One stat shows how Levi Onwzurike re-signing was a STEAL for Lions

The Detroit Lions got an incredible deal on the re-signing of DT Levi Onwuzurike.

One of the biggest questions facing the Detroit Lions this free agency was whether they would be able to retain 2021 second-round pick Levi Onwuzurike. With the 27-year-old defender coming off his best season and the defensive tackle market skyrocketing, many projections had Onwuzurike commanding $10-15 million a year—which would almost certainly be outside of Detroit’s price range.

Surprisingly, those estimates were way off. Onwuzurike ended up re-signing with the Lions on a one-year, $5.5 million deal. Presumably, other teams were understandably scared off by Onwuzurike’s injury history. The back issues he dealt with for the first two years of his career resulted in a spinal fusion surgery, and caused him to play just 528 through three seasons.

But last year, Onwuzurike finally put the injury fully behind him. He had a full offseason that involved no rehab, and it resulted in a career year. He missed just a single game, started 10 game—including his first ever—and finished with 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a team-high 45 pressures.

While that may not seem like a stellar statline, the rate at which Onwuzurike created pressure was up there with the best of the free-agent interior defenders on the market. ESPN’s Benjamin Solak pointed this out, using ESPN’s pressure rate metric—and compared it to other free agent defensive tackles who got big paydays this offseason.

For comparison’s sake, here’s a look at contract deals for all four players Solak mentions:

Note: Full contract details are not out for each player yet

Milton Williams: Four-year, $104 million ($63M guaranteed)
Tershawn Wharton: Three-year, $54 million ($30M guaranteed)
Javon Kinlaw: Three-year, $45 million (30M guaranteed)
Levi Onwuzurike: One-year, $5.5 million

Now, there is one big caveat beyond Onwuzurike’s injury: he also played a much higher percentage of his snaps on the edge compared to the other three players—essentially splitting his time between defensive tackle and defensive end.

Still, that versatility is an asset and something the Lions will very much use as they continue to fill out their defensive line. If Onwuzurike plays at the same level he did last year—or exceeds it—not only will Detroit have a steal of a deal for this season, but the defensive tackle will have earned himself quite a raise for 2026.