contract: 1 year $1,005,000

Hometown: Detroit

Age: 27

Defensive Ends

Aidan Hutchinson

5th year in Detroit

2022 Round 1 Pick (2)

Lion stats: 56 starts 176 tackles 43 sacks  5/89 int 5 fr 8 ff 13 PBU

Lions Playoffs 3 starts 10 tackles 3 sacks 2 PBU

Preseason: 2 starts  3 tackles 0.5 sack
College: Michigan 43/30 games 158 tackles 18.5 sacks 5 ff
Combine: 6065 260 4.74 28 36 909 6.73 4.15 

Contract: 5 years $10,146,400

Hometown: Dearborn

Age: 26

Ahmed Hassanein

2nd year in Detroit

2025 6th round pick (196) East-West Shrine game

Preseason 3 games 6 tackles

College: Boise State 49/31 games 119 tackles 24 sacks 3 FF

Combine: 6024 267 4.77 32 32.5 909 7.19 4.48

Hometown: Cairo, Egypt

Contract 1 year $985,000

Age: 24

Jack Campbell 

4th year in Detroit

2023 1st Round Pick # 18

Lions stats: 51 games 46 starts 402 tackles 8.5 sacks 4 Ff

Lions Playoffs: 4 games 3 starts 29 tackles

Preseason: 14 tackles 1 PBU

College Stats: Iowa 43 games 27 start 305 tackles 3 sacks 5 Int

Combine: 6045 249 4.65 37.5" 1008 6.74 4.24 10 1/4"  hand

Contract: 1 year $4,684,279

Hometown: Cedar Falls, IA

Age: 26

Derrick Barnes 

6th year in Detroit

Round # 4 Pick # 113

Lions stats: 68 games 43 starts 283 tackles 8 sacks 1ff 7 pbu

Lions Playoffs 3 starts 6 tackles 1 int

Preseason: 6/3 games 21 tackles 2 PBU 1 sack

College Stats: Purdue 41/30 games 226 tackles 10.5 sacks 1/8 int

Pro Day: 6002 238 4.57 29 37 911 4.32 Senior Bowl

Hometown: Covington, KY

Contract 2 years $9.264 million

Age: 27

DJ Reed

9th Year in the NFL 2 in Detroit

2025 UFA (Jets)

2018 5th round pick (142)

Lions Stats: 11 starts 46 tackles 7 PBu 2/34 int 1 fr

NFL Stats: 112 games 74 starts 460 tackles 8/64 int

Playoffs: 4 games 1 start 4 tackles

College:: KSU 23/22 games 122 tackles 7/67/1 int

Cerritos JC 11 games 42 tackles 2/74/1 int

Combine: 5091 188 4.51 11 36.5" 1004 6.82 4.06

Contract: 2 years $17.867 million

Hometown: Bakersfield, CA

Age 30

Khalil Dorsey

7th year in the NFL 5th year in Detroit

2022 Free Agent (Giants)

2020 UDFA (Ravens)

Lions Stats: 44 games 3 starts  35 tackles 3 PBU 1/31 rec 16/403 KOR

Lions Playoffs 3 games

Preseason: 5/2 games 15 tackles 1 PBU 1 FF 1/62 KOR

NFL Stats 43/3 games 13 tackles

College: Northern Arizona 44/40 games 197 tackles 8/13 int  1sack 41 PBU

Pro Day: 5086 181

Contract: 1 years $1,693,324

Hometown: Ontario, CA

Age: 28

Nick Whiteside

4th year in the NFL 2nd in Detroit

2025 UFL (Battlehawks)

2023 UDFA (Commanders)

Lions stats: 9 games 5 tackles 3 pbu

Preseason: 4 games 2 Starts 12 games 2 PD

NFL Stats 11 games

College: Saginaw Valley 43 games 1331 tackles 12/176 int 26 PBU

Pro Day: 6000 200 8 reps 30.5" 911 7.09 4.24

Hometown: Auburn Hills Avondale

Contract 1 year $1,005,000

Age: 26

Terrion Arnold 

3rd year in Detroit

2024 Round # 1 Pick # 24

Lions Stats 24 games 22 starts 91 tackles 1 int 1 fr 18 PBU

Playoffs 1 start 6 tackles

Preseason: 1 start 

College: Alabama  26 games 21 starts 108 tackles 6/90 int 1ff 1 sack 26 PBU

Combine/Pro day 5116  188 4.5 4.53 37" 35.5" 1009 6.69 4.24 

Contract: 2 years $3,911,921

Hometown: Tallahassee 
Age 23

Ennis Rakestraw

3rd year in Detroit

2024  Round # 2 Pick #61

Lions games: 8 games 6 tackles

Preseason: 2 starts 4 tackles

College: Missouri 36 games 32 starts 106 tackles 1 int 24 PBU 3 FF

Combine/Pro Day:  5117 187  4.51 4.56 13 1000  4.38

Contract: 2 years $1,768,567

Hometown: West Dallas, TX

Age: 24

Safety

Thomas Harper

3rd year in the NFL 2nd in Detroit

2025 Waivers (Raiders)

2024 UDFA (Chargers)

Lions Stats: 12 games 9 starts 37 tackles 5 PBU 1 ff 1 int

NFL Stats: 27 games 14 starts 63 tackles 0.5 sack 2/14 int

College: Notre Dame 11 games 10 starts 39 tackles 2 sacks

Oklahoma State 42 games 8 starts 94 tackles 2/11 int

Pro Day: 5108 189 4.47 18 42" 1006 7.11 4.39

Contract: 1 years $1,075,000

Hometown: Karris, TN

Age: 26

Kerby Joseph 

5th year in Detroit

2022 Round # 3 Pick # 97

Lions stats: 55 games 52 starts 247 tackles 20/207/1 int 35 pbu 2 ff 1 fr

Lions Playoffs 4 starts 16 tackles 2 pbu

Preseason 3/1 games 20 tackles

College: Illinois 39/12 games 115 tackles 5/12 int 1sack
Combine: 6005 203 18 38.5 1003

Contract  4 years $5,472,200

Age: 26

Hometown: Orlando

Brian Branch

4th year in Detroit

2023 2nd Round Pick (45)

Lions stats: 43 games 37 starts 259 tackles 37 PBU 3 FF 7/111/1 int 4.5 sacks

Lions Playoffs 4 games 2 starts  31 tackles 1 sack 1 PBU 1FF

Preseason: 1 game 3 tackles

College Stats: Alabama 40 games 23 starts 172 t 4 int

Combine: 5115 192 4.58 37.5" 1005 4.45

Contract: 1 years $2,552,373

Hometown: Fayetteville, GA

Age 25

Dan Jackson 

2nd year in Detroit

2025 7th round Pick (230) Senior Bowl

Preseason 1 game 6 tackles

College: Georgia 47/19 games 140 tackles 2 int 3 FF

Pro Day: 6001 194 4.45 34 1003 7.12 4.33

Contract: 3 years $1,037,906

Hometown: Gainesville, GA

Age 26

Loren Strickland

3rd year in Detroit

2024 UDFA

Lions stats: 7 games

Preseason: 7/2 games 16 tackles

College: Ball State 23/5 50 tackles 1 sack

Indianapolis 29 games 84 tackles 1/40/1 int

Pro day: 5091 199 4.56 18 38 1005 6.95 4.4

Hometown: Carpentersville, IL

Contract: 1 year $1,005,000

Age: 26

Specialists 

Jack Fox
8th year in Detroit
UDFA 2019

Lions Stats: 83 games 334/16172/48.4 5 tackle 4/5/0 61 yards 20,24 Pro Bowl

Lions Playoffs 4 games 11/517

Preseason: 20 games 68/3380 punts 49.7 AVE

College: Rice 49 games  211/9167/43.4 38/38 xp 7/15 FG 9 tackles 
Combine: 6024 213 4.71 29.5" 906 East/West Shrine Game
Contract: 1 years $3.975 million
Age: 30
Hometown: Dallas

Hogan Hatten 

3rd year in Detroit

2024 UDFA

Lions stats 34 games 7 tackles

Playoffs 1 game

Preseason: 7 games 6 tackles

College: Idaho 49 games 50 tackles 3 sacks 3 PBU

Pro Day: 6013 238 4.83 18 36" 7.15 4.5

Contract 1 years $1,075,334

Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ

Age: 26

Jake Bates

4th year in the NFL 3rd in Detroit

2024 Free Agent (Panthers)

2023 UDFA (Texans)

Lions stats: 34 games 53/63 FG 118/123 XP

Playoffs 1 games 1/1 FG 4/4 XP

Preseason: 7 games 8/9 FG 8/9 XP

UFL Stats: 10 games 17/22 FG Post Season 4/6 FG

College: Arkansas 13 games

Texas State 24 games

Central Arkansas (Soccer) 36 games 29 starts 4 goals 3 assists

Pro Day: 6005 204

Contract: 1 years 

Hometown: Tomball, TX

Age: 26

Jack Campbell 

4th year in Detroit

2023 1st Round Pick # 18

Lions stats: 51 games 46 starts 402 tackles 8.5 sacks 4 Ff

Lions Playoffs: 4 games 3 starts 29 tackles

Preseason: 14 tackles 1 PBU

College Stats: Iowa 43 games 27 start 305 tackles 3 sacks 5 Int

Combine: 6045 249 4.65 37.5" 1008 6.74 4.24 10 1/4"  hand

Contract: 1 years $4,015,064

Hometown: Cedar Falls, IA

Age: 26