At least two of the Lions' defensive free agents will be back next season. Neither one played a snap this season.
Due to an obscure rule in the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement, the contracts of defensive linemen Levi Onwuzurike and Josh Paschal will roll over to next season because both players spent the duration of this season on the injured reserve/physically unable to perform lists while in the final year of their respective deals, per the Detroit Football Network.
A year ago, Onwuzurike was coming off his best season in Detroit after the first three years of his career were marred by injuries. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal to stay with the team that drafted him in the second round in 2021, then was found to have a torn ACL before the start of training camp that requried season-ending surgery.
At that point, it appeared Onwuzurike's time with the Lions was done. Not so. The provision in the CBA means that Onwuzurike's fully guaranteed $1.5 million base salary from 2025 tolls in 2026, along with per-game roster bonuses of $500,000. He will carry a $1.5 million cap hit next season, per Over The Cap.
Onwuzurike played more defensive snaps for the Lions in 2024 than in his first three seasons combined and recorded 45 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus. That was tied for 15th in the NFL among interior defenders with Jeffery Simmons and Alim McNeill. He ranked among the top 10 interior defenders in pass rush win rate.
The issue for Onwuzurike was converting those pressures into splash plays. He had just 1.5 sacks and one tackle for loss in 16 games. And the challenge now will be trying to regain his momentum after going so long without playing. Any production that Onwuzurike provides in 2026 will feel like found money for the Lions.
The same goes for Paschal, the second-round pick in 2022 who will see the final year of his rookie contract shift to 2026 after a non-football injury cost him all of 2025.
Paschal, who had offseason surgery last year on a back injury, was expected to return early in the season. His timeline continued to get pushed back until the Lions shut him down for the season after he failed to make the necessary strides at practice during his three-week activation window in November.
Paschal will carry $1.8 million cap hit next season, per Over The Cap.
Like Onwuzurike, Paschal has been hampered by various physical ailments with the Lions. He played in 14 games in 2024 and logged two sacks and five tackles for loss.